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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Trundle bed underneath single instead of bunk beds for boys sharing room?

33 replies

hueyblue · 21/07/2017 12:59

Does anyone use a trundle bed (bed the pulls out from underneath another bed) permanently for children who share a room?

At the moment we have bunk beds but I am thinking of alternatives as they are shorty ones and I don't really want to buy full length bunk beds as boys are sharing a small room with low ceiling and the bunks already take up loads of room.

Would a normal size single with a good sturdy trundle underneath that we pull out every night be a solution? Does anyone else have this setup?

OP posts:
blackteasplease · 21/07/2017 13:01

I think that won't do. They both need a permanent bed. Unless no alternative but it sounds like you just don't fancy bunks.

NemosKnickers · 21/07/2017 13:03

wouldn't that just be a pain in the arse and the pull out bed would end up just out all the time?

I agree that they both need a permanent bed.

Petalbird · 21/07/2017 13:05

Problem is who gets a permanent bed and who has to put there bed away every morning. Also it would take up a lot of floor space so everything on the floor would have to be cleared at night at a guess.

faithinthesound · 21/07/2017 13:06

I know that the fact that the trundle bed "trundles away" is a selling point for you, but the child whose bed this is is going to end up feeling like their "space" needs to be hidden away each morning, to be pulled out each night - where is their "space", then, in the middle of the day? Where can they go to chill out, without having to go through the kerfuffle of pulling their bed out? I can see that leading to resentment and hurt feelings at some point.

Better you should go for the proper bunks. At least that way each child has some dedicated personal space, even if the ceiling is low. That seems to me like it will be an easier adjustment for your sons to make than one feeling temporary/tidied away every day.

Velvian · 21/07/2017 13:08

I do, op. The trundle is no less of a permanent bed, it depends on the mattress you buy.
How about a trundle (you can by one on its own from ebay) with a good thick mattress underneath a mid sleeper?

Velvian · 21/07/2017 13:09

My ds's trundle doesn't have legs btw, it's just on casters. Ikea have some good bed solutions

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 21/07/2017 13:14

They're good as a spare for occasional use. I wouldn't use them for permanent use.

wiltingfast · 21/07/2017 13:15

Fgs

What if the one on the inside needs to get up in the night? Your bed solution means he has to crawl out over the other child or wiggle out the end Hmm

I'm not sure you've thought this through. I mean what space are you saving exactly?

You know I have seen bunks on Pinterest that are at right angles to each other, maybe that would work?

MommaGee · 21/07/2017 13:15

With a trundle what happens when top child goes to loo in the middle of the night? Or gets up earlier? Unless you have a huge floor space where they can get out the other side...

Personally think own space is better, not glorified two level double bed

wiltingfast · 21/07/2017 13:16

This kind of thing...

Trundle bed underneath single instead of bunk beds for boys sharing room?
wiltingfast · 21/07/2017 13:23

Here's a uk version

babymouse · 21/07/2017 13:28

My sister and I had one growing up and we used to switch who had the main bed periodically. It was nice to have the floor space in a smaller room (and I think my mum was terrified of one of us falling off of a bunk bed)

Daffodils07 · 21/07/2017 13:31

We have a trundle, although it comes out fully so away from the other bed.
It is made of the same stuff as the 'main bed' so no different just means they have more space in their room.
And we can not have bunk beds as the 10 year old has sen and is likely to jump and hurt himself.

otterlieriver · 21/07/2017 13:32

I sympathise Huey as I really don't like bunk beds.

Is the room definitely too small for two singles?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 21/07/2017 13:35

I think it would work well OP if you don't want bunk beds. I think people are a bit odd about beds on MN tbh, clearly not 70's kids who slept on futons, mattresses on the floor etcWink

Velvian · 21/07/2017 13:42

I don't think op is suggesting the child would be sleeping in situ under a single bed, wiltingGrin

Original poster
hueyblue · 21/07/2017 14:04

It's not an ideal solution I know. In an ideal world we would be living in a huge house with enough bedrooms for each child but we are living in a tiny flat with a tiny 2nd room. At the moment boys don't spend any time in their bedroom during the day and prefer to be in the living room.

I hate the bunks they have. They already hit their heads regularly because of the low ceiling or low bunk (it is the smallest bunk bed I could find because the room is so small, hence the shorty.

If I do buy a trundle, I would buy a good quality one and let the boys switch so one doesn't feel like they are being "hidden away" every day.

I really don't know what to do as we can't afford to move. Isn't the housing crisis fucking wonderful!

OP posts:
Original poster
hueyblue · 21/07/2017 14:07

As pp said, I am not putting the trundle under the other bed with the child in it Wilting Grin. I think that would likely cause death or injury Hmm.

OP posts:
Auspiciouspanda · 21/07/2017 14:09

Can't you go in the smaller room and they share the bigger room?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 21/07/2017 14:09

OP, don't feel bad, it really isn't a big deal to share a room and have a trundle bed.

Ds has one from IKEA. It's a proper mattress and comes out on castors. Very sturdy , can't remember how much but pretty sure the bed frame, mattress plus trundle and mates came in at under £200.

HipsterHunter · 21/07/2017 14:42

@hueyblue i've seen bunk beds where the botom bunk is lower than normal (but still a bit off the ground so good for storage) and then there is more room for the top bunk in low cealinged rooms.

Is something like that an option?

I don't think a good quality trundle bed with a good quality mattress is that bad a thing. Especially if it can be trendeled away so that there is a gap between the two beds so both can get out without climbing over each other.

Pallisers · 21/07/2017 14:48

Can't you go in the smaller room and they share the bigger room?

I was thinking this too. If you can get a double into the smaller room then you could get 2 singles into the bigger room?

ArcheryAnnie · 21/07/2017 18:57

I think a mid sleeper with a trundle on the floor underneath it is the better option. Even if they prefer to spend all their time in the living room now, as they get a bit older they will want to flop on their beds and read (or game, or chat or whatever) sometimes, and you just can't do that with a bed that is tidied away.

NaturWilde · 21/07/2017 19:04

Ikea Kura bed with proper mattress underneath?

See here.

Trundle bed underneath single instead of bunk beds for boys sharing room?
VestalVirgin · 21/07/2017 19:16

Futons for them both? It is of course added work to put it away in the mornings, but housing crisis is housing crisis, not like you can do anything about it.

If you let them switch who gets the real bed, I think you can use a trundle bed. My concern would be about the inequal treatment, but if they switch, that's okay.