How was your experience with trundle bed?

Updated on March 04, 2008
J.S. asks from Saint Paul, MN
20 answers

Hi ladies :)

My boys are (almost) 3 and 1. My nearly 3 year old is ready to transition into a twin sized bed. I am considering purchasing a twin with a trundle so that when the baby is ready to move to a big boy bed, we can put him in the trundle to save space (we live in a small house and the boys share a room). A bunk bed isn't an option as the room has a lower ceiling because the home is a story and a half.

My question is, has anyone used a trundle bed for their kids? Will the boys be too close together to actually go to sleep? Will we be able to use the bed as the boys get bigger (will the baby out grow the trundle?)? Maybe we could use the trundle for sleepovers in future.

Any experience/thoughts will be appreciated.

THANK YOU!!
J.

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Summary

Some parents think it's much like side by side twin beds or two sharing a bed, when it comes to going to sleep at night. The children need to be trained to leave each other alone and actually go to sleep. Adults can sleep on a trundle, so it should last you a long time, although the heavier a person, the less comfortable the bed could be as they age.

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K.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

When my sister-in-laws youngest moved out of his crib she bought a bunk bed set but b/c they were both too young for the top bunk she ordered a trundle. The boys are now 6 and almost 5, they sleep very well in the bottom bunk & trundle.

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K.G.

answers from Omaha on

I grew up on a trundle. There were 4 girls and a decent size room for two beds. At night it was wall to wall bed but who cared- you're all asleep!

My sister uses the beds now with her boys. She has 3 and a step son who visits regularly.

This would make these beds 37 yrs old now and still going!

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J.

answers from Minneapolis on

I live in an old house, so we also deal with the lower ceiling issue. I have a trundle bed I bought when I was single to have as a guest bed. When my first baby was 14 months old, she began sleeping in it. I bought the matching side rail for the bed when we made the transition to make the bed safe for her. It has been great as a first bed for her. We leave the trundle pulled out a little to create a step, allowing her to easily get in and out of bed. When my three month old baby girl is in the 14-18 month range, I plan to move her into the bed, as well. I was planning to have both girls sleep on the top mattress, at first, and leave the trundle pulled out a bit for a step. I highly recommend getting a side rail for safety. When the girls get older, I've got full and queen sized cast iron beds for them, but I think it's nice for them to have some together time whilst they young. You'll figure out what works for you.

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K.G.

answers from Sioux City on

Hi J.,
When I was in college my roommate opted for a day bed rather than the traditional 'lofted' bed. It had a trundle bed underneath that was not attached, you could slide it anywhere and it even popped up to be 'normal' bed heighth. I slept in it sometimes when we were having a "sleep over night" (haha). So you could get something like that and slide the beds apart so they wouldn't be so close and it would last until they were quite a bit older, like I said I was in college and it fit me fine and I'm 5'10"!

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R.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

J.,

I'm not sure how it would work for two boys, but my brother used a trundle from my bed when he moved out of a crib. It worked really well for us (although if I had a sister I don't know if it would have as well). Since we had to share a room (temporarily until another room was available) it was a great space saver and then as you said, was used for company when my brother was no longer sharing my room. Also, the trundle is typically a twin sized mattress, so there shouldn't be any concern for your younger son to out grow it.

Good luck in making the decision!

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S.H.

answers from Green Bay on

Hi J.,
We have a trundle bed and we love it. Sorry can't help with the two boys question since I just have one who is almost 14. However we use it when he has a friend sleepover and it works great. Also a wonderful space saver.
Best of luck,
S.
http://www.YesToSuccess.net
helping moms earn money and have a healthier home for almost 12 years

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D.N.

answers from Wausau on

My friend's family used trundle beds. They had 6 kids in a three bedroom home! One bedroom for the girls and one for the boys. In each bedroom they had a trundle bed--the littlest one got to sleep in the trundle. One of the funny things was the other two kids said it wasn't fair because it was easy to "make" the trundle bed. . . just slide it underneath! They didn't have any problems with sleeping although sometimes there was some whispering before going to sleep. :-)

Hope this helps!

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T.Z.

answers from Green Bay on

we have a loft bed. It is a LOWER bunk bed and a twin that sticks out like an L. IT can be used as a bunk bed too. Really it is no higher than 5 feet high. I like it cuz I can still tuck in on the top bunk and gives hugs and kisses from there.

I don't like trundle beds. My sister ahs one and it is misserable to make the bed and if you want more than a sheet and a very thin blanket, nothing will fit when putting it under for teh day time space. You will need to fold and store the blankes else where. And if one gets out of bed to go potty will the lower child get stepped on.

Trundle beds are good for sleepovers. Oh and I have friend who has 4 kids and 2 sleep in one double bed and the other 2 speel in another double bed. I don't have the space for that but I think I would consider that if I had the space.

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R.D.

answers from Des Moines on

Look for a pop-up trundle frame that uses a regular twin mattress. It pops up to bed height but lowers to slide under the bed. No worries about growing out of it and you can use it in the lower or full-height positions.

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J.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

We've used a trundle, and it's much like side by side twin beds or two sharing a bed, when it comes to going to sleep at night. The children need to be trained to leave each other alone and actually go to sleep. Adults can sleep on a trundle, so it should last you a long time, although the heavier a person, the less comfortable the bed could be as they age. The same is true for bunks and futons (we've used them all). Over about 100lbs and you'll probably want a regular mattress and box spring for back support. Prior to that, most any set up will work.

SAHM of seven, 23 yrs - 16 mos.

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J.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

Our 4.5 year old daughter and 2.5 year old son insist on sleeping together every night. It started at Christmas when we were staying with my parents where they slept in the same bed. They won't sleep in the full sized bed in my little boy's room - only the twin in my daughter's room. I say go with the trundle -once the novelty of it wears off, it becomes "normal" and works out just fine. We hadn't planned on them sharing a room but it works out just fine for us! If it doesn't work out, a trundle is a good thing to have...we often find we are a bed (or two) short when we have cousins stay overnight.

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M.K.

answers from Sheboygan on

we have a trundle for our 3 year old b/c I had it as a kid and it's still in good shape. It works out great b/c we keep the trundle pulled out about 18" and it works as a step stool for her; plus when she first started sleeping in the big bed, she occasionally fell out and this was a much softer landing. Sorry, I don't have any experience on using the trundle as a second bed, except when her cousins visit from out of town. They think it's cool stuff.

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

Another alternative to a trundle bed is the Kura bed from Ikea. When your baby is ready for a bed, you can turn it so that the bed is up nigher and then put a mattress on the floor underneath, which would save you space since you wouldn't have to pull it out at night. It would work like a bunk bed but it is not as tall so it may work with your lower ceiling. We're planning on purchasing one when my baby is done with his crib.

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J.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

My oldest got the loft bed from Ikea when he turned 3. It is lower than a bunk bed, about 3.5 feet off the ground. For a while, it provided a great place for him to play underneath and created a little space in a small room. Now that he is almost 5, he asked for a twin mattress to go on the floor for "slumber parties." His 3 year old sister generally chooses to sleep on the bottom "bunk" instead of in her own room. As I recall, the bed was about $180 and took a few hours for my husband to assemble. 2 years later my son still loves it.

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D.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

J., i did not have a trundle bed, however did know a mom that used one on their two boys, they loved it, i agree when they are older they keep each other awake, haha but what kid dont, even in different rooms they can do this, ahhahaha, however, i used to turn my bed in my room into a kinda trundle bed, i would save the crib mattress, if still in good condition and have it made up like a little bed, and when the child could not sleep and wanted to sleep with mom and dad, all i had to do was reach under the bed pull out the matress and the kid could sleep soundly and so could we, yet they felt safe, or sometimes i started them in my bed, and when back to sleep just pull it out from under my bed, and lay them down, it worked great, D. s

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T.H.

answers from Milwaukee on

We have used a trundle with a twin bed for quite a while. It's really nice because you can just slide it under to get it out of the way. It's a regular twin size bed, that no one will outgrow. You don't have to raise it up to the same level, but you can if you want. We rarely do. You can also roll it to the other side of the room if you want them separated more. It's basically like having two twin beds in the room, with one that can be easily put away. I highly recommend it, especially if you don't have a lot of space. :)

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L.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

We have a trudle bed. When my boys who at the time were 8 and 2 shared the trundle it was a nightmare. My two year old was constantly bugging my older boy. We had a toddler bed in storage and brought it out. We placed them so that they were not right next to each other and this worked much better. Now, My oldest is ten and middle child is almost four. They share a full instead of a twin size bunk bed which has plenty of room for sleepovers, and my youngest 2 1/2 has the trundle bed in her room. She feels safer on the lower bed that we pull out and will eventually move into the upper bed. I guess you just have to know your childs personality and decide if they could behave in a trundle. My middle child is our stongest willed child and it was just way too tempting to keep bothering his older brother and not go to sleep.

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E.T.

answers from Rochester on

My brother and I had a trundle bed when we were little. We lived in a little house and shared a room for several years. I think that was the first "big kid" bed for my brother. I was about 6 (he was 3) when we moved to another house. We still shared a room but continued to use the trundle bed as single beds for a few more years. I remember loving the bed. It was great to play on and hide under when the trundle was pulled out.

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K.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

My boys are 1 year and 6 days apart. They are 3.5 and 4.5. About 1 1/2 years ago, we purchased them a a set of bunk beds figuring they would last until they go off to college. We took all the ideas we had and even made sure we go the kind that seperate just in case we get a bigger house and they get a shot at their own rooms. After all that planning, they usually sleep in the same bed. They'll sleep up or down, but usually together. We have found that they usually fall asleep faster when they are together, so I don't think it'll be an issue for your boys.

As far as ideas for bed go, I like the trundle be plan, but it may become more of a hassle with putting it away each day in order to have enough room to play. If you are near an IKEA, or like to look around online, they have a bed that is a low bunk. It can be used as a single bed with a canopy or flipped over to be a low loft bed. It is a full-size twin and you could easily add a mattress to the underside and have a complete bunk set. My nephew has one that he adores.

Best of luck and enjoy shopping!

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B.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

Have you seen that tv show on TLC Monday nights called Jon&Kate plus8 ? They have twins girls then they had sextuplets. Well they are crammed for space as well and they're children have trundle beds and it seems to work just fine in their family.

My daughter has a daybed with a trundle and it's very convienant for sleepovers she has a friend over tonight actually.

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