BUNKBEDS-wise choice for a 31/2 year old and 2 year old??????

[dipsymummy]

Am in such a dilemma.
Both kids share room but need to move my 2 year old into a bed now.
Getting another bed will dwarf the room so thinking of bunkbeds......
Is it too soon for a 31/2 year old to be on the top bit?

CAn anyone enlighten me on how young oldest child was when moved to the top bunk?

I think the recommendation is 6 years old for the top bunk.
What is your 2 year old in now? If it is a cot can't you just take the side off or get a cot bed for now?

I certainly wouldn't trust my three and a half year old on the top bunk. She is very athletic but she would find the steps difficult to use especially if she was tired or desperate for the toilet.

3 too young for it imo and too tempting for younger one to climb up and perhaps fall. Can you get some which can both be low for now and combine at a later date , say 2-3 years time ?

We started using bunkbeds through necessity when DS1 was 4 and DS2 was 18m or so. We had a bed guard on the bottom bunk to stop DS2 falling out (although it was quite low so maybe didn't need it) We used a quilt on the floor under the ladder until we were convinced that DS1 wasn't going to come head first down it. DS1 has always been pretty sensible though and we had him sleeping in the bottom bunk for a while before he moved to the top. He used to play on the top to escape from DS2 so we were fairly confident that he would be OK.

If space is an issue, why not get the bunks but have them top and tail on the bottom bunk for a few months until you've seen how your eldest copes with the ladder etc?

Others have given you the strict recommendations, which are true.

Personally we put bunkbeds in their bedroom when dss were 18 mo and 3.5 yrs. At the time neither of them were allowed on top bunk.

When ds2 moved out of cot (about 2) ds1 went into the top bunk (he was nearly 3 and 10 months) and ds2 went on the bottom.

The rules we had were
No playing ever on the bunks
DS1 only allowed on there at bedtime to sleep.

(It actually improved his sleep patterns as he couldn't be bothered to climb down to come and disturb us!)

Also they didn't have any toys in their room at all, and never spent any time playing in the room during the day. So we had no safety concerns there.

And the boys' temperament was to take 'safety' rules very seriously and obey them.

We still have the bunks (they are 8 and 10 now) and we have never had any problems or incidents or injuries with them whatsoever.

Thanks all! Room is so awkward in shape that think only option now is to get cotbed and then move to bunks after.
Had read the recommended regs but was hoping that some mums might report success for younger ages

I started a thread about this a while back here, and received lots of positive responses about putting them into a top bunk at a youngish age.

DS1 now has bunk beds, and although he sleeps on the bottom, hasn't yet tried to get on the top (no ladder yet though).

Mine were fine in top bunks from an early age. In fact they really enjoy having another level to go up to.

However, I would get the Stompa ones (lots on ebay) which have ladders with broad, flat rungs as the rungs can be uncomfortable to go up and down.