Bunk beds are in millions of American bedrooms and they send tens of thousands of children to the emergency room every year. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that bunk beds are associated with approximately 36,000 emergency room-treated injuries annually, with the majority involving falls from the upper bunk or ladder. Children under 6 years of age are at the greatest risk, and CPSC specifically recommends that children under 6 never sleep in the upper bunk.
Where the Injuries Happen
The majority of bunk bed injuries occur in one of three ways. First, children fall from the upper bunk when guardrails are missing, too short, or have gaps that allow a child to roll through. Second, children fall from the ladder while climbing up or down, particularly at night when children are drowsy and less coordinated. Third, children become entrapped — trapping their head, neck, or body in gaps between the mattress and the guardrail or between the ladder rungs.
CPSC’s mandatory bunk bed standard requires that guardrails be present on all sides of the upper bunk, that the gap between the mattress and the guardrail be no more than 3.5 inches, and that the ladder be sturdy and securely attached. Multiple non-compliant bunk beds sold online have been recalled in 2025 and 2026 for failing these requirements.
What You Should Do
- Never allow children under 6 years old to sleep in the upper bunk.
- Ensure guardrails are present on both sides of the upper bunk, with no gaps larger than 3.5 inches between the mattress and the guardrail.
- Teach children to always use the ladder when getting in and out of the upper bunk — never jump down.
- Do not allow children to play on the upper bunk.
- Place a nightlight near the ladder so children can see it safely during nighttime bathroom trips.
- Check SaferProducts.gov to verify whether your bunk bed brand and model has been recalled.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
