ds has had one for 4 years and is about to turn 12 and he loves it. His is a mid height one to fit under the eaves so not terribly high. His has a chest of drawers which pulls out to form a desk, bookcase and storage at the back underneath.

I make him change the sheets from when I was preggers with dd and he still does it now

I think they;re great personally

Ds's got one, and it's great. Changing the sheet is a pain (dh generally does it ), but I can manage by myself, if I must, by climbing into the bed. It's a much higher than usual one though, the top of the mattress is about boob-height and the guard-rails add another foot to the height. The worst thing about the height of the bed is that I can't lean over it to kiss ds while he's sleeping. The ladder is a straight-up one (not sloping), so dd, agile though she is, can't quite climb it yet. She's 2.

We got one for dd (6yrs) a couple of months ago. It was the only solution for her room really (which is quite small) and has been a success on the whole. It's a mid-height type with a desk and drawers underneath. She loves climbing up into bed and hasn't fallen out despite my worries about that. Even in the night if she needs the toilet she climbs out ok.

The downsides are as you say. Making the bed and worse changing it are quite diffucult. I'm quite tall and I can 'just' do it with a few unsavoury words! It's really a job for two people but dh is always out of earshot at the appropriate time - hmmm!

I too have considered the nightmare of 'sick' from this height. I can't pretend the idea of trying to clear it all up doesn't make my hair stand on end tbh. The cabin bed fits so tightly into dd's room that you would not be able to pull it right out and mop up a big disaster. I just think if it's the right bit of furniture that solves quite a few problems, you can't be ruled by the occasional tummy upset. I think if I knew she might be sick I would either have her in with us, or stuff the edges of the bed with some old towels just in case!!

The ladder isn't detachable, but twins (3yrs) have not made too many attempts at getting up it for some reason. We explained to dd that it's her special bed and they're a bit young to climb up. As a result she polices it with all the enthusiasm and justification that only a six year old can muster!

Could take to somewhere they're on display (ie mfi) and let her have a go. That's what we did

How tall are you, nutty? Both DSs have the mid height beds and whilst changing the sheets is a challenge, it's not really too difficult (I'm 5'7). I'm delighted with the ones we have (I think they're both "thukka" ones)

The night time kiss can be a challenge too if they're sleeping on the far side of the bed or away from the ladder

We have been considering getting DS one a midi sleeper. When we are out at the shops, if they have one on display we get DS to try climbing up and down the ladder. We have so far established that he needs one with a slanted ladder, also the steps need to be flat rather than round (gentler on his feet!) Have yet to find one we want to buy though!

(Also had a black ash one when I was younger with a desk and wardrobe under it.)

DS has one, and I don't like it as we can't snuggle up for bedtime stories and cuddles. Usually have to read the stroy standing beside him, which just isn't the same!

Might be more of a challenge for you then, especially if it's a high loft bed Best get a step stool

ds1 was sick in his cabin bed, well not in as such , he just lent over the top and let it all out!!! we were downstairs at the time and the first we knew about it was this terrible noise (the force of it hitting the floor from a great height) it sounded like the water tank had burst and was going to come through the ceiling!!

Otherwise very happy with our cabin bed, great for storage, we've got a stompa, very well made and nice and sturdy.

sorry, maybe too much information.

ss has a cabin bed and managed to be sick in it on about the 4th occasion he used it, he didn't bother with over the side as fast alseep at the time, just sat up and puked all over the place....luckily we had a matress protector on it, so only that needed washing....along with the usual duvet n stuff (ss got to sleep on the Z bed for the rest of the night with a large bucket!)so wan't too bad, although the manouvering of a sick boy out of the bed was a bit tricky as he kept going 'I'm gona be sick again' as he loomed over me on the ladder ARGH! but wasn't (Phew) So hopefully not too much info, but might answer your question! Bed very good apart from that incident, saves lots of space.

Sounds like you are thinking of the bed we've just bought from Argos? I have resisted a cabin bed for years for all the reasons mentioned but we have moved and the room isn't big enough for dd to have a bed AND a wardrobe (it's an odd shape as well) so I had to give in. I can report that it's a great bed for the money and dd is thrilled with it. The only drawback is the thin round rungs on the ladder which are murder on the feet. Dd wears her slippers and leaves them on the end of the bed. We've also bought her a clip-on reading lamp in Homebase which is really useful and they are on special offer for £3.99 at the moment in a choice of colours.