What do people think about bunk beds?

[Belle]

I have a 4 year old and 18 month old sharing a room. They're keen to continue, though we do have a spare room too. I've always thought I'd put them in bunks eventually, and am wondering if it's too soon to start thinking about it as number 2 gets closer to 2. I'm pretty confident 4 year old would be fine on top (would get the lowest ones I could find). I suppose I'm less sure about whether the younger one might try and climb up, in which case this could just be a crazy hare-brained plan (admittedly I'm trying to save space). I'm sure number 2 will be into a proper bed far sooner than his brother for various reasons, and we def don't have room for 2 single beds, though as I say I could move one of them into the spare room. Anyway - I won't do anything rash but interested to know people's views/experiences with bunks?

[EmmaCC]

We have just (2 days ago) put our two year old son and four year old daughter into bunk beds for similar reasons to you - though we do have a spare room, it's nice to keep that for the grandparent's visits and I actually really like that they share a room - they seem to enjoy it too. Anyway, 4 year old is on the top bunk - we got Ikea ones as they were nice, but fairly cheap and most importantly I didn't think the top bunk was too high for my daughter. Interestingly the instructions do say the top bunk is for 6 years plus but my daughter gets up and down the ladder very easily! There are also quite high wooden bars along the side of the top bunk so there is no way she could fall out. Anyway, she absolutely loves it on the top bunk so no problems with her.

The two year old has been a bit more tricky - only done 2 nights so far - first night was fine, didn't try to get out or wake up at all in the night but last night he got up 4 or 5 times just as I'd put them to bed. I suppose it's to be expected as he's always been in a cot and probably can't believe his luck that he can get out of his bed himself! Have to say that last night the sight of him appearing at the bottom of the stairs (in his sleeping bag having sat on his bum all the way down) did make me laugh though I've a feeling that I'll tire of it pretty soon if he carries on. On the plus side he's slept through the last two nights and we were going through a period of him waking up so I'm hoping he likes his bed so much it might also help this problem.. that might be wishful thinking but I'm hoping he feels less "trapped" and therefore won't wake up screaming to "get out!"... who knows but I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

One thing to look out for when buying the bed is to check whether the bottom bed has any kind of bar/ wooden bit round the side to stop the younger one falling out. Have to say that I didn't really think of this and it was only once we assmebled it that we thought this could be a problem as he could easily roll out having been used to just rolling up to the cot bars. We have wedged a soft chair next to the end he sleeps at as a temporary measure but I know other people who have bought bars that you can attach... I'm sure there must be bunks out there that have some kind of build in side like the top one does...

[Fuschia]

I would be cautious

Know if two children who broke limbs falling down

We removed the lower steps from our bunks to make it difficult to climb up unless the child has long legs

Our bunk is a double at the bottom -4 ft wide

Actually sleeps 3

[Pickle]

My two (nearly 5 and 6) are desperate for bunks, they share a room and each have a single bed at the moment. I'm reluctant as have friends whose daughter broke her arm when she was 6. My worry is that the kids get up in the night for the toilet, and no matter how competent at climbing in the day I'm not sure how they'd go in that woozy half asleep state.

[Claire29]

We had them too, middle son who was around 3 fell out after sneaking up the top, luckily nothing broken! But then decided to seperate them as it was just too tempting for the younger one to climb up the ladder. I will be putting my youngest into a toddler bed in a couple of weeks from a cot, which I know he will love (the freedom!) but at least I haven't got the worry of him falling far, as if we still had the bunk beds he would be up the ladder like a rocket!

[EmmaCC]

Oh dear... I'm now beginning to think it's a bad idea!!

[Belle]

Interesting - thanks all and for the PMs too. Will ponder!

[Fuschia]

It possibly depends partly on tge personality of the child/ren

[keane]

We had bunk beds for our two boys from age 6 & 2 as the little one needed to move out of his cot but the room was too small for 2 beds so there wasn't much choice - in the beginning I had to keep an eye that he didn't climb up but after a while he lost interest in the top bunk and we made his lower one cosy with bedside light, toys etc. they are now 9 and nearly 5 and still in bunks and will be for a while as they need to share a room! We have the metal white ikea ones, cheap but look great.

[snowboarder]

I had a friend who used this http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80123993/ ikea bed as bunkbeds - with bottom mattress on the floor - good as not too high for the top one and no falling out for the bottom one!

[Otta]

I remember being very jealous of friends who hand bunk beds when I was a kid!

[Mens]

My toddler has been climbing up the ladder since she was 16months old. I remove it during the day but when she wakes up in the morning she is straight up there. Even removing it during the day means that she climbs up the end of it and jumps up and down up there. It's really quite scary.

Also when friends come over we end up with about 5 kids playing around up there (regardless of how many times I ask them to get down).

I think bunkbeds are fine when kids are over 5 (6 is the official age). I was told by the man in the store that most injuries occur whilst kids are playing, rather than them falling out.

[Kaska]

My boys were at this age when they get they bunk bed.I get the short/small version. Probably they will outgrown out of it in the next few years but for now I am happ with my choice. It takes less space,seems cozy and not vey high(just over 5 ft).No accidents so far...

[etta166]

My 4 year old has been in the top bunk since just before his birthday. He's fine up and down the ladder in the night, and tends to shout out for me when he needs to get up, rather than getting up alone, anyway. His sister (2) will be joining him on the bottom bunk soon. She can climb up to the top already, but I'm not sure that she'd wake up in the night to do it...

[Belle]

sadly neither of mine are the types not to try and muck about on them. I guess I was trying to convince self would be ok. Like you Emma, we like to use the spare room for grandparents (my mum lives in Scotland so comes for week-long stays when she visits). Though I guess we could just move them in with each other on the occasions we do have guests. They do like sharing though! Realise it's quite a luxury to have the choice.

[blondelle]

Bunk beds is really nice especially if you have two or more kids. It can save space in a bedroom.

[blondelle]

Bunk beds are really good if you are saving a space in your bedroom. Try to visit www.beds-bed.co.uk, they have a nice beds at an affordable prices. They also offers free shipping around UK.