Bunk beds create a fun and practical sleeping setup for shared bedrooms, all while making great use of available space. They come in a variety of colours, sizes, and designs, so they can be seamlessly incorporated into any room style. 

Bunk beds can be a great choice for your cottage or home, but it’s important to make sure you and your guests are safe! Here are some ideas to help you stay on top of bunk bed safety. 

Bunk Bed Safety and Best Practices

The Government of Canada provides a comprehensive guide to bunk bed safety, which includes recommendations about age-appropriateness, important rules, and what to keep away from the bunks.

One important safety recommendation is that you must always use the bunk bed ladder to get up to the top bunk and to get back down to ground level. For this reason, bunk bed ladders are a key safety feature. Safety features should be functional, but they should be easy and comfortable to use, too. 

How to Make Bunk Bed Ladders More Comfortable 

Bunk bed ladders can be used on their own, but some people prefer to customize their ladders to their needs and desired comfort level. If this sounds like you, then these ladder ideas for bunk beds might do the trick! 

You can make your bunk bed ladder more comfortable with materials you might already have at home. Read on to learn about different materials that can be used for your bunk bed ladder plans.

Pre-wrap (+Grip Tape)

If your kids are in sports, you might have a roll or two of pre-wrap in your house. It can be used under bandages, as a headband, or even to add padding to your bunk bed ladders. 

Pre-wrap clings to itself, so it’s easy to wrap around the steps of a ladder. It can be wrapped around as many times as you’d like, so you can adjust the amount of padding to your comfort level. It’s a good idea to secure it in place on your steps with tape. For extra cushion and comfort, you can use grip tape (like tennis or bicycle tape). This tape adds a little extra padding and helps make the steps easier to climb, due to the added grip. 

Not only does the pre-wrap make your steps easier on your feet, but it also protects the bunk bed ladder wood from being damaged by the sticky side of the tape. Plus, if you have any left over, you can keep it in your first aid kit for future use. 

Child Protection Edge Guards

Baby-proofing materials can be used even after your kids have grown up. They are intended for use on indoor furniture and are designed to improve home safety, so they’re great for the steps of your bunk bed ladder. 

Edge guards are typically sold with an adhesive backing, so you can apply them directly to your bunk bed. They are easy to install and made of child-safe materials, so if you’re looking to buy just one product for your bunk bed ladder project, this might be the best option. 

Pool Noodles

If you have a pool, you might already have some pool noodles. Pool noodles can be used as foam padding for your bunk bed ladder.

The pool noodle option takes more of a DIY approach, so you’ll need scissors or a craft knife, tape, and a pool noodle. 

First, cut your pool noodle into pieces that will fit on your bunk bed ladder’s steps. Then, cut the pieces open lengthwise so they can open up. Next, wrap the noodles around each step and secure them in place with tape. 

This approach gives you some creative freedom, so you can decide which colours of pool noodles and patterns of tape you want to use. You can even turn it into an arts and crafts project with your kids by painting the noodles or decorating them with stickers. 

If you decide you want to remove or replace the padding later on, there is no damage to the bunk bed ladder wood! Simply cut the tape and remove the pool noodle. 

Seat Belt Covers

If you like to road trip to the cottage, you might have seat belt covers on hand. These padded covers can also be used on bed bunk ladders. 

With their velcro fasteners, seat belt covers are easy to install and remove. Make sure they are secured in place (tape can help with this!). They come in a variety of colours, patterns and materials and can be easily washed in between uses. 

If you’re just visiting your cottage for the weekend, you can bring the seat belt covers in the car with you to strap on to your seatbelts and make the drive home comfy, too. 

Final Words

Because the bunk bed ladder is such an important safety feature, you want to make sure that you, your family members, and your guests feel comfortable using it. Based on your lifestyle, budget, and expectations, you can choose the option that is right for you.

For more tips about bunk bed safety, check out these bunk bed safety tips.