Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do your teens have single or double beds?

133 replies

dreamingoaholiday · 21/06/2023 22:01

DS needs a new bed. He's nearly 15 and adult sized (6' and broad).

At that age, I really wanted a double bed, just because it seemed grown up.

I don't think it's occurred to him to ask, but as he's adult sized, I imagine he'll be more comfortable in a double.

But is it appropriate? Am I overthinking?!

What do your teens sleep in?

OP posts:
bonfirebash · 21/06/2023 23:22

Snowtrails · 21/06/2023 22:55

A single is perfectly fine for a single person ! Less washing too.

Bollocks to that. I'm single and have a super king!

Remaker · 21/06/2023 23:24

DD almost 17 has had a double for about 18 months. She has a big room.

DS15 is 6 feet tall (and skinny) in a single. A double won’t fit in his bedroom. He can move into the spare room if he wants and get a double but he’s happy where he is.

Tanfastic · 21/06/2023 23:25

15 year old ds has a single. Never entered my head to get him a double tbh.

OytheBumbler · 21/06/2023 23:30

Me and dh have only just upgraded to a king from a small double.

Feeling I'm neglecting my teens who are both in singles and grateful for their own room!

Xmasbaby11 · 21/06/2023 23:37

I’d go with double or king! I can’t see the problem if you have the space.

comfortable for him and gives flexibility for other people using it later.

I’d never get a small double unless it was a space issue. Fine for one but really not comfy for two people. I’ve slept on a few in guest rooms.

Testino · 21/06/2023 23:57

Rightnowstraightaway · 21/06/2023 23:18

The people who say they couldn't sleep in a single - I don't get it. I have a super king but with my partner, that still only gives us a single bed's worth of space each?! Do you all have beds bigger than super king?!

I know. It's like a placebo effect. Unless you sleep alone in a double, you sleep in a single or small double at the most.

Helena189 · 22/06/2023 00:13

My 15 Yr old DS has a double bed, we moved house last year and he now has a room that's big enough so when he needed a new bed we got him a double one.

Original poster
dreamingoaholiday · 22/06/2023 00:18

Snipples · 21/06/2023 23:16

Our 5 year old has a small double which is the perfect size for her and she loves it. Makes story time easier too as there's somewhere for me to sit. Planning on getting one for our 3 year old shortly too.

Wishing I though of this when the DC were little. Remembering squeezing into DS's blimming tiny toddler bed with him because it helped him get back to sleep. My back aches just thinking about me all scrunched up in that bed!

Why didn't I think of getting a double then? <sigh>

OP posts:
FussyPud · 22/06/2023 00:24

AngelasAirpods · 21/06/2023 23:16

Single. They can learn to sleep anywhere. I hate all the washing of doubles and more. Plus gives them more room for their things.

I make them do their own bed stripping/laundry/remaking. Maximum win! Grin

CurlyhairedAssassin · 22/06/2023 00:31

Hersetta427 · 21/06/2023 22:51

Why the need to mention your DC’s height when a single is the same height as a double !

if it make you feel better though DD is 15, 6ft tall and in a single !

Well because some beds have footboards and a teenager over 6ft finds that their feet touch them if they want to lie flat on their back. With a double they can sleep slightly diagonally to avoid that.

We’ve dithered for years about whether to buy a double for DS1 to replace his bunk bed (separated when they switched to bedroom each). He is very tall, about 6ft 2. But he said he was happy with it so we left it as he went to uni this year and his brother uses that room to work on the PC anyway, dumps his school bag there too etc

then, having never shown any interest in girls at 6th form, he suddenly announces he has a girlfriend, and she wants to visit for a couple of nights in the summer. We have hurriedly bought a double bed for his room because while he says they’re managing to share a single while at uni, I can’t even imagine how they’ve managed in this hot weather both squashed into a single. So will be nice for them, and I see it as future proofing now.

ConsuelaHammock · 22/06/2023 08:57

My children went from their cot to a double bed. I don’t believe in buying lots of beds as they get older. One cot and two beds until they leave home.

SootspriteSearcher · 22/06/2023 09:47

I had a single bed until I fell pregnant with DD1 and DH moved into my mums with me, then we got a small double as my belly took up more room 😆 But before that we both slept in my single bed if he stayed over.

My dds will be having single beds until they leave home, gives more options as we aren't restricted on room size if we need to move (renting). Currently you could squeeze in a double bed into their rooms but wouldn't be room for much else.

My biggest regret was not getting a sofa bed for the lounge for sleepovers!

TattiePants · 22/06/2023 10:02

DD is 12 and has had a double for a few years. DS is nearly 17, well over 6ft but is very attached to his single bed (he has SEN so doesn’t like change). He would also have to lose the full size pool table if he wanted a bigger bed. Totally down to the individual.

LadyDanburysHat · 22/06/2023 10:05

Until we moved house a year ago my DC were 18, 14 and 10 and all had single beds. Older two shared a room, so no option for bigger. Now they all have their own room, which are big and all have doubles.

Brokendaughter · 22/06/2023 12:50

My son has a small double because he was fairly young when I got it, & it gave him more room on the floor to play.
I have a double bed (just for me).

It's great from a bedding perspective.
All the bedding in the house is now doubles & fairly neutral in design, so duvet covers etc.. can go anywhere.
While I did get small double fitted sheets, I've been known to put a regular double sheet on the bed by accident as they are all white & it's fine if you just tuck it in a bit more.

A small double is a great space for one to sleep in, but a bit of a squash really for 2 adult sized people.

Hersetta427 · 22/06/2023 19:50

CurlyhairedAssassin · 22/06/2023 00:31

Well because some beds have footboards and a teenager over 6ft finds that their feet touch them if they want to lie flat on their back. With a double they can sleep slightly diagonally to avoid that.

We’ve dithered for years about whether to buy a double for DS1 to replace his bunk bed (separated when they switched to bedroom each). He is very tall, about 6ft 2. But he said he was happy with it so we left it as he went to uni this year and his brother uses that room to work on the PC anyway, dumps his school bag there too etc

then, having never shown any interest in girls at 6th form, he suddenly announces he has a girlfriend, and she wants to visit for a couple of nights in the summer. We have hurriedly bought a double bed for his room because while he says they’re managing to share a single while at uni, I can’t even imagine how they’ve managed in this hot weather both squashed into a single. So will be nice for them, and I see it as future proofing now.

Show quote history

But footboards can apply equally to singles or doubles - just don’t get a bed with one if they are tall surely is the obvious answer.

Coronationstation · 22/06/2023 20:15

My brother is 6ft 5 and slept in a single bed with walls on 3 sides until he went to uni! I’ve no idea how as I find them small myself now. But there wasn’t really much choice in the box room!

Hoppingmad231 · 22/06/2023 20:31

My ds 15 has just upgraded to a double.

febbabies2023 · 22/06/2023 20:47

Why wouldn't it be appropriate

When we changed my 2 year old from a cot to bed we bought him a double. He has a big room and it means I won't need to buy a new one for a long time so made sense

He loves having a good old roll around in it (or jumping on it 🙃)

soundsys · 22/06/2023 20:53

Small doubles here. Don't know why you wouldn't if you have space tbh

EmeraldFox · 22/06/2023 20:55

ConsuelaHammock · 22/06/2023 08:57

My children went from their cot to a double bed. I don’t believe in buying lots of beds as they get older. One cot and two beds until they leave home.

A single then a double is two beds though. DS has only had two singles then a double due to moving countries.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/06/2023 20:58

When my son was 12 and my daughter's was 10, we got them each a king at the same time. Happy we did because they needed them as the years went on.

Sarah2891 · 22/06/2023 21:18

I never had a double bed, never bothered me at all. None of my friends did either when I was a teen.

Marchintospring · 22/06/2023 21:19

Mine ha had a king size since 13 It was on a free giving page to replace his bunk beds where he looked a bit like Elf.
Whilst he liked it he only sleeps on half of it and the sheets and duvets are an absolute pain. Also I can’t really vacuum underneath because there’s not much room on one side.
Now he’s got his girlfriend over it’s useful but think a double would have been fine.

LondonQueen · 22/06/2023 21:21

My kids have had doubles for a long time and they're far from teens yet. It just makes sense to have a bigger bed if you have the room, DH and I have a super king, it's lush!