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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

Mid-height cabin bed - too early for 2yr old DD?

35 replies

greenday · 11/12/2006 15:06

I am constantly trying to find ways to create space in my ever-increasing shrinking home. My dd sleeps in a cot and it is time we move her to a proper bed. Instead of a toddler bed, I wonder if a mid-height cabin style bed (where her stuff can be stored underneath) might be the answer to all my space problems?
My dd is very agile and has attemped scarier feats. Also, I think with constant reminders and warnings, she will learn that jumping off the bed isn't a good idea.
Any advice would be most appreciated!

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greenday · 11/12/2006 15:09

Sorry! dd is 2.5yrs, not 2yrs. Lots can happen in terms of agility and balance in 6 mths! So I thought I should clarify!!

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DarrellRivers · 11/12/2006 15:18

I have a friend who put her DS aged 2.5 into a bed with a slide on it so it is quite high probably 5 ft up. No problems there but I don't know if I could have done it with mine.
That said my DD went from a cot into a normal bed 6 months ago when she was 2.5 and no problems.
I don't think it would be too much of a problem

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greenday · 11/12/2006 19:54

DR - Thank you. I've seen the ones with slides and they look so fun.

Has anyone else tried moving their toddler to a high-rise bed? Any success or horror stories to share?

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greenday · 11/12/2006 21:30

bump
anyone?

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NappiesGalooooooooooooria · 11/12/2006 21:33

i moved mine into 'normal' height beds at 12m and 15m...high enough still to fall out... no problems here as long as i keep sideguard things on (didnt have them on for two nights once and it was mayhem, lol)

i say go for it. theyre much more able and mature than most people ever give them credit for...imo.

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NappiesGalooooooooooooria · 11/12/2006 21:36

oh, and planning bunk beds soon - dunno who'll be on the top beds yet, but mine will be 3.9, 2.8 and 1.2. (so you wont be the only mum being cavalier with their safety)

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IlanaK · 11/12/2006 21:36

I think in many ways it may be easier than a normal bed. We have one for my 5.5 year old (moved him into it when he was 4) and my younger ds (2) shares a room with him. We recently took the sides off his cot bed and he regularly falls out at night. Without any side rails, it is so easy to fall off. But if he was sleeping where his older brother doeson the cabin bed, he would probably never fall out as it has side rails all round.

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NappiesGalooooooooooooria · 11/12/2006 21:56

exactly. with side rails, they just wont fall out, whether they are 2 or 20 feet off the ground!!

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greenday · 11/12/2006 22:21

Thank you for your thoughts! I'm convinced I've got a win-win!! Yay!

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essbee · 11/12/2006 22:36

Message withdrawn

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Ellaroo · 11/12/2006 22:47

We moved my ds into a mid-sleeper a couple of months ago. I think in terms of sleeping they are safer than a normal bed because of the bars - however two points to think about: 1. can be dangerous if you have a child that would make a sleepy descent down the ladder to get to the toilet in the night 2. can be dangerous if your child thinks it's okay to stand/bounce on a bed. We have made it absolutely clear that ds is never to stand on his bed, he isn't allowed to play on there and his friends aren't allowed in there at all as I don't want them to end up playing on it and for him to follow their lead. However, neither of these things have ever been a problem for us (just things I had worried about before buying it) and I think mid-sleepers are utterly brilliant in terms of space saving etc - just wish we hadn't bought Flexa as it is complete rubbish.

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greenday · 11/12/2006 23:34

Ellaroo - good points to consider. I spotted Flexa on the internet ... why is it complete rubbish?
I like the rule about not letting friends go onto the bed. Also, dd, although is out of nappies, hasn't woken up in the middle of night to go to the loo, so its something I will have to keep in mind.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I agree that it is safer than a normal height bed as the rails are fixed.

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mummypig · 12/12/2006 00:06

hi I moved ds1 into a cabin bed when he was about 2 1/2 and he was fine. He's never fallen out and both boys love it (ds2 is 2 1/2 now). It was only when he'd had it for a few months that I realised they were only recommended for something like 7 y upwards . But the bouncing can be scary - I think introducing a no bouncing rule is a good idea.

We liked the look of Flexa too but ended up buying something similar from Argos at half the price, and it has been fine.

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IlanaK · 12/12/2006 08:26

Why do you say Flexa is rubbish? We have a flexa cabin bed for my oldest and it will be turned into bunk beds for both the boys. We have had it for about 1.5 years now and like it. We have had no problems. I would be interested to hear about any problems though.

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geekgrrl · 12/12/2006 08:32

am also surprised that you find flexa rubbish? we've had flexa beds in various combinations for our three children for 5 years now and really like them....

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slug · 12/12/2006 08:52

DD has had a flexa cabin bed since she was 2. It's fabulous.

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puccaupunderthemistletoe · 12/12/2006 08:54

Greenday...my dd has just gone into one of these beds, she is 3 next month. She has been totally fine, they have quite a high rail around the top anyway.

hth

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cjmummy · 12/12/2006 09:05

was just about to buy the flexa mid height for my ds but was planning to keep it as a single and put the side bars on for a little while as he is only 21 months but i am a bit concerned now that ellaroo has said they are rubbish. anyone else think so?

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greenday · 12/12/2006 10:33

Elaroo - if you're out there, we are all itching to know why Flexa is rubbish.

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LIZS · 12/12/2006 10:48

We've also got Flexa and while the first (now 6 years old) was a pita to put together it has already survived 3 moves and we bought a second one for dd. The good thing about them is that you can have them low for while to get them used to sleeping in a proper bed then add legs etc.

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greenday · 12/12/2006 20:51

Am I right to conclude that the Flexa is a good product and therefore recommended? I've been looking over the net and they are quite expensive. What is their biggest advantage?

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LIZS · 12/12/2006 21:06

That you can add and adapt the basic bed as your child's needs change, creating bunks in various permutations, mid/high sleepers, add desks, shelves etc as little or as much as you want to.

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cjmummy · 12/12/2006 21:22

greenday ... I've been looking at these in our local furniture place ... I think that they are what I am after but havent actually looked at any others. Is Flexa the only one you are considering or have you seen anything else on your travels worth looking into? I'd rather spend a little less but I really like the idea that my ds can have a standard size single bed with the side rails that can be extended to a mid height sleeper when he is a little bigger.

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greenday · 12/12/2006 21:54

cjmummy - I haven't looked at any physically, just over the internet. I've been googling 'children bed' and looking into the websites that come out on it. You'd get cheaper ones on brands like Ikea, Bedsdirect, Dreams, etc. I think the cheapest I've come across was 199pounds. But from what I gather from everyone's comments and having looked briefly at the Flexa website, Flexa seems to be the most versatile so I guess although expensive, it may save money in the long run.
I'm already quite bought on that idea!!

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cjmummy · 12/12/2006 22:35

me too greenday ... there is a tots to teens furniture barn near me that does a couple of brands (including the flexa) but it seems the most versatile and the most sturdy. Some of the other companies seemed to offer more or less the same flexibility but were a bit spindly. My ds is a little thug already so give him a year or two and I think we need something substantial to stand half a chance. Looks like I am talking myself into the flexa as we speak! I may go and have another look at the weekend just to finally convince myself.