Bunk Bed for nearly 4 and nearly 2yo?

[AngeloMysterioso]

I’ve got two DC, DS1 will be 4 in a month, DS2 will be 2 in 2 months. Currently they’re in 2 beds side by side- DS1 in a cot bed, DS2 in a high sided cot.
However, these take up a lot of space in a relatively small room and recently DS2 (the little sod) has realised he can pull himself up and sort of fosbury flop over the side onto his brother’s bed.

I’m thinking of getting them a bunk bed, like the one in the picture- the bottom bunk is low to the ground and you access the top with stairs so DS1 wouldn’t have to negotiate a ladder.

Has anyone had one of these for children of a similar age?

Would DS2 not climb up to the top and then throw himself off? My DS2 would have 😂

We did, at exactly those ages. Actually, with a small ladder (still the low-lying bunk bed though). OOOOOOBVIOUSLY the DCs decided that the top bunk was for the 2-year-old. It was fine though. Two years on, zero incidents. We do however have a very, very firm rule about no standing on the top bunk, and we practiced going down safely a ton of times. I also bought a thick rug to go next to the bed. I think of it as no different from the play structure at the park though… probably safer, actually!

Honestly I would not be able to sleep. I could see a very nasty accident happening if they stood up and jumped off - My memory was children should be 6 plus to use bunks?

Check the recommended age for the particular bed you're planning to buy. I personally wouldn't consider it for DC of those ages. If you want to save on floor space then I'd get a trundle bed for now, and bunks when they are older.

You can get a stair gate for them

Yeah, my 2-year-old would totally be climbing up that and falling off. If you put a stair gate on, will your 4-year-old be able to manage it?

If they can climb out of a cot then likely they can climb a gate!

Only you know your kids but my younger son wouldn't be safe with this.

You surely can’t stairgate a bunk bed? If your youngest can escape the cot then a gate won’t contain him and it’s even more dangerous as he’d be flopping over onto stairs and what about your eldest coming down out of bed?

Personally I wouldn’t for an under 2 and I’d just go with 2 cot beds for now if he’s escaping because cramped is better than unsafe. I’d probably consider the beds like you’ve posted from when he’s 2 and half so just that bit more proficient on stairs and more likely to follow instructions re not standing on the top bunk etc.

Similar aged children and I vetoed the bunk bed in the following grounds:

The DC would kill each other by throwing the other off the top and then body slamming them.

Sickness- there is no way I'm going to be fighting with sheets, blankets and duvets when one of them has been sick. No way.

I think you know your children. If DS2 will be in danger of hurting himself then don’t do it. We took the side off DD2’s cot when she was 18m because she figured out she could climb over it. It was safer to have a stair gate and put a bed guard on the bed.

Mine would have climbed up and then got over the side piece and jumped down/tried to fly...

I think 6 is the age it's reckoned that is safe for top bunk . (RoSPA)

if you use a stair gate how does the child get down in an emergency or if they need the toilet? Sorry but having seen a few too many injuries in my brief time in A&E admin - I would be nope. Time enough for them to be in bunks.