Vantaa reviews safety of over 6,000 wall beds in daycare centres after fatal accident

Vantaa city officials are examining the safety of more than 6,000 wall beds used in its daycare centres following a fatal accident in March, after an investigation revealed missing safety instructions, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

A two-year-old child died in Myyrmäki’s Kelokuusi daycare centre after becoming trapped inside a wall bed that was accidentally raised while the child was sleeping in the upper bunk. According to the Safety Investigation Authority (Otkes), the daycare lacked specific operating instructions for the bed, despite safety standards requiring them.

Deputy Mayor Katri Kalske confirmed that Vantaa is now reviewing all wall bed models and their operation to assess potential risks. The city has already updated its guidelines to prohibit opening or closing the beds when children are present in the room.

Otkes found that the child had been placed in the upper bunk, contrary to safety standards (SFS-EN-747-1), which advise against children under six sleeping in upper bunks. While Vantaa requires compliance with this standard for new daycare facilities, Kalske acknowledged uncertainty over how widely the rule is followed across the city’s 14,000 child placements.

The authority did not launch a formal safety investigation but recommended that children never be in the room while beds are being handled. Otkes also stressed the need for adequate lighting during bed adjustments.

Vantaa’s daycare centres currently have over 6,000 wall beds providing 12,000 sleeping spaces. Kalske emphasised that all safety instructions must be strictly followed moving forward.