Vantaa to inspect all daycare fold-away beds after child trapped between bed and wall

The city of Vantaa will review all fold-away beds in its municipal daycare centres following an incident where a child was trapped between a bed and a wall, Yle reports.

Deputy Mayor Katri Kalske told the broadcaster that inspections have already begun to assess potential safety risks. “We are examining all [fold-away beds] and investigating any safety hazards they may pose,” she said.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at Kelokuusi Daycare, where a child became wedged between a fold-away bed and the wall. On Wednesday, the Safety Investigation Authority published an image of the bed model involved.

Kalske confirmed that fold-away beds are the most common sleeping arrangement in Vantaa’s daycare centres, though alternatives like floor mattresses and low-level crib beds are also used. “I would say it’s the most widespread solution,” she noted.

The beds will remain in use during the inspection period, but Kalske emphasised that staff have received updated safety guidelines for handling sleeping situations. “Special attention is being paid to procedures and additional safety instructions,” she said.

Vantaa operates around 130 municipal daycare centres. Kalske could not estimate how many identical fold-away beds are in use across the facilities.

She declined to comment on the cause of the accident, as police are investigating the case under suspicion of aggravated assault causing bodily harm.