to not buy teen a double bed?

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My 14 year old needs a new bed.

My 17 year old has a small double bed, I think you call it a queen size or 3/4 bed. It is one of those wooden framed ones which I've actually had for 30 years (obviously several new mattresses in the meantime!).

If I buy my 14 year old the same size bed I will have to get rid of all my single bed bedding.

When the 17 year old leaves home, the 14 year old can have the bigger bed that's fine, and we'll put the single bed in the 17 year old's room.

That's reasonable isn't it?

It’s bedding, if in decent condition sell it, I personally think YABU.

What Fed said. Just buy a double as soon as your DC is out of their cot.

A bit of advice for parents of younger DC - we had years of struggles with a poorly sleeping DC in a single bed, with me arguing that he was cramped/practically falling out of the bed, and DH and MIL arguing that "all children have single beds, a double is ridiculous for such a young child". 🙄 After two years, one single bed, and two new mattresses, DC was finally moved into a double bed. He's slept soooo much better ever since. 😁

I think it's about treating both siblings equally. I would buy the small double, and buy a couple of sets of new bedding, which really isn't that expensive nowadays.
If the older one had a single I would buy one for the younger as well. I don't think there's anything wrong with single beds for an average size person, but if you can fit a small double in the room then why nit?

I feel like I've just landing in a different dimension. Do you all give the kids double beds? I slept in a single at my parents house and uni. Even with a boyfriend in tow I managed. Got a double bed when... We were 2 people in it every night... Seems logical to me. It's just a bed. How much space does one need to sleep?
I'd get the single, seems to make sense. Or the same size as other teen as it's only the fitted sheets which will need 'changing' but since there is a bed that size already it shouldn't be an issue. Really not a big issue and hopefully even a teenager realises that.

'Landed'

Buy what you can reasonably afford - do not be dictated to by a 14yo.

Christ if the bed frame is 30 years old then I think you’ve had your money’s worth! Just buy some new bedding! I can’t believe how tight some people are

I agree with Box.

It will seem like favouritism if she doesn't get a double too.

I'd get them a double and buy new bedding, but then I put double duvets on single beds anywsy so there's enough blanket.

Buy a double. Treat them equally. I have not been comfortable in a single bed since I was about 13, my kids are all in doubles

Why does older child get big bed perks and younger just get them when they move out? How long has older child had it for? What if they don't move out?
I was promised a car when I was 17 because my brother would be 20 and his car would be away at University with him. He didn't move out until he was 32 and I didn't get the car. I'm a bitter younger sibling!

My 4 year old has a double.

Assuming you can afford it, it doesn't seem to fair to give one child a double and not the other.

Oh, I see the 'well, I made do with a single until I was married' crowd have come out...

I made do with a single. But my teenaged DDs have doubles because we can afford it, have the space, and starfishing in a double on your own is soooo comfortable! Why should someone have to make do if it isn't necessary? I'm currently a single parent and I am loving sleeping all over the double that I don't have to share with anyone.

And re the bedding - look around for charities in your neighbourhood that supply bedding to people in need. If it's in good nick, your bedding could make a big difference to someone's life.

I’d buy the double if I could afford it and the room was big enough.

Well personally I didn't make do I never saw it as an issue, never crossed my mind or my parents mind. I suppose then the answer is that if he is uncomfortable in a single then if you have the space why not. The cost difference isn't great and the bedding isn't a big issue surely. I am quite surprised at the number of people who are uncomfortable in a single bed though. I wonder if it makes 'sharing' the bed space more tricky further down the line.

Double all the way, if you can fit one in your 14 yo's bedroom. I slept alone for years when I was married to XH , but I bought a king sized bed just because it was nice to have all the space to myself.

I got my first double bed 5 years ago when I bought my own flat. I’m 30

My DD 6yo has a double, only because I upgraded to a kingsize and my double mattress was only 2 years old, bed frame about 13 years old.

I whole heartedly agree that your DC should not have to wait until their older sibling moves out to have the same privileges. They could be there for another 8 years, in which case the bed frame will be almost 40 and the mattress will need replacing anyway.

I must be indulgent.
We all have double beds in our house ( 5 adults).
Much of our bedding is from charity shops- can buy a double duvet cover and two pillow cases for £3 from my local shop -so cost is not an issue. I also have a huge supply of plain white cotton pillow covers and base sheets which fit every ( standard size) mattress.

Buy the 14 year old a small double as well. They can use the same bed linen you already have for the 17 year old. Simple.

I'd say it depends on the size of the room - is there room for a double bed plus enough space for desk/chair/whatever else young teen wants or needs to have in their room?

My kids all had doubles as soon as they went into beds, but my bedrooms are all large doubles, so plenty of room for toys etc as well as bed. But I've been in lots of houses where the double bed has taken up practically the entire floor space. Not so bad for adults, but for kids with loads of 'stuff' it can be an issue.

given that you can get a duvet cover set and double duvet in a supermarket for 30 quid it seems a bit daft to use that as a reason

Get a double had to buy both my teens doubles once they were about age 14 - too tall to sleep comfortably in a single.

DH was aghast as he had a single until he left home, single all through uni.Shared a biggish single with me when we started living together in my rental flat.

But times are changing and why wouldn't you want to give them room to spread out - if cost isn't an issue I would go bigger beds.

You haven't mentioned at all that the 14 yo actually wants a double, and as has been said it's your house, and you're paying - so not sure why you would buy something you don't want to, when no one even asked you to?
There will likely be a flood of people saying their DCs couldn't fit in a single by the age of 14, because they're soooo tall, and it's cruel to make a teen have a single bed, have seen this before on similar threads (how men in the army somehow manage with singles, in barracks, is a mystery!).
I'd also be nervous of the message you're giving by specifically buying a bed big enough for 2 - it was one thing for the older one to have a bed you already had, another to specifically change size...

I HATE sleeping alone in a single. If I have to have a twin room on holidays with mates, I sleep on the sofa (cosier somehow). I can only just about manage it if there's a double duvet.

I was 5"6 when I was 11 too, so I was easily adult sized.

PILs have a spare room. My fiance and I are the only ones who use it. Except it has single twin beds, so we never stay over.