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Parenting

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Original poster

Bunkbeds: when to buy?

22 replies

Oneofthemaddingcrowd · 14/04/2011 22:21

I am having a dilemma about what bed to buy for 2 yr old DD (currently in cot). I had just about decided that a toddler bed was a waste of money so was going to go for a standard single, but now have DC2 on the way (albeit at a very early stage) so... would I completely crazy to consider buying bunkbeds instead? I'd just be using one of the beds until DC2 is 2ish, so DD would be 5.5ish when she moves into the top bunk.

This assumes that I can find somewhere to store the unused bed for the next 3 years!

Or is this way too much forward planning??

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thisisyesterday · 14/04/2011 22:26

we got a thuka shorty bed for ds1.

you can add another one to make it short bunks, or buy extension kits to make it into a single and then have full size bunks

or you can get kits to make them into mid or high sleepers....

not the nicest looking furniture in the world, but very versatile!

AutumnWitch · 14/04/2011 22:30

You could try FLEXA which is a danish bed system we have. You buy a single bed, then add legs rails and ladders, slides etc to make a bunk. They also have several different height options (midi, high etc).

It's not the cheapest but is very sturdy.

They recommend 6 yrs as being suitable for a raised bed (I think)

Here - Flexa

AutumnWitch · 14/04/2011 22:33

...and both of mine went straight into a full size bed with no problems. I think toddler beds are a waste of money - I went from a cot to an old double bed as that's all my parents had and loved it :)

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Original poster

Oneofthemaddingcrowd · 14/04/2011 22:37

Thanks thisisyesterday and Autumnwitch, I hadn't thought of going for one of the "adaptable" systems so will consider that.

I've seen 6 yrs as being the minimum recommended age for top bunks before - does anyone know where this comes from? DD is a little monkey - very adept at climbing (pfb alert, sorry!) - and I'm pretty sure she'd be fine at younger that 6 but maybe there is something I'm not considering.

Is there anyone out there who has bought bunkbeds way before they actually needed two beds?

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AutumnWitch · 14/04/2011 22:48

Is the age limit law in europe, but just recommended here? I seem to recall something like that when I was looking, but I'd go with what you think your child can cope with.

yousankmybattleship · 14/04/2011 22:54

Six is the recommended age based on European safety testing. The reason is because of the width of the bars. It is (theortically) possible for a child under six to wriggle their body through the bars and be left hanging. Not sure if this has ever happened but safety testing is done on worst possible scenario based on average size and weights for children. The other worry of course is that very young children would not cope with with negotiating ladder when sleepy. Don't know if your DD is dry at night yet, but once they are going to the toilet by themselves it can be a tricky business. No way I'd put a two year old (or even a four year old) in a raised bed. Sorry!

AutumnWitch · 14/04/2011 23:01

Thanks YSMB!

Original poster

Oneofthemaddingcrowd · 14/04/2011 23:08

Thanks YSMBS, that is so, so helpful. My DD is pretty tiny for her age, as well as being fond of squeezing through small gaps, so I'd be paranoid now! That is really good to know, even if it's just a very slim theoretical possibility.

And no, my DD is nowhere near dry at the moment, so I haven't even considered the whole getting in and out in the middle of the night issue!

Hmmm. Looks like I may be more sensible just buying a bed for her that will suit her now rather than trying to plan 3+ years ahead! Blame the pregnancy hormones... I am feeling the need to get obsessive about something!

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nubbins · 15/04/2011 09:16

my brother had bunk beds that can be separated into 2 singles. so you could just use them as single beds until the kids are old enough and then stack them so there is more room to play.

yousankmybattleship · 15/04/2011 09:20

That's brilliant Nubbins - might look for those for mine. Do you know where he got them?

LifeInTheSlowLane · 15/04/2011 09:28

We had a thuka shorty bunk bed - the DCs shared a v.small room at our old place (couldn't even fit the standard single size beds in if we wanted the door to close!) We got the shorty bunk beds and now we've moved they have been split into two single beds in their own rooms. The thuka system is really good, you can convert the beds into full length singles when necessary by adding extra slats, and there are all kinds of combinations for high up beds with desks underneath etc, The website I got them from is called bunkybusiness. They were great, they even install for you for free (or they did a couple of years ago). Most websites recommend age 6 for bunk beds - in our case DS1 was 6 but DS2 was only 4 - he had the lowerr bunk but of course you can't stop them climbing up! I was v.strict about no playing on the ladder and they were actually very good at following the rule (for once!!)

Needanewname · 15/04/2011 09:32

Another vote for Flexa here. Got them for DD1 and 2 a couple if years ago - not cheap but incredibly sturdy, great after care, 2 lovely blokes came and assembeld them (did pay extra but worth every penny!)

We got the one that are in a 90 degree angle to each other - really good and girsl still love them

Skimty · 15/04/2011 15:36

I only came on this thread to recommend bunky business! They were lovely. Honestly the best service I've ever had. The Thuka system seems great as well.

I think bunk beds are the way to go. DS was 3.10 and DD was 1.9 when they went in together and we haven't had any accidents. All his friends are very envious of them. I have put a rail on the top bunk but it's been fine.

Go for a system you can convert though like Thula and then you can do it bit by bit.

Skimty · 15/04/2011 15:38

DS still isn't dry and he's in the top bunk.

Also, you can just buy the Thuka bed as a small single and take it from there. I wish we'd done that.

WhoKnowsWhereTheChocolateGoes · 15/04/2011 23:44

i've just been to look at the Thuka bunks at Rainbow Wood in Farnham, just looking through the brochures now and wondering how long the shorty ones would last us before we needed to extend, DCs are 5 and 7 but both short for their age. Also, presumably you would have to replace the mattresses then, which would cost a lot. I am considering the shorty beds because floor space is at a premium in our house.

If you have the shorty beds do you have to buy Thuka mattresses? Is it sensible to shop around for mattresses or are the Thuka ones good quality/ reasonable price?

thisisyesterday · 16/04/2011 16:32

whoknows.... we got ours from rainbow wood too! the guy who runs the shop is lovely.
he reckoned the average age was up to about 8. ds1 is 6 now, and tallish for his age and he still has tons of space left. but yes, you are right that as and when you turn them into full size singles you would need to replace the mattresses.

we got the thuka mattresses because they seemed reasonably priced and of course fit the bed perfectly. I am not sure how easy it would be to find a different one that would be the same size?

WhoKnowsWhereTheChocolateGoes · 16/04/2011 16:52

Thanks Thisis, I work in Farnham, so I am going to pop in again during the week (they were quite busy yesterday). I just had a look at their website and it says the shorty range is being phased out, which would be a concern as I will want to convert them to midsleepers or something eventually, I definitely need to talk to the shop again don't I?

missmyoldname · 16/04/2011 17:01

I have this bunk bed for DS (2) and DD (4.5). The bottom bunk is DS's bed, and the top bunk is used occaisonally by DD (when we have visitors). I remove the ladder and put it on the top bunk when DD is not using top bunk.

Its worked fine so far. Luckily DS has not yet worked out a non-ladder way of getting up to top bunk!

thisisyesterday · 17/04/2011 13:55

oooohhh is it? i better buy ds2's now then! lol

WhoKnowsWhereTheChocolateGoes · 17/04/2011 14:29

Well, I looked again at the website. The Maxi and Shorty ranges are discontinued, replaced by Trendy and Trendy Shorty. So it depends whether you have got Shorty or Trendy Shorty. Maybe give the shop a ring?

thisisyesterday · 17/04/2011 21:01

we have the regular shorty, tho it says spares/parts will be available for 5 years, so might just buy the second bed now and wait to get the bunk kit for later!
am quite thankful you spotted that tho lol

Curlybrunette · 18/04/2011 08:42

I bought bunkbeds last year when ds1 was 4, and ds2 was 2.5 (but they have seperate bedrooms). Ds1 sleeps on the bottom bunk, and a couple of times my nephew (5) has stayed over and slept on the top. So far all has been fine, the boys do climb up on the top bunk during the day sometimes to play but I've been over and over the safety stuff - don't lean over, stay sat down on the top bunk etc. I taught ds2 how to climb the ladder as I figured it was better that he knew how to climb up and down safely rather than he get up and not be able to get down without falling.

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