My girls share a room they have two small beds from Ikea that will expand to twin length but really are not deep enough for a typically mattress. How old is old enough for kids to go to bunk beds without worry that they will get hurt? Girls are 5 and 6 but my 5 year old is the size of a 3.5 year old.
Thank you for all the replies! I had never heard of anyone dying from a bunk bed fall. Eventually we will probably let the girls have their own rooms but they prefer to sleep together and I prefer having a room for toys. Which means their bunk beds would only be for a few to handful of years. After reading everyone's input I think we are going to upgrade them to a bed with a trundle bed so that they can have more supportive mattresses sometime this school year.
Thanks for the input!
Caution: be careful what you wish for.
When we rent vacation homes, the "kid rooms" often have bunk beds.
I would NEVER want to make those every day-mom or kid. Bleccch.
I don't see them lasting too long, either. By double digit ages, the kuds I know are "over" them. My .02
My bff from 7th grade on lost her elementary age son when he slipped off the top bunk when moving over. Mom was standing right there talking to him and his hand missed the edge and he fell to his death.
Elementary school age.
He wasn't jumping around or playing rough. He was simply moving over to talk to his mom.
The rails on the top bunk went about half way across the side but he was at the end by the ladder. He simply fell off and hit his head at the bottom.
Will I ever have bunk beds? No, because each time I go in that room I'll think of my friend and think of the tragedy of her not seeing her child grow up. Knowing that he was in no way responsible for what happened. He was not playing around and bounced off or anything like that. He simply slipped when moving over towards the ladder.
I can't ever forget that.
I have two boys - 12 and 14 - they have been in bunk beds since they were 3.
The top bunk has the side rails. The bottom bunk? we put the bed rails on it so he would "feel" more secure.
LOVE BUNK BEDS!!!
My boys were 3 and 6, the 6 year old in the top bunk. They were not allowed to play on their beds, there were bed rails on the top bunk, and my son doesn't flop around in his sleep. There have been no incidents in the past 6 years. My kids have also been to summer camp where they have slept on the top bunks without rails and they have been fine. I imagine if there were many incidents of accidents involving top bunks then summer camps would make sure to get rails on the beds.
My granddaughter slept in a bunkbed. I suggest they are old enough when they recognize that they must climb down and are able to do so. Recently her 1 yo sister was able to climb up but wasn't able to climb down. Her parent's fear was she would just step or slide off as she does on her lower bed. There dad taped cardboard over the ladder. The 3 yo is tall enough to climb up the end and climb back down. The side rail keeps her secure in upper bunk. The only open space is a couple of feet where the latter is located.
I suggest the child is old enough when they are mature enough to go up and down the ladder. The short 1 yo can climb up so I suggest height is unrelated.
my boys were about that age when we got theirs
You will get all kinds of responses since everyone has a different experience and some people have the worst. For me, we put our older kids in bunk beds and a loft when they were 4 1/2. Space is premium and they were just too big for their toddler beds. We had no problems at all. The age is supposed to be 5 yrs and older. If you are concerned about them fooling around on the bed, you could get a full size and thy both sleep in it.
A friend in college had a loft (common in those tiny dorm rooms). I asked if she was nervous she would role out of bed and get hurt. She said she never rolled off her bed at home, so why should she be concerned just because it's higher off the ground? Personally, I'd want rails on the top bunk. But other than that, I think your girls are at a great age for bunk beds.
Our boys are 4 and 7 and in bunkbeds for the last year, the older one in the top bunk. It works well for us, and allows us to have a dedicated playroom which is a sanity saver!
My kids had them during the ages of three to eight.
There is no magic age for not getting hurt. A older teen from our church many years ago fell off his bunk one night, his head hit his dresser, he slipped into a coma and later died.
Sad, but these things happen.
All you can do is teach your kids how to be safe and hope for the best.
My son got a bunk bed at age 2.5. He was already an excellent climber and very coordinated. We had rules. He slept on the bottom at that age. It was very safe - the top bunk had a good railing and nice ladder. He probably started sleeping at the top by age 4. One rule is to sleep with your head on the opposite end of the ladder opening. The other rule is to go down feet first only...and to hold on tight at all times. There was never any problem. When his sister was born I did have to put away the ladder for a while till she got older and more coordinated. A young toddler can be obsessed with ladders! Your kids sound old enough for me...put the ladder away during the day if you think your 3.5 year old is not coordinated enough.
I slept on a top bunk from around 6 years old until I was 18.
Mine went to bunks at 3.5 and 5. I was very clear about the rules. It's been fine. I did buy a really nice set, though, very sturdy, super safe ladder.
I always loved the look of bunk beds since I was a child. I did not ever have one and my son was an only child so I never bought one.
We got an IKEA bunkbed when our kids were 2 and 4. I don't recall the style or the measurements and I'm not at home to check. The bottom bunk is basically an IKEA mattress on the floor. The top bunk is chest high on me (I'm only 5'2"). The top bunk has a fairly high wall. I don't know if a standard twin size mattress would fit in it, but the IKEA twin mattress fits great. You can also get a canopy for the top. I've slept on the bottom bunk with my son when he was sick. It was pretty comfortable.
I answered a similar question awhile back and I know I had the measurements in that answer.
I personally think bunk beds are fantastic for siblings. I had them, husband had them. My two boys got them at ages 3 & 5. Now 6 & 8 and all is great.
I have never worried that they would be hurt. We explained to my boys the safety concerns and they take them seriously. Bunk beds are not a jungle gym and are not treated like one. No jumping or horseplay. The oldest sleeps on top and climbs down as needed. Youngest sometimes gets up there to watch a show or read with his brother. Their beds are in their bedroom (sleeping & dressing only), and they have a separate play room for toys and such.
While of course there are bunk bed related deaths every year, I find it rather dramatic to not get them for this reason. Your kids have a much higher chance of dying in a car accident, but I'm guessing you have a car. Anyway, I would say that if you have a child that doesn't understand safety rules or has a hard time following directions and instructions, then bunk beds would be a bad choice.
My sister and I shared a room until she moved out at 17. We had bunkbeds that could be converted into two twin sized beds. It was great. Since I'm the oldest I got the top bunk.
Accidents happen but more kids DON'T fall off bunk beds and falling off doesn't necessarily equal death. I just don't live my life under a cloud of fear.
Get what you think is best for your space and your children and teach them to be responsible and the rest will be just fine.
