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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

High Sleepers

33 replies

Bungle2 · 27/12/2020 08:48

Hi,
I thought I’d post on the board where is be most likely to find some expert opinions: I’m looking to buy two white wooden high sleepers for DD1 (10) and DD2 (9) but they all get such mixed reviews, I can’t work out which one to buy! I don’t want any shelves/desk underneath as I want the freedom to do what we want with the space underneath.
Thanks in advance for any advice given

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 27/12/2020 08:54

I got rid of my 12 year old's last year because it was so horrendous to make! I hated it! If you're fit with good dexterity then do it...if not...think twice. I am quite fit but it's a Pain In The You-Know What!

girlcrushonvillanelle · 27/12/2020 09:46

The novelty of them having to climb up and down the ladder to get in and out of bed soon wears off. Especially in the middle of the night if they need a wee and are half asleep.

ProfessorInkling · 27/12/2020 09:49

My DS hated his after a couple of years. Annoying to get in and out of, difficult to make. As above, the novelty wears off.

Superstardjs · 27/12/2020 09:55

Dd did have one with a desk underneath. As pps said, it was a total bastard to change the bedding, really joyless. Additionally, dd grew... the ceiling was not very low, but by age 11 she could not sit up fast and would not have lasted much longer being able to sit upright at all - she was 5'4 at the time. Swapped it for a 3/4 bed instead.

SoupDragon · 27/12/2020 09:55

DS2 was fine with his as it meant he could have a sofa underneath and he had the box room so space was at a premium. I replaced it when he went off to Uni.

If there is space to do a normal bed though I would go with that instead.

yomellamoHelly · 27/12/2020 10:04

Will add that I don't think your 10 yo in particular will get much use out of it. By 12 my ds was complaining about head room.

lu9months · 27/12/2020 17:36

my 10 year old got one because her bedroom is very small and she needed space for a desk. it does have disadvanatages as mentioned about, but does what we wanted = ie gives her a large desk space she didnt have before. i think after a few years we may need to rethink, but for now its good and she is pleased with it. we paid someone to put it together!! the guy said dont get wayfair (?) . we got a thuka one and it seems fine

Original poster
Bungle2 · 27/12/2020 19:15

@lu9months thanks for the info. They share a bunk bed at the mo so I’m already doing the climbing the ladder bit to change bedding (agree it’s a pain though!) but we can just about fit two high sleepers in the room which will give them both a desk. If they have standard beds then no desks. I think we’ll continue as planned even if it’s only for a few years. The stompa one doesn’t seem to be as tall so would give more height between ceiling 🤔

OP posts:
RandomMess · 27/12/2020 19:16

Consider off-set bunks?

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 27/12/2020 20:01

I had my DC change their own sheets and covers. No need for me to do the climbing, at 10 they were old enough.
And the floor space we gained was put to good use.

Original poster
Bungle2 · 27/12/2020 20:04

@RandomMess no because the idea is to give them their own sides of the room so that they have their own (albeit rather small) space

OP posts:
Original poster
Bungle2 · 27/12/2020 20:05

@Prokupatuscrakedatus this is what I’m hoping to achieve. Which one do you have?

OP posts:
redcandlelight · 27/12/2020 20:09

dc has the ikea one with desk underneath.
needs high ceilings otherwise it's quite clautrophobic up there.

dc had to learn to make their own bed. changing the sheets up there is a right pain.

Original poster
Bungle2 · 27/12/2020 20:15

@redcandlelight I looked at the IKEA one but read the reviews and thought it sounded very high. I think I need to do some careful measuring, I wouldn’t want them waking up and hitting their heads on the ceiling, although our ceilings are fairly high

OP posts:
Prokupatuscrakedatus · 27/12/2020 20:20

Bungle2
DS always had the metal IKEA bed, the one you can attach a desk underneath. He used the underneath as a play are and now has his desk and PC there.
DD's first was a second hand wooden bed only 90 cm wide - enough when she was a child. Now as a student she has the 140 cm STORÄ. Very sturdy and she has a sofa, desk and bookshelves underneath.

ragged · 27/12/2020 20:26

I am glad we had them for age 6+ but agree that by about age 16 they want ordinary beds instead. I bought ours 2nd hand so was good value for us, I probably sold them on for same price we paid.

Ours were mostly simple high sleepers.. one was extra high with a desk underneath but I prefer not to have build-in extrason the whole.

MeringueCloud · 27/12/2020 20:35

My tip is: get them to change their own sheets!

redcandlelight · 27/12/2020 20:39

neighbours have custom built high sleepers side by side. divided by painted plywood.
a good joiner could easily build you something

peapotter · 27/12/2020 20:39

My boys both have them, bought them when we had a small house and now with more space they still love them. Age 8 and 10.

We went with simply beds and bunks, very basic but sturdy wooden frames, no fancy bits but very easy to customise and no mdf. They are plain wood, we meant to stain them but never got round to it.

Original poster
Bungle2 · 27/12/2020 20:47

@ragged thank you for the advice. I didn’t imagine they would be a forever solution (everything seems to be a phase) but these will certainly provide them with a little space of their own, which is what they need at the moment

OP posts:
SilenceIsNoLongerSuspicious · 27/12/2020 20:49

We’ve got one Thuka and one Stompa - both locally off eBay at a knockdown price. I think the Stompa is sturdier and so better for taking apart and putting back together and being used by a teen.

My 12yo still likes hers - the alternative is no room for a desk, and she really needs a desk.

Original poster
Bungle2 · 27/12/2020 20:49

@redcandlelight I have thought about something like this but I think it would make the room feel quite claustrophobic as there’s only one window

OP posts:
Bbq1 · 27/12/2020 21:02

Ds had one from age 7 until 12ish. It was a bigger size. He had a really small bedroom at the time and it was perfect. Ours had a desk, drawers shelves etc. Dh and a friend took a day to put it together. The hideous thing was changing the bedding, I would be nearly crying with frustration although mostly myself and dh had to change it together. I would recommend one though.

gettingolderbutcooler · 27/12/2020 21:19

My 11 year olds have just gone from shared room and bunk beds to own rooms and cabin beds. They love them! Not too high to change bedding, have a cuddle at night time, etc.
We got the Argos one and a Gami Hungun ( v expensive but got second hand).
Xx

AlwaysLatte · 27/12/2020 21:24

I really wouldn't recommend it! They're not very strong due to the long legs, unless there is a load of stuff built underneath. They're a complete pain to make up the beds too. My sons used to have bunks when they were little and in the same room. As they got a bit older and accumulated more stuff we bought a couple of those so they could have their own play spaces/sleepover dens underneath. Then later they wanted their own rooms so we put one of their old bunks in each room. Now the oldest (12) needs a double bed really so it will be all change again! But I'd never get mid sleepers again.