Toddlers in bunk beds?

[Summerpeachblossom]

To put my just turned 4-year old in the top bunk? Other child, 2, would be in the bottom. Most beds say not recommended for under 6 years, which seems quite old? If the bed had hugh sides, proper stairs and kids are pretty sensible, is it safe? What am I missing? This is the kind of thing I'm thinking of - https://www.bedkingdom.co.uk/flair-furnishings-slick-staircase-bunk-bed-white.html?fo_c=3456&fo_k=95b5d01109732c27e50efb6366bac41a&fo_s=gplauk&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=16738490762&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkqSlBhDaARIsAFJANkjJtfRYbydX4cCpWh8xagcmS7qIIatL-63iGFoZBOH_66abLwcWj2EaAi1vEALw_wcB

My son fell out of a bunk bed when he was 5, landed on a toy sideways on and broke a rib.

I was questioned in A&E as to why he was allowed to sleep in a high bed at that age.

i think it’s too young. Wait a few years.

Sorry to hear that @ARareKindaBear. How did he manage to fall out? Was he asleep at the time?

My DC were 2 and 4 when I put them in a bunk bed.

The main issue you need to worry about is that your 4YO is sensible enough not to launch themselves over the side of the top bunk. If you have a climber or escape artist I wouldn't do it. You need to make sure the child on the top bunk can get up and down the ladder unaided.

They have to be able to get out safely when they are sleepy, not just when they are paying attention.

Your two year old will also likely climb up there. I spent 30 minutes searching for my toddler once, she had climbed up on the top bunk and gone to sleep! But the 2yo could also easily fall off the ladder.

4yos do sleep in bunk beds, midsleepers, high sleepers etc although it isn't recommended. Its a practical solution for a lot of families.

No he was climbing and messing around to be fair.

That's why I was thinking of one with proper stairs - seems safer?

I think it’s too young personally. It’s not so much than they can’t get in and out, it’s more about them moving in their sleep or waking in the night disorientated. DS is six and wants a bunk bed, but still regularly gets up at night so will probably make him sleep in the bottom bunk, initially at least.

My just turned 3 yo is in a high bed: he has big chunky steps up and down (not a ladder)
He’s grand.

maybr you could redo the steps so they’re safer? We actually used the tiered Trofast drawers from ikea as steps

I put my 2 and 4 year old in bunk beds. We had no choice really 2 bed house and 2nd bedroom not big enough for twin beds. It was fine but my older child was always v sensible. Nobody ever fell out. I on the other hand fell out of one age 10 and broke my arm….

I wouldn't. Ds has bunks and still doesnt often sleep on the top and he's nearly 7.

I don't think "proper stair" style ladders are any safer. There's a reason they suggest not until age 6.

Can you keep the sleeping arrangements as they are now for a big longer?

Mine are in bunk beds. Mid sleeper. Aged 3 and 2. It doesn’t have “proper” steps but I’ve a step stool, a handrail and the bunk ladder and both can manage it day and night (they are climbers). They love it. There also wasn’t much of a choice as they share a small room and both had outgrown their mini cots/smaller toddler beds and this means they are comfortable at night.

Two things we’ve done that make a difference safety wise: the top bunk bed has additional height safety rails and a tee-Pee/diy castle top that stops them jumping on it!

The two year old is on a narrower mattress, so I’ve storage space internally the entire length of the bed and we’ve built a pillow corner separately to make a reading nook.

Eldest doesn’t sleep through, often wakes at night needing to use the loo, and there been no accidents in 6 months. However. Ours is a mid sleep adapted into bunks. I wouldn’t like her to have to navigate anything much more than three steps!
currently on holidays with a high bunk bed and she’s devastated but Im
not letting her sleep in the top bunk!

My older two had bunk beds from age 2 and 4, with ladders not stairs and was always fine ( that was when we lived in a small flat so didn't have much choice) they still have bunk beds now age 7 and 9 and my 7 year old fell out for the first time
The other day because she was messing around, she was fine though as my 9 year old had a floordrobe for landing 😂

It's more about the child than their age, though most would become safer in a top bunk as they get older, they mature at different rates. DS would have been fine at 3, another child may jump off at 8.

Mine were 3&5 (just) when they chose bunk beds, they chose to share the room when we had a spare. No space for singles

My main concern would be the younger child climbing up

We’ve got our eldest (4) in a mid sleeper and her sister (almost 2) in a low toddler bed underneath, perpendicular to the upper bed.

It’s the only solution for their bedroom, and luckily DD1 is the most cautious preschooler in the history of the world so is perfectly trustworthy. No idea what we’re going to do when wild DD2 figures out how to climb up the ladder…

I wouldn't be concerned if it was daytime and they weren't half asleep. DS was climbing ladders in the playground competently by 18 months.

We have one with proper stairs. The top didn’t have a high enough side though so we secured one side of the old cot to the top bunk meaning even if the now 5 year old stands up he can only just look over the top. He definitely can’t fall out.

I really think it depends on the children. We had three in a triple bunk bed when they were 5 (on the top), 4 (in the middle) and 20 months (on the bottom). We didn't have any choice at the time. There never was an accident. They are good rule followers!
Now my youngest (4th child ) is a liability and has no fear. He's nearly 3 and yesterday climbed up the ladder to his brother's bunk bed and jumped off apparently. Luckily, he wasn't hurt but if he'd been part of the equation when we had the triple bunk bed, I'd have put a tent in the garden instead as he can't be trusted!

Is there a space for double bed and can they sleep together until old enough? my twins slept together until 8.
A sick children climbing down in the middle of the night - its not a problem as a normal occurrence its the other things you need to consider.

We did it. It was fine.

But DS (4 at the time) is very risk averse so never messed about in the top bunk, it was for sleeping only. DD (2 at the time) understood very clearly that the too bunk is not hers and she’s not allowing to touch it (easier than explaining risk).

It’s great, except changing sheets in the top bunk.

Could you try Ikea kura? It's not too high

Yeah, I was also thinking about that - would need to work out how to get slats to fit on the bottom though, as I wouldn't want a mattress just on the floor.