What is the Best Age for Bunk Bed Usage? What’s the Minimum Recommended Age?

Get two beds and stack them on top of one another and you’ve got yourself a bunk bed — most commonly seen in the military, hostels, dormitories, and the like. Nowadays, bunk beds are most commonly seen in kids’ rooms. As parents, we want to be as careful as possible with our children, so in this article we hope to answer your question ‘What is the best age for bunk bed usage?’. For a quick answer…

The best age for bunk bed usage is 6 years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 6 do not use the top bunk of a bunk bed due to safety concerns. However, there is limited guidance available about what’s the best age for using the bottom bunk bed. 

 Injuries may vary from mild cuts or bruises to more major cases such as fractures and cerebral concussions. It is worth mentioning, however, that half of those injured are children who are younger than 6 years of age.

The majority of these injuries are minor and often happen following playtime activities — usually when kids jump off or onto their bunk beds. Kids also get injured when they fall off during their sleep. Boys are the more commonly injured demographic, partly because of their more energetic nature. However, there are other, covert dangers regarding the structure of the bunk bed that could potentially lead to suffocation or strangulation. 

Most younger children simply aren't coordinated enough or disciplined enough about their habits, to climb down safely and avoid falling out of the bed.