Sleeping arrangements?

[FreeSpirit89]

Hi all,

I have one DS ages four and a DSD aged six. We live in the tiniest two bed flat known to man, the children's room is tinier still, only room for one bed. Our room wouldn't fit another single in.

Dh wants bunk beds, naturally DS wants top, I'm concerned about the stairs, sometimes DS wakes before us and gets out of bed.

There is just no room. DSD is with is 3 weekends a month. What are your blended sleeping arrangements?

What would you suggest for me to do?

Your option is really going to be some sort of camp bed, or one of those fold up chair things. When dh first split with his ex (before he met me and my house!) his dd had to sleep on a camp bed in his room at his parents. When she was small it was fine.

Do you have a living room? Could you get a sofa bed? When she's old enough she could sleep there, although it will be disruptive for your evenings....

I got a mid sleeper from IKEA, top bunk is about 5ft high and I brought slats for the bottom (its not officially a bunk bed) and put a mattress underneath, my DDs 6&3 sleep fine on it.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=ikea+mid+sleeper&client=ms-android-samsung&espv=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sboxchip=Images&sa=X&ei=pRIbVKqCFMaI7AaUzICQDw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg&biw=320&bih=460#facrc=_

Sorry I wouldn't get a sofa bed, I had a 1 bed flat for a while and it would have meant going to bed early to allow dsc to go to bed. A pull out bed under the single would be good if you are hesitant to get bunks

My DS was in a high sleeper from 4 and was fine with the ladder. Though chances are your DS would get fed up going up a ladder all the time after a few weeks and be happy to move to the lower bunk.

These days my DS shares with DSS, which is kind of alright though they're already making plans for 'separation' once DSD leaves home (she'll go on the sofabed downstairs when she comes in the holidays - which she's OK with since we bought a large screen TV that she'll be able to watch from bed ). My DS shares with DD when they're at their dad's and that's still working kind of OK too, even though they're 14 and 11 now. They just change under douvets and argue about who's been snoring in the night... But the accept that ex has a small flat and that's how it is. Ex's toddler still sleeps in with Ex and his DW.

I'd agree bunk beds sound like your best option, as when DSD's not there, there's not really any extra space being taken up and your DS can use the rest of the room as he likes. You can make the lower bunk quite a fun cozy tent-like thing if you want to try to pursuade him to go for it - posters on the underneath of the top bunk, sheets around the side of it for fun, etc. It's also possible to put a small shelf up next to the top bunk for DSD to have a little bit of her own space to leave things when she's not there, where they'd be out of DS's way.

How small is small? Would a single bed with one of those pull out beds that fit neatly underneath the single when not in use work? If not then I'd say bunks would definitely be your best option.

Another way that isn't exactly ideal would be to buy a double sofa bed that you and DH use for when DSD is over and giving your room up. Not very practical but could be a last ditch answer if nothing else fits.

mid sleepers are recommended from 3, top bunk only from 6 years old.

Make the bottom bunk a tent/den and your DS may be happier with it.

Yep I would use a bunk and put DS on the bottom. Sure he thinks he wants the top but he's 4, I agree he could be swayed in a heartbeat with talk of an 'adventure sleepy tent' or something like that. Maybe at the top you could get some shelves or something fitted at the foot end so SD has some space which is her own and DS isn't allowed, to keep her private trinkets and things. It sounds really cute.

My DS went on top bunk aged 3.5 when I moved in with DP, my dss has bottom bunk when he stays. DS loves being on top bunk and has never had a problem with falling on the ladder. I insist on a plug in nightlight so he can see if he gets up in the night, but he has been fine. If you think your DS will be fine then go for it.

Small is I can stand in the room with my arms out to the side and be touching the side walls. And if I lay on the floor I fit perfectly length ways!!

Can barely fit a single in on its own tbh.

Check the sizes of any bed or bunk beds you buy - you can get some special children's ones that are 2 foot six wide, and slightly shorter (though I've slept in one fine so OK for small-ish adults). As the kids are both quite small you might be better with one of them as it would give slightly more space left in the room. A big cushion to put on the bed to turn it into a couch helps too.

My partner and I sleep on a airbed in our living room every weekend, my dd has bunk beds in her room which she shares with my partners youngest daughter, my son has his own room and my partners eldest daughter has our room.