What age for bunk beds?

sooosie · January 2012

We're getting ready to switch Max's bed and I'm wondering if I should get bunk beds for one of their rooms. Ian has expressed interest, but what's the right age to get these? Are 3 and almost 5 too young?

Temp108743750006959 · January 2012

DS loves to sleep in bunk beds, especially on vacation. My main reason for not getting one is not my DS. I just know he'll have friends over and they'll want to jump around on them and it makes me too nervous -- probably doesn't help that we have wood floors.

Mominator · January 2012

I think it depends on the kids. Mine are 3 & 5 and I would feel comfortable getting them for them at this age.

amiamish · January 2012

We got DS1 a bunk bed at age 3, he did great with it. We made the rule that he wasn't allowed on the top bunk unless one of us was in there until we felt comfortable with him being up there and was sure that he was able to go up and down the ladder safely. (that took only about 2wks) He loved it and did great with it. We took it down when DS2 was able to walk/climb and now they have separate rooms and 1 bed in each. I love it because eventually we can put them back together if they share a room again, or for DS1 to have both beds and get DS2 a bed (or bunk set?) of his own. I like having options.

mamarazzi · January 2012

We got our boys (3 & 5) a set a few months ago. Right now we have them as two twins (side by side) and will probably bunk them in a couple months.

Carol*Brady2 · January 2012

My youngest 2 were in them at 2 & 4.5yrs.

lsufan · January 2012

You could always get two twins that can be bunked later. We got our boys a low loft when they were almost 4 and almost 2. We put a mattress on the floor under the loft for DS2. First, it was because he was so young and just moving from the crib, and that way he wouldn't have far to fall. Now, he's 4 and still sleeping that way. He likes it because there is a curtain all the way around, so it's like his secret hideout. One of these days we'll get him a real bed.

Richardsmom_817 · January 2012

My son was 2.8. He sleeps on the bottom...he is 6 1/2 now. My almost 4 yr old naps in it sometimes (on the bottom). I think they're great...you can usually also keep them both on the floor, which is nice....

Richardsmom_817 · January 2012

We did use a temporary guardrail for a little while....maybe a year...got it at Target, or one of those....

shopgirl78 · January 2012

That's my plan for the boys as soon as DS2 is finished with the crib which we are prolonging by that time DS1 will have probably also outgrown his toddler bed.

lilyaster · January 2012

My 3 and 4 year old girls just got a set for Christmas and it's been working very well. We got a set that can be separated to twin beds, and planned to do that if they did not seem safe with the bunks, but it hasn't been necessary. I did a lot of looking around before I got the set I did. I wanted one that was not too tall- some sets are really high, and on ours, the upper mattress is about at my shoulder (I'm 5'6") I also wanted a ladder that was sloped instead of straight vertical, and had flat steps instead of round rungs. Finally, I wanted a railing on the upper bunk that was high, sturdy, and went all the way around except for the ladder opening. As it turned out, my 3 year old has insisted on sleeping on the top and my 4 year old on the bottom, unlike I had planned, but it is working fine.

Jodi&Joe · January 2012

Joey and Cam sleep in them at the beach house. And have for about 1.5 years. So Cam was 4 when she started in one. Hers is a double on the bottom though. Joey sleeps in a twin on the top and it has a built in guard rail (don't they all?).

I'm not a huge fan of it so don't think I would get them for long term use. Their room was an add on off of our bedroom -- and so it's only 9X9 (approx) so bunk beds was the way to go. We haven't had any issue other than Joey (on his hands and knees) rocking back and forth on it (to get it to sway back and forth). It's one of those old school metal ones (not my first choice but a freebie from a friend that was throwing them away).

It's one of those things that you just have to set VERY clear rules for and be able to follow through with any consequences stated if the rules are broken. There is ZERO room for inconsistency when it comes to safety - and I would put bunk beds in that category.

Angela814 · January 2012

My 5 yo has bunk beds in her room, and she chooses to sleep on the top bunk. I would just be concerned about the 3 yo being able to get up and down without falling.

Arnegard · January 2012

We got a great deal on bunk beds about a month before Alex turned 4. Taylor refused her crib at that point and we've had them in bunks since. This summer, we will redo our nursey and Dylan will sleep on the bunks with Taylor while Alex will get her own room.

We really have no other options with how small the bedrooms are. With 2 dressers, a toy box, a night stand and a closet along one wall - there is no room for another bed. I won't make them sleep downstairs until they want to and are old enough to decide that.

adri77 · January 2012

I have 2 boys in bunk beds. We moved them to bunk beds in Sept when DS2 had JUST turned 3. DS1 was 4 almost 5. Everything has been A-ok, no issues whatsoever.

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