Cabin bed / midsleeper / high sleeper for DD8??

[zzzz31]

DD turning 8 keen on one for birthday or Christmas this year.

Was all sold on the idea, but having second thoughts.

Was thinking high-ish to maximise space underneath, but now I think that a mid-sleeper is a 'friendlier' option as high just seems too near to the ceiling.... And won't it dominate the room?

Great Little Trading company does a lovely one but super ££££:

www.gltc.co.uk/collections/high-sleeper-beds/products/merlin-high-sleeper-with-desk-grey-stardust

But do I want a solid wall of mdf in the room, however much I try to tart it up pinterest-style with lights, cushions, etc?

Quite keen on these bunk beds from IKEA (which looked great in store too), but do we need two beds? Even if I do dress it as a sofa.... (DD is an only child).

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/vitval-bunk-bed-frame-white-light-grey-80411272/

It is not a huge room (and ceiling not that high) - but not tiny. About 4.5 by 3 metres.

Any thoughts / recommendations gratefully received. I need to order asap Thanks v much!

I had a mid sleeper for ds at that age, it was a metal framed one from Argos, there was enough height for him to have his Lego City & the railway underneath & for him to play in comfort. It wasn't very expensive, was solid, I just put pipe lagging on the steps of the ladder to make it better for bare feet. It lasted until he was 15 & too tall for it.

Hi @zzzz31
My DD also aged 8 got this last year:
www.wayfair.co.uk/children-nursery/pdp/zipcode-design-bristol-mid-sleeper-bed-syms1018.html?piid=20725526&csnid=0D2039C1-6170-4109-9099-D8F0E8F95376&_emr=2f08290f-e96a-449e-a296-810c1aa26337&wfcs=cs4&_eml=ae325f9c-9ff4-42f4-a117-85e789878022&refid=EML_41079&source=graymatter
We got a small single so 2ft6 as opposed to standard 3 foot width but same length as standard single, due to the layout in her room but a standard 3 foot single appears to be available too. She loves it!

My DC have got bunk beds simply because it's the best use of space. I'm a terrible mother who makes her kids share a room you see.

What are you actually going to so with the bottom bunk if you get one? Does she want a sofa? A den? A desk? Storage? If it's just her, you need a loft bed rather than bunk bed.

DD wants a high sleeper, I am delaying as think it will be a pain in the backside to change the sheets up high so what her to be able to do it herself. We'll go for one that's got a desk or nothing at all underneath it so we have as much useable floor space as possible. DD would like a bunk bed, but as an only child I can't justify the space a second bed would take up for the possibility of a handful of sleepovers.

We have the IKEA Kura-great bed, really sturdy and there’s people there’s a whole load of Kura hacks online for decorating it should you want to. My DD has a smallish room and she has some cushions, storage and a bookshelf under hers.

They are an absolute nightmare to change sheets especially if you're not tall. I got rid of DDs one.

My dc are 8 and 9 and we just got rid of their mid sleepers and its wonderful. They were making the rooms look tiny without us realising. They were getting past the age of playing under the bed. We can now have cuddles in bed again. It's just so much better! I might stretch to a cabin bed if necessary, but nothing more.

We have them out of necessity as rooms are so small. They are a pain to change. The other thing is that it's much harder to have those nice bedtime chats and as the kids get older and like to chill in their bedrooms they are not as relaxing as they have to climb up and down.

We've also got two of the wayfair Bristol... I liked the first so much I bought it again for DD.

I did quite a lot of research in which cabin bed would be the right height to change sheets easily, but also enough height underneath for play.

We then have fold out chair/mattress things underneath so can be reading book/den, or sleepover

Thank you, everyone, such helpful comments! All of them, so helpful.

Those who bought mid sleeper types, how old was your child? @WeeM how old was yours? I worry that at 8 she might have grown out of the ‘small space’ underneath, but actually, with cushions etc and maybe a bit of storage, it might be a great space.

@goldpendant were your DCs a similar age to mine?

Thanks again, everyone (on my phone so apologies for haste)

Hi @zzzz31

Our DCs are 8 and 6.

The underneath of the older child's bed has a bean bag, cushions, and a book bin/toy box so it is well used.

Mine was 4 when we got it and 8 now. We put the cushions under it but to be honest, she doesn’t often sit under there-it’s good for storage though. Can fit a 2 box high Kallax unit under it.

She would still fit under it on the cushions if she wanted to though.