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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to say no to bunk beds?

32 replies

bumpertobumper · 07/08/2014 19:26

we have two DSs, they are nearly 4 and 7. they share a room, but are now asking for bunk beds. DP things they are fun and it's a great plan.
I don't want them - mostly for the trickyness of changing sheets, finding things etc. But also I think that they are kind of unfriendly or something because they can't see each other. I never had them but as a child never liked being on the bottom bunk and just looking at the underneath of a bed so am probably influenced by that.

So, aibu to say no because they're a pita for me, or should I relent cos they are such fun?

OP posts:
fluffymouse · 07/08/2014 19:29

Kids love them for some reason. If you are worried about bottom bunk issues then ask the kids first is younger one is happy to sleep in bottom.

I don't think they are a pita.

ouryve · 07/08/2014 19:30

They don't really need to be sociable when they're asleep.

DS2 likes his bottom bunk cave and DS1 sometimes hijacks it during the day and covers it with a blanket so he can have a complete hideyhole.

ouryve · 07/08/2014 19:31

If DP is all for them, then he can be the one to change the top bunk, btw :o

gamescompendium · 07/08/2014 19:32

Our local fire service recommends you don't have bunks because the child in the top bunk would be exposed to more smoke than anyone else in a housefire. If you have to have bunks they say put a smoke alarm right above the bed.

Having said that safety warning we do have bunks, the kids love them and don't seem to mind the lower bunk, they even spend quite a lot of time under the lower bunk building dens there.

Agree they are a pain in the neck for changing sheets/ finding things. Our cleaner changes the sheets and I get DD1 to find things up there. We've got the very expensive Feather and Black Noah bunk beds that can be changed into two full size single beds, a lot of bunk beds are slimmer or shorter than a normal single so watch out for that.

17leftfeet · 07/08/2014 19:35

I hate changing the top bunk -and I'm 6ft tall!!

Whereisegg · 07/08/2014 19:35

My ds and dss have bunk beds, changing the top bunk isn't really that much work.
I am intrigued by what people mean for saying they are a pain for finding things though?
What things?!

handcream · 07/08/2014 19:36

We had them, they are difficult to change and it wasn't my idea. Eventually they outgrew them. They are a bugger to set up and take down. However we asked a local charity whether they wanted them and the bit our hand off so obviously they are popular

DownstairsMixUp · 07/08/2014 19:36

I've got them. They are fab (apart from changing the sheets) but if you really hate the idea of the sheet change, make DP agree to do it! :P

ElephantsNeverForgive · 07/08/2014 19:54

Sheets are simple, DD clambers about and pulls them off.
DH lifts the mattress off to stick fitted sheets back on.

JoinedJustForThis · 07/08/2014 20:00

Ours loved them, plus it gave them more floorspace in their room to play on....

ElephantsNeverForgive · 07/08/2014 20:01

And why do you bother with bunks, because younger children love them and like floor space.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 07/08/2014 20:03

Xpost

DD2 has a double bed (she gets thrown out for visitors), lack of floor is a repeated grumble.

allisgood1 · 07/08/2014 20:03

I think they are brilliant for space saving. Changing the sheets isn't that hard...I wouldn't let just that deter me.

Original poster
bumpertobumper · 07/08/2014 20:12

thanks everyone. sounds like iabu Smile
better go bunk bed shopping...

OP posts:
Mim78 · 07/08/2014 20:28

elephants I wouldn't do this. I had double bed as a child to be thrown out for visitors and it felt like I was only a squatter in my own room. Also no floor space not nice for kids.

GoogleyEyes · 07/08/2014 20:32

Changing a top bunk is much less bad with a thinnish (cheap!) memory foam mattress than a sprung one. I can sit on one end and lift up the corner at the other end to put the sheet on. Then swop. Really not that bad.

I'd second the recommendation for ones that can also function as two singles - there are various brands (Flexa was one, there are a few more but I've forgotten) and they come up a fair amount on eBay.

FreeSpirit89 · 07/08/2014 20:36

We have a midi sleeper with a mattress on the floor for DSD.

Infinity8 · 07/08/2014 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MuddlingAlongMum · 07/08/2014 21:38

With our bunk beds I lift the mattresses off each bunk completely to put the fitted sheets on and off and it's easy.
Shame I didn't work that out when I was struggling with it at the the end of my last pregnancy though!
The big problem here is finding the beds under the hordes of cuddly toys that live on them.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 08/08/2014 09:23

Mim78 I wouldn't feel too sorry for DD2 she's now 13 and gets chucked out her room twice a year tops at most.

She has a big room, she has petty much as much floor space as DD1 has with her high sleeper in the small room.

I'm the least house proud person on the planet and happily worked round DD2 having playmobil worlds all over the livingroom and conservatory. Hard done by she certainly isn't.

(Oh and it's her who lives on the huge trampoline and in the pool which we have a gardern big enough for because we didn't buy a 4bed box on an estate)

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 08/08/2014 11:02

Dd1 has bunk beds in her room and Dd2 sleeps in her room on a Friday and Saturday night and during the holidays. Changing the top sheet is easy as I get either get Dd1 to clamber up and tuck in the bits I can't reach or dh does it.

They love em.

W0rried · 08/08/2014 11:10

I hate bunks, especially making the top one. I've just bought a new set where a bed slides out from underneath the main bed and looks like a set of drawers when put away to replace the bunks here.

fluffyraggies · 08/08/2014 11:15

Making the top bed IS A PAIN IN THE ARSE. Have no illusions about this OP!

Apart from that we got on well with ours. It fees up allot of floor space. Watch your ceiling height and get ones which can be split into singles again if necessary.

JaceLancs · 08/08/2014 11:18

I had bunk beds when my children were smaller, they did split into 2 full sized single beds, which was part of the plan when they moved into own rooms when older

We had memory foam mattresses on them so quite heavy, I am only short so struggled when changing sheets

Re safety when doing so whilst stood on ladder once, I slipped fell backwards and broke 3 ribs and my arm! Be careful

akwardsazzle · 08/08/2014 11:20

my boys love them, lots of floor space! i dont mind changing the bedding on the top, worse is banging your head on the bottom one!