to not buy teen a double bed?

[ChristmasTablecloth]

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?

Who are all these people who have second and third bedrooms large enough for double beds?

I have two double bedrooms and one box room. We have three double beds. In my room I have my bed and a set of drawers and around half a square foot of floor space. Any clothes I need to hang go into DD1's triple wardrobe and she has the front/biggest bedroom as compensation for this. All my cosmetics/hair things are in her dresser and I do my hair/makeup in there.

All I do in my room is sleep so I don't really need to fit anything in but my bed unlike the kids who have their mates around every other day and live in their rooms.

Does your 14 yr old need the length/space of a double? Or can they manage in a single?
You can buy cheap double beds in Ikea. Cheap bedding too

Get a single. Your house your choice. I was in a single bed until I left home and my sister was in a double. It really didn't occur to me to mind. Treating siblings equally is not the same as buying them all the same stuff. He's 14 not 30 he really doesn't need a double.

He’s 14 - if he’s tall he may well “need”
A double bed for the space. What do you expect him to do, curl up in a ball in a single bed?!!!

I think you should buy the double bed. My 13 and 11 year olds have doubles - they love them. How much single bedding have you got? Can you save the mattress and bedding for sleepovers?

14 years old and 6' 3". Double bed definitely..

op are you ordering a double bed yet?

If he needs a new bed, a small double will fit and this is what he wants, then I would get one. Bed linen doesn't need to cost much. He would only need two sets.

From some of these comments you'd think the OP had suggested putting her 14yo in a toddler bed, not an adult sized single.

Of course fully grown adults can sleep perfectly comfortably in a single. How ridiculous.

Preferring having a double to yourself is fine, but there's no need to make out single beds are the size of matchboxes to justify it. Unless you're aware it's viewed as extravagant when most people can't afford the space or the beds.

Unless the 14yo in question is extremely tall I don't see how she can be said to need a double. Would like, wants, would prefer, desperately craves - sure.

My ds had the same bed from toddler to teenager without issue. dd had the same bed (they were bought as bunks) but got our old double when we bought a new queen bed, mainly because a) she asked and b) she had the bigger room. ds can buy himself a double (I expect we will give him some money to help) when he has a house big enough for one, but right now he is in a tiny student flat so it's perhaps lucky he didn't get used to a big bed. He is 6'2" but has always slept just fine. Double beds for small children seems a bit nuts to me, surely at that age floor space matters more for playing?

Why does the older sibling get a double then? Surely they should have a single to hen?

No. It just means it’s a double sized bed
Except that it's not. It's only one and a half times the size of a single. A small double is only a foot wider than a single.

siwel123

Try very hard to to think. The older child has a 30 year old bed. It was our small double when we were students. It was a hand me down.

The younger child has a single bed that we bought new when he moved out of his cot.

The older child does not have a larger bed because she is the favourite. She has the larger bed because she got our old cast offs.

She is definitely moving out at age 18 (grades permitting!) so the new single bed will go in her room. The 14 year old can have the 3/4 bed.

All decided, thank you Mumsnet!

Right so this thread was a complete waste of time then? Cool!

No, not at all. Reading through all the replies made everything seem obvious!

Precisely. OP still thinks it's ok for an older sibling to have the double bed then give the youngest a thirty plus year double hand me down.

From what you just said you weren't ever honking of buying the youngest one so bit pointless asking whether you should the. Try hard to think next time before you start a thread when you're not going to listen to other people ideas and opinions because you have already made up your mind.

But what about when the eldest comes home from uni for holidays/visits - they will have to have a single. What if they get a partner and want to bring them to meet you? They will have to use the single. It just seems shortsighted just because you want to save some bedding!

Wow you have given your eldest child a 30 year old bed and intend to hand it down to your youngest. I think you win mumsnet for mankiness. 🤢 Mattresses are supposed to be changed every 10 years max unless they’re made of more indestructible materials eg pure latex etc and divan bases also need updating.

Personally I think it's a waste of money spending money on a short term solution that may only work for a few years. I'd buy the double and future proof the expenditure.

Still it's your choice op.

Ah well, as you were then, OP.

Why even ask, though?

The OP said that the 30 year old bed has had several mattress replacements and is not a divan, but a classic wood framed bed, probably with wooden slats. No reason to think it needs replacing, beds used to be lifetime purchases, and if well made and not abused still should be.

YABU.

A bed lasts longer than bedding.

Not wanting to buy a bed because you'll have to buy new bedding seems odd.
We're just about to move and all four kids aged from 6-18 will be getting a double bed. It seems daft not to when the younger ones will probably need one in a few years anyway.

There are many obese people nowadays. That is probably a factor in so many people preferring double beds.

I'd get a double though in op's position, because it will be more useful as a guest bed. The single sheets can go to uni with the older child.