| Children's furniture is rapidly becoming one of the most | | | | bunk beds have a sturdy ladder that prohibits falling |
| sought after types of furnishings being bought today. | | | | accidents. As an additional safety precaution on |
| With two parent incomes, and lowering number of per | | | | children's bedroom furniture in the form of a bunk bed |
| family children; there is extra money left in the budget | | | | is to never allow more than one child at a time onto |
| for this expenditure. In the past, kids usually grew out | | | | the top bunk. Kids like to horseplay, it would not be |
| of children's bedroom furniture too quickly to warrant | | | | uncommon to have one child accidentally fall off of the |
| spending money on it throughout each stage of life. | | | | top bunk. In addition to the dangers a bunk bed holds, |
| When babies' grew out of cribs, they were given single | | | | parents should never place a child's bed near windows |
| beds which they kept until they became adults, but the | | | | where they can climb onto and fall out. Children's |
| future of furniture has changed. There are 3-in-1 | | | | bedroom furniture should certainly be inspected |
| bedroom sets, whereby a crib, once no longer needed, | | | | carefully by the parent before a purchase is made. |
| can convert to a toddler bed, which can then convert | | | | Chests and dressers are also an ideal purchase for |
| to a single, full or queen-size bed. These types of | | | | younger ones with smaller clothing. Also, the children's |
| ingenious styles allow a parent to purchase one item | | | | bedroom furniture is smaller in height making it easier |
| that can be used throughout a child's life. These unique | | | | for the child to put away or remove their clothing or |
| purchases, however, come with a hefty price tag, so | | | | other items independently. As a precautionary |
| the investment in 3-in-1 set should be thoroughly | | | | suggestion, parents should also inspect children's |
| researched before a purchase is made. | | | | furniture in the form of chests and dressers. The |
| In addition to the practicality of purchasing these pieces, | | | | drawers should open and shut smoothly and with |
| there are also the benefits of safety to consider. | | | | ease. The drawers should also have an automatic |
| Children's furniture tends to have smoother surfaces | | | | stop that prevents them from being pulled out all the |
| that are free from splinters and rough edges. Bolts, | | | | way and surprisingly falling on a child. Teach the child to |
| screws and joints are hidden and meant to be | | | | only open one drawer at a time and never allow |
| secured tightly. The JPMA or Juvenile Products | | | | children to stand in open drawers. Their weight placed |
| Manufacturers Association Certification Seal assures | | | | on one side of the dresser may cause the entire |
| parents that products are built to the very highest | | | | dresser to fall over on top of them. Care in the |
| safety standards. This is especially important in cribs. | | | | selection of appropriate pieces should be made, |
| Crib slats or spindles must be spaced no more than 2 | | | | especially when siblings of different sizes and ages |
| 3/8 inches apart. This protects a child's head from | | | | are sharing a room. |
| being caught in between the spindles. When buying | | | | Bookcases and entertainment centers are also |
| children's bedroom furniture used, or from antique | | | | continuing to grow in popularity. Bookcases should |
| stores, parents should make sure that if the pieces are | | | | always be secured to a wall to prevent them from |
| not up to date with current safety guidelines, | | | | tipping over. Many young children like to climb on top of |
| adjustments are made. The mattresses should also fit | | | | bookshelves. Securing furniture to a wall will prevent |
| snugly leaving no room for tiny fingers to get caught in | | | | injury should a child climb onto the piece. In addition to |
| between. Parents should be very concerned with | | | | climbing on children's furniture, overloading a top shelf |
| providing safety and protection for their children. And all | | | | of a bookshelf can also cause instability in the piece, |
| thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great | | | | either by a collapsing shelf or by allowing the uneven |
| shall be the peace of thy children. | | | | distribution of the weight to tip the shelf over. Some |
| Experts recommend against the purchase of bunk | | | | bookshelves can be attached to a desk or chest. |
| beds for children under 6 years of age. Top bunks | | | | Caution and accuracy should be taken during the |
| should have guardrails to keep a child from rolling off | | | | assembly process. Entertainment centers carry the |
| the bed while they sleep. The guardrails should extend | | | | same risk as bookshelves. Proper assembly and |
| at least 5 inches above the mattress. The mattress | | | | weight distribution is absolutely necessary for the |
| should fit snug on the board or springs. In addition to all | | | | protection of young children, especially when loading |
| these standards for bunk beds, the ladder could be the | | | | the entertainment center with something as heavy as |
| most important of all. Parents should be certain that | | | | a television set or stereo. |