4 Year-olds Ready for Bunkbeds?

The manufacturer-recommended age for the top bunk is usually six. Sounds like everyone here likes their bunk beds, but we have them at my parents' cabin and I HATE them! I have two active boys and they want to climb and jump around on them (more of a jungle gym than beds). Of course, we set limits, etc., but it's just one more thing to deal with. Since it's at the cabin maybe the novelty would wear off if they were in our home. The boys also argue over who gets to sleep on the top bunk and we have to come up with a rotation system.

We have bunk beds and got them 2 months before my son turned 5 yrs. We did get the ones with a full bed on the bottom and always said if the top was a problem he could share the bottom till he was ready for the top. He has done great and we have never turned back. I was worried about him climbing down during the night if there was a problem and he has had no issues. GoodLuck!!!

S.,

I think it really depends on the temperment of your children. I got my boys bunk beds when they were age 4 (top bunk) and age 2 (bottom bunk.) I made it very clear that only 4 year old was allowed on bunk to sleep. No one played up there and no friends allowed on the top bunk. I explained what could happen if they fell and that they would be punished if they got caught playing up there. We have had the bunk beds 2 1/2 years and there has never been a problem.

My son's friend got a bunk bed set around the same time (he was 3 1/2) and his parents let him play up there. About the third day, he fell and shattered his pelvis. He had to spend the whole summer in a body cast. If you have roudy boys or boys who will disobey when your back is turned, I would wait until they are older.

Shelllie

Have you looked at trundle beds? I think I was 4 and my brother was 2 when we had them. The top bed is about the same height as a low loft. The second bed rolls under it and is about the height of a single bed (maybe a little lower). You get into the top bed by climbing up on the lower bed. I know we used to jump from the top to the bottom bed so you would probably want to set up some rules!

My daughter is 2 and a half, and we are getting her a low loft with stairsteps instead of a ladder....now granted she doesn't have someone in there with her to egg her on, to fight with or to play with ....but i think she will be fine.

Maybe get bunks that come apart and put them both on the floor as singles, until the boys get old enough to handle them stacked??

Maybe consider a lower style of bunks....like these:
http://www.sendmetomyroom.com/22cabedfor2w.html

http://thebeanbagstore.com/bhhoosierlshapelowloft.htm

( my daughter's is like this , but a different finish and brand - there is no bottom bunk under hers, there is a roll out desk)

Or if you are worried about the ladder - consider something with stairs like these:
http://www.simplybunkbeds.com/twin-over-twin/wood-bunk-be...

Just make definite rules and consequences, they are old enough to understand and obey, I think, but you know your own kids well enough to know if they will.

Avoid this moeel if you don't want to encourage playing...:
http://thebeanbagstore.com/bhalmostbb.htm LOL!

Recommended age for top bunk is 6

My daughter was in a loft bed (essentially just the top bunk) at her dad's house from the time she was about 3. She loves it and never fell out - but we also added an extra railing that had bars that slid under the mattress that was taller, longer, and went closer to the mattress than just the railing that came with the bed.

Hi S.,

We have had bunkbeds for years. Large full size on the bottom, twin on top. Everyone did fine. Two boys and two girls. Over the years they have all slept in them. My biggest concern, was not necessarily falling out, although we did put in an extended railing. It was whether they could get out at night to go to the bathroom on their own without getting hurt climbing in and out. Especially with the extended rail. Sometimes it's touch and the girls' gowns got caught. See if your boys can, explain the safety issue, go to the store and check to see how they climb in and out, trust your instincts.

I liked the comment by the mom who explained the rules! We did too.

Enjoy them!

We have bunk beds. I have a 5 yr old boy and a 3 yr old boy and it is actually the 3 yr old that sleeps on the top most often. The 5 yr old does on occasion, but it is really safe and there is a rail all around. He loves it! I think it is more about what your boys can do. Can they get up and down themselves? If you are serriously considering it, you could take them to a furniture store and see if they can get up and down. Just a thought.

Our bunkbeds say on them not intended for children under 6yrs.of age on the top bunk.

My daughter is 7 and we haven't had any problems.

My brothers twins had bunk beds as soon as they were out of cribs, of course- he has a boy and a girl- and the monkey jumping wasn't an issue for them. I got my son bunkbeds when he was 4, and as active as he is, he didn't jump very long- bonked his head once and that cured him of jumping off.

You've gotten some great responses already. The manufacturers do recommend children be 6 years old before using the top bunk. We got our girls (ages 6 & 4) bunk beds earlier this year when they were 5 & 3. The 5 year old has the top bunk and has done great with it. I was a little nervous about her somehow rolling over the railing, but she hasn't. My girls don't really move around a lot in their sleep, so the lower railing isn't an issue. You can buy additional side-railings that will be a little higher to give yourself peace of mind while they're sleeping. Also - set strict rules that the top bed is only for sleeping, not playing, and that friends cannot go up there. :)

4 is on the very young end. If you did want to change the sleeping arrangements, you could try either the low loft beds from Ikea (the Kura, I believe) or a twin-over-full bunk bed. That way if a child falls off the side of the top bunk the're falling onto the mattress of the full bed.

I'd not just pay attention to how active they are when they're awake, but how much they toss and turn when they're asleep, too. My 4 year old still scoots all over the bed at night and I would not put her in an upper bunk.

my son was 4 when he got to sleep in the top bunk- we had very strict rules and he's always been good at following them. He was also really good at climbing the ladder so it didn't matter so much. the first couple of weeks we put a pillow under the ladder just in case he did fall (he never did). but even still, we (for other reasons) got the "low" bunkbeds from ikea. it's awesome! the two kids love it, i think it's a great alternative for the younger kids who want/need bunkbeds

I've had my kids in bunkbeds for 2 years. We had a problem with room in the bedroom for 3 beds so we got bunks. My son was 2.5 yrs old at time and my daughter was 4. It worked just fine. My daughter loved being on top and never had a problem getting out of bed to go to the restroom. I don't see the big deal of it being 6yrs old on top.