Bunkbed Safety Plus Organization

Kim
by Kim
2 Materials
$20
30 Minutes
Easy
I worried that my granddaughter might roll out of the top bunk when she stays overnight with us. So we made this book bin out of a plastic window box planter, and fastened it to the rails with pretty ribbon. We use it to hold her books and stuffed animals. But the best thing is that it provides a barrier that she would not be able to roll over while sleeping and fall out of the top bunk.
First I bought a nice new, clean window box planter, and drilled holes large enough to run ribbon through, at the right height for the guard rail.
Then I tied it onto the guard rail on the top bunk, and filled it with her books and stuffed animals.
This is what it looks like from her vantage point. It narrows the sleeping area by about 5", but this is only for a small child anyway.
All set! The window box planter is 48" long, so it fills up a good percentage of the length of the bed.
When not in use as a guard rail-barrier-top-bunk-thingy, the window boxes fit nicely on a window sill, for all kinds of organizational needs. I used these a lot in my classroom when I was teaching.
This has nothing to do with the book bin, but is another safety precaution. I got nervous thinking about my grandson on the bottom bunk, possibly pushing up on the upper bed from underneath, maybe with his legs. The top bunk could actually get off kilter and fall on him! So I took some webbing (bought at the fabric store), and tied the top and bottom sections of the bed together in all four corners. It's not very cute, but it doesn't show from the front.
One last little bunk bed trick: Sometimes we are using the beds separately as two twin beds. I realized long ago that the guard rails work for a toddler, even when the bed is not configured like a bunk bed. I never thought of this when my kids were little, but now as a Grandma, nobody's going to fall out on my watch!
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Frequently asked questions
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  2 questions
  • Whered you find the window box? I've never seen plastic ones. I've got a little guy on the top bunk too, I'd like to try this

  • Johanne Palange Johanne Palange on May 18, 2020

    Making the bed on the top level of a bunk bed is a hassle. Wouldn't this affixed box just make it harder to accomplish? I would fix it to the foot of the bed in such a way that it is suspended to give access for bed making.

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  • Carole Atson Carole Atson on Jan 14, 2021

    I love the idea but I would attach it to the outside

    • Kim Kim on Jan 14, 2021

      I put it on the inside specifically to create a buffer over which a small child wouldn't roll out in her sleep. That was my whole goal. Yours can be on the outside, of course.

  • Grandmasue10 Grandmasue10 on Aug 05, 2021

    We had bunk beds for our children and had no problems; however, when the grandkids came along and were about 6 or 7, they were just playing around not sleeping. One of them climbed the ladder and fell over backwards. she was not hurt but the screaming was awful. I'm sure she'll remember this all of her life. I have noticed now, all the ladders seam to be bolted to the beds. If it's not, bolt it or tie it or do something that prevents this kind of accident.

    Gigi (for Great Grandma)

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