Is a small 4 year old boy too young for a top bunk bed?

[hollingbury]

My son is very keen to get bunk beds. Is he too young for the top?

If not, any make recommendations?

[BMO]

DS1 has been on a mid sleeper (about 1m up) since just before he was 3 and has never fallen out, so I think a 4 year old would be fine on a top bunk.

[tinkerbellvspredator]

Top bunks are supposed to be 6+, cabin beds 4+. But lots of people use them earlier, if the ladder is at an angle rather than vertical I think that makes it safer.

[BackforGood]

Some children are born wrigglers / faller-out-of bed-ers, and some lie still from when they are tiny. That is a far greater influence than actual age, although I've always understood the recommendations are they don't go up until they are 6

From my own experience, it's really difficult for you to get up there, so it's better to wait until they are past the bed wetting and being sick in the night stages as it's a nightmare to have to be changing sheets up there in the middle of the night.
Also, it's sad not to be able to snuggle in next to them when reading bedtime story. OK, you might be able to manage it if you weigh about 7 stone and are a nimble gymnast, but for most of us it's not really practical or sensible to be trying to climb up there with them, and then I think that's really sad to miss out on that for a couple more years.

[BMO]

You can just read a story in your bed Back You don't have to miss out.

[BackforGood]

Yes, but then they have to get out, trot down the landing, get cold tootsies, get distracted by something they see/pass etc. rather than sleepily snuggling down and drifting off. It's not the same.

[BMO]

I must be lucky to have a small house then!

[Vijac]

My son has been in a mid sleeper since before he was 3 too. With a vertical ladder. He has never fallen out and there is little risk of it when he's asleep. Only thing I'm quite strict about is not jumping on it or playing. hanging over the edge games. We read a book snuggled on the floor with the bean bag before he climbs up to sleep.

[hollingbury]

Thanks all. Any recommended makes?

[britishbakeoffblues]

decker bus I want this for my son :)

[britishbakeoffblues]

m.cuckooland.com/dnc/cuckooland/mobile/product/44548/london-bus-kids-bunk-bed/vid/155982?gclid=CM7O3ezO98MCFU_MtAod5BQACA

[britishbakeoffblues]

m.cuckooland.com/dnc/cuckooland/mobile/product/44548/london-bus-kids-bunk-bed/vid/155982?gclid=CM7O3ezO98MCFU_MtAod5BQACA
Got there eventually! night shift brain

[trice]

I always worry about smoke inhalation with tiny children in top bunks. Make sure your smoke alarm is working op.

[ragged]

My 4yos have fallen out of mid sleepers (2 occasions), I couldn't chance a high sleeper so young. 5-6yo better.

[sugarplumfairy28]

DS and DD had to have bunk beds when they were 3 and 1 and a half. We had to move and the second bedroom wasn´t big enough for 2 beds. DS never fell out of the top bunk, do note the mattress thickness limit though.

[Megan001]

I would leave it until a little older. I remember one morning my ds was sleeping underneath the bed asleep when he was about 5 ish . He was too tired to club back in after a trip to the loo . If your getting bunks get ones that can be made into single beds for when they are older.

[cosmos239]

Bunk beds are not recommended for children under six. Personally I wouldn't risk it, more from the getting in and out point of view than falling out when sleeping. It's basically putting a climbing frame in their room but some young kids are safe and great climbers... Not my d's.

[LittleLionMansMummy]

We were looking at a mid sleeper for our 4yo ds, one with a good barrier to the side. We ended up putting him in a normal single bed but only because he sleep walks and has night terrors.

[toptomatoes]

We have bunks but only got them when DS1 was 6 and DS2 was 2. DS2 is 4.5 now and very small, I would worry about him falling when climbing up and down half asleep or reaching over to get his drink in the night.

[Notso]

I love that London bus one but it looks a nightmare to change the sheets.
We are going to get bunks for DS2 4.2 and DS3 2.10.
DS2 is very tall though 120cm and like a monkey so climbing will be no issue.

A friend of mine doesn't believe in cots or toddler beds. Two of her DC have been in cabin beds from 5 months old and have allegedly never fallen out.

[tinkerbellvspredator]

I think the risk is when they're climbing up and down, I don't see how they can fall out if the mattress is the right height. DD rolls to the edge of her bed a lot and sleeps wedged against the rail! We have a thuka.