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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Can a 3 year old sleep safely in a bed off the ground?

34 replies

FrannyandZooey · 27/05/2006 11:27

We have just bought a bed for ds (those of you who know we have co-slept for 3 years will understand this is a major development :))

It is \link{http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15558&catalogId=10103&storeId=7&langId=-20&parentCats=155581618016184&productId=53009\this one} and can go either way up so they sleep right down on the ground or a few foot off the floor. I thought ds could have it down on the ground for a while but he saw it in the high up position in the shop and loved it so much.

He can get up and down the ladder very easily and is quite a careful child. However I am worried that in the middle of the night, he might wake up and forget where he is. He can't roll out in his sleep but if he tried to get back to our bedroom for instance do you think he might fall out?

He usually wears a grobag, could I just put him in that and tell him not to get out of bed but shout for mummy instead? Am I going to end up having less sleep after all this?

Help!

OP posts:

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Twiglett · 27/05/2006 11:30

I'd put it on the ground for a 3 year old and move it up when he's older

GeorginaA · 27/05/2006 11:32

I agree with Twiglett. When ds1 first went into a bed he fell out quite a few times in his sleep. Don't they say that high sleepers aren't recommended until age 6?

FrannyandZooey · 27/05/2006 11:33

He can't fall out I don't believe, as it is enclosed all the way round, but he could come a cropper if trying to climb down in the night.

OP posts:

GeorginaA · 27/05/2006 11:35

laugh ... my son managed to fall out even with a bedrail... never say never

kama · 27/05/2006 11:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LIZS · 27/05/2006 11:37

Start low and then move it up when he gets older and is night trained. we have legs for dd's bed but she lieks to bundle in and out over the side bars so it is still low (and the ladder woudl be a prblem space wise in her current room). Also do you have or plan to have any younger kids as a high sleeper can be a tempting, but hazardous, plaything for tots.

Mercy · 27/05/2006 11:37

I really wouldn't put a 3 year old in a bed up that high tbh, I would have though it's more suitable for a 6/7 year old.

mistressmiggins · 27/05/2006 11:38

my DD is nrly 2 and is in a full size single bed without a rail.
I tuck her in with a sheet and put duvet on top and she has fallen out once
I always check b4 I go to bed & move her/tuck her back in if necessary

my DD is 4 and he has a bed similar to the one you have and is fine....maybe 3 might be too young - depends on child

sallystrawberry · 27/05/2006 11:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrannyandZooey · 27/05/2006 11:44

My instinct would have been to say no, but seeing the bed itself and seeing him in it, I did feel it would be ok unless he tried to get down in the night.

I am not sure how he is going to take it if we tell him he has to sleep on the bottom of it :( I am pretty sure the appeal is that he thinks it will be like in the shop. (I am not going to make my mind up based on that, obviously, just explaining why I am hoping it might be ok for it to be in the higher position)

I may have to have another look when dp has made it. How about if we put the ladder bit against the wall at night time?

OP posts:

GeorginaA · 27/05/2006 11:53

That might be worse - sleepily trying to climb down expecting it to be there...

FrannyandZooey · 27/05/2006 11:56

Yes you see he would be sort of stuck because of the canopy...

however I do take everybody's point. It sounds like maybe not, as I suspected. We have bought nice new sheets, pillow, duvet, furry cushions, etc so hopefully the whole shebang will be exciting and special enough for him anyway.

I think we just got carried away after 3 years of toddler elbow in the face at night. He saw this bed and said "I want to have that bed and I'll sleep on it all night by myself"

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 27/05/2006 12:01

Both DS1 and 2 have slept in this sort of bed from a couple of months before their 3rd birthdays. Only DS2 has ever fallen out and they're 7 and 5 now (he tried to climb over the edge rather than down the ladder but his doesn't have that canopy round it)

These beds have a rail all round which pretty much prevents them from falling out - both have fallen out of ordinary beds on holiday far more times than their mid-height beds at home.

What we did at first (just remembered!) was to use a futon mattress as it's lower than an ordinary mattress meaning the rails are higher.

Tiggerish · 27/05/2006 12:08

My ds has one like this and has never fallen out or had problems getting in and out at night. We first got it when he was 2.9 when dd was due and we needed the cotbed for her.

charliecat · 27/05/2006 12:21

My dd was in a high bed from2. something and was fine.

FrannyandZooey · 27/05/2006 12:51

Oh really?

Oh well now I don't know what to do. Do you both mean you had this exact same bed, Soupy and Tiggerish? (charlie it sounds like you had a similar one?)

Just seen it says on the box "not suitable for children under 6" but I would regard that as being along the same lines as "not for under 3" toys, in that it might be ok, depending on your child and the level of supervision etc.

Hmm

OP posts:

charliecat · 27/05/2006 12:53

I had bunk beds, she could get up and down ok, even half asleep.

FrannyandZooey · 27/05/2006 12:54

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 27/05/2006 12:56

Not the same, ours are the Thukka version, but same height by the looks of it and with the same rail.

nicnack2 · 27/05/2006 17:05

my godson whi is now 5 has slept in a cabin bed since 3 aslo his sisted wo is now 3 has just got one too

TambaTheDragonSlayer · 27/05/2006 17:06

My neice is 3 and has a bed similar to that... she fell out the other week though and broke her arm!

nutcracker · 27/05/2006 17:11

Ds was 3 when I got him a midsleeper bed. He has fallen going down the ladders once, and bruised his bits but other than that he's been fine.

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emkana · 27/05/2006 20:07

Dd1 has been in a mid-sleeper since just over three as well, and she's never fallen out once, or fallen down the ladder.

She gets out of bed quite regularly at night to come and see us but she's fine.

I would give it a try if I was you.

fattiemumma · 27/05/2006 20:16

its not so high that if he fell he would seriously damage himself i wouldn't imagine.
i probably wouldn't put him in a grobag just in case he needs to get out in the night and forgets he is all zipped up.

im sure he will be fine and as you say, if he is excited to use it as a high bed it may make it easier for him to get used to having his own bed.

i'd say give it a go and if it all goes wrong you can always tip it up the other way.

Elibean · 27/05/2006 21:13

Hmm...I'd be tempted to let him try it, but lose the grobag just in case. Duvet has been a big hit with dd since she got her 'big girl bed', maybe ds will enjoy one??

Wonder if you've had another luvverly, solitary, slovenly supper tonight or been dutiful...

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