High sleepers?! What age do kids grow out of them?

[crossroads15]

We're about to move. New house will have 5 beds. We have 4 children including a 10 year old step-child who spends a significant amount of time with my husband. The plan is to put SC into the smallest (as she's with us part time and has another room at Mum's) bedroom and buy a high sleeper with a wardrobe / desk underneath which would leave room for a chair and set of drawers in the room. It's a lovely room with two windows, high ceilings and a fireplace - 3m x 3m. Just a bit small.

Am wondering how long you can expect a kid to use a high sleeper bed though? She's still quite tiny at the moment but am aware a growth spurt is imminent. Does anyone have teens happily using high-sleepers? Not sure I'd like it much but I'm late-thirties...!

We have a baby we could put in the smallest room instead. i'm a bit reluctant to do this not only because the baby is 'full-time' but because both the windows in the room are low and have window seats so a bit of a safety hazard for a toddler.

Would also appreciate recommendations on where to buy high-sleepers? Aspace look good? Thanks.

My 6'2" 17 year old DS is still happily sleeping in his, even though his feet dangle through the bars at the end. We've asked him if he wants a new bed, but he likes it. His has a desk and bookshelf underneath, and an armchair that converts into an extra bed.

We've had it so long I can't remember where we got it.

If you get a Thuka or Flexa high sleeper, they can turn into a normal single or bunk beds, by buying or taking off certain bits. They're pricey new, but often very cheap if you can find one on eBay for local pick up.

I got one like that to keep my options open, and because all the reviews said that the really well made ones would survive a house move, being taken apart and put in different rooms etc, whereas the cheaper ones tend not to.

Some high-sleepers are designed for adults, but the ones sold as children's beds may get a bit wobbly when they have a full-sized teenager climbing up and down the ladder.

I got rid of DD's mid-sleeper when she was 11, and DS's high-sleeper (with desk/sofabed underneath) when he was 14 (should have been earlier - he was adult sized before then) as they had really grown out of them, but they were Tesco ones designed for children.

If you buy a solid, grown-up looking one, it could last well into her teens.

I had a high bed at my parents house until they sold it when I was a 20 something adult (Moved out and went to Uni at 18). My husband got a mattress on the floor when we stayed!

Mine had a desk underneath but it wasn't part of the bed construction so possibly a little more flexible to move the space around as I grew.

You can get really high, high sleepers, that are great in a high bedroom because you have walking height underneath. Some are really quite restricted underneath.

Personally, I hate them! Why can she not have a proper bed and some built in cupboards. You can get under bed storage if that helps. This room is not that small! Can she not use a table downstairs if she needs to do homework when she is with you? Are you expecting her to be in this room for long periods on her own? I think storage is much more important for toys and clothes. You also get to use it as you grow up! My children associate any form of higher bed as being childish.

No it's not that small but there are low windows on two walls and a fireplace in the middle of the third which makes furniture placement tricky! I'd love to do built-in cupboards but it won't work.

I've just looked at the Flexa range and they look ideal so thank you for the recommendation noparking

Ds has got one from aspace. The Warwick one. It's a full sized single, very sturdy and he is still very happy with it at 14

Changing the sheets is a pita but no issues otherwise

3m x 3m seems a good size to me... My room was about 2.8m x 1.6m when I was growing up (I did have a mid-sleeper). If you can fit in all the clothes storage she would need with a smaller bed I would just let her choose what she wants.

She's up for a high sleeper - very excited about it - I was a just bit worried it would turn out to be fad and we'd end up having to replace it in a couple of years. Seems like plenty of teens are sleeping in them though. The Flexa range has lots of add-on bits she can choose from like a desk, spare bed for sleepovers etc...even a slide!?!

My DS1 slept in his til he went to uni, I revamped his room while he was away. DS2 insisted on keeping his £39 IKEA bed I bought when he was 2 until he also departed. They now both have nice comfy Warren Evans beds.

ds high sleeper was full adult size.

he is 12 and hates is now, but that is because he wants to flop across the bed and chill and you can't do that on a high sleeper. But size wise it is bigger than the single that will eventually replace it

IKEA used to do a double high sleeper which a friend of mine had well into his teens. There were never any problems with it, AFAIK.

We also had the warwick from Aspace for my ds2 when he was 7 but now at 11 he has decided to get rid of it and is in a proper full size single with a proper seperate desk. He is not particularly tall or anything but was finding the bed uncomfortable and the desk not big enough for his various projects and schoolwork.

So it partly depends on the kid as to how long it lasts. Sold the high sleeper pretty well on ebay though

Why can't she have that room for the time being and switch with the baby in a few years. She can grow out of the arrangement whilst the baby grows into it.