My H built bunk/loft beds for the kids and incorporated rails into them. They are in their 20’s and still use them. When D was a freshman in college, she and her roomie had their beds lofted by H and the other girl’s dad, who was also handy, and H fashioned a rail for D, who took the top because the roomie was afraid of heights. She scoffed but all 4 parents said the bed was coming down if she tampered with the rail. She left it up.
I firmly support this campaign and wish all the best to @RADRailMom, her son and their entire family.
Wow, I had no idea about the potential danger of lofted beds. Honestly, D (and I) were upset that her school forbids lifting the beds but we had no idea why…my assumption is the danger you are all presenting here. So many of the tours we went on showed the lofted beds with desks and dressers underneath which of course is very space-saving, especially when tripled. Thank you for enlightening us.
I just checked with D17’s university website - no lofting allowed. Bunk beds are discouraged but to bunk them, you must have authorization from the school. D doesn’t know her dorm or roommate assignment yet but has no plans for bunking beds anyway. The few times she visited she never saw any that were bunked.
I will be sharing this important warning with the parents of all of her college friends.
Is this discussion still open? I read the links and watched the videos, which were very sad and scary. I am so sorry that happened to your son!
I noticed on move-in day that my son’s dorm bunk is lofted, and didn’t think much of it except that it wasn’t wobbly. It is only 4’ high or so and has no rails nor a ladder–you climb up the end or up on furniture.
Though it’s awful what has happened to some students when falling from high lofts onto floors and out of windows, what is actually considered a dangerous bed height to fall from? Surely not all beds require rails?
The highest setting in my kid’s dorm is about five feet high, which allows a desk or couch to go underneath. My kid’s bed is set at about 3 feet, so trunks and drawers can be stored underneath. A typical bed is maybe two feet high (so your feet can touch the floor).
I didn’t insist on a railing at 3 feet; I would have insisted for five feet. But if you fall right on your head onto a hard floor, I’m sure even two feet is high enough to cause harm.
Didn’t see one railing in that dorm on move in day. No ladders either. That seems pretty typical.
It is time to drop off the kids at college, and time to remember that Bunk/Lofted beds can be dangerous.
From @RADRailMom
Hi Everyone, I wish I had an encouraging tale to tell about lofted beds, but sadly my son rolled out of a 7-foot lofted bed in January of 2015 and almost died from a brain injury and stroke that required brain surgery. He spent 10 weeks in a coma and has spent the last 16 months of his life learning EVERYTHING all over again (swallowing, talking, eating, walking, using the bathroom…everything). Please consider using a safety rail on your bed!
When I was at summer orientation with my son, housing had a loft on display with a ladder and a rail. I asked if those items both came standard and the answer was no you have to pay extra for the ladder and request the rail. They said you don’t really need the rails, because it’s only 4-5 feet off the ground. When I signed up for the loft, I looked for the items to add on and guess what - no options to add them! I had email housing to ask how to get the rails. You had to request them from a separate department. It’s really frustrating to me that they make it so hard to get those items. They should come standard and make kids sign a waiver of liability if they take them off!
When I was in college we were allowed to loft our beds, but had to pass an inspection - it had to be a certain height from the ceiling (so no bumping of heads in the middle of the night), and a rail was required. That should be standard. They shouldn’t sign a waiver - they should be told they must leave them on, or it’s a violation of housing policy, and they risk losing to the right to on-campus housing.
My kiddo had to have a loft last year, which as needed to fit all his things in his room. He never complained, but it was awful. On my two visits there (one to pick him up) I must of bumped my head on the loft 3 times each. My husband also bumped his head. There was no way to sit up in the bed since it was too close to the ceiling. the ladder blocked access to the doorway creating a tripping hazard. So glad he will not have a loft this year!
Unfortunately we still have a long way to go to get rails to be ON by default at semester check-in. IMHO, the university or college needs to take responsibility for offering a safe product. Check out this PSA we finished late Spring that addresses why 18-year-olds aren’t capable yet of making this decision on their own!
I completely agree about the waiver. The liability has to be attached to the university. No one is dragging a bed with them to a residence hall. If the bed is provided by the college, then by God they should offer the safest product possible! Otherwise, the inference is that it must be safe already and I don’t need a rail!
@RADRailMom I just came across this thread so I don’t know if you already know this, but I wanted to mention just in case. At my D’s school they are allowed to loft the beds. Bedrails and ladders are provided and in the room when you arrive. But the bedrail is not that high and I assume the height is based on the very thin mattress provided by the school. My D and her roommate both had the 2-3 inch mattress pads on their beds that many of the kids get. So once the pad is on top of the mattress, there is not much height difference between the mattress and the rail, thus rendering the rail mostly useless, IMO. Just wanted to point out to parents that even though there may be a rail provided by the school, it might not solve the problem depending on the bedding.
My D’s roommate had her bed lofted high enough to fit the desk under, which created the situation mentioned above, where you can’t sit up in bed. I think this should be prohibited by all schools. My D only had her bed lofted high enough to stick a 3-drawer dresser underneath, so she didn’t need a ladder, but I still worried about her falling out of the bed.
So sorry about your son’s experience, all the best to him and your family. I hope he is doing well.
