Top Bunk - How Old Should She Be?

6 years old is the recommended age according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In my opinion, 3 or 4 is too young, but only you can decide.

When my four year old was in a loft she peed in the bed more often, but was safe. Still, we moved it down til she was closer to 5. At five she had no problems with getting down to pee, other then the usual once in a while accident from being asleep.
At six, she wants her bed on the floor again but when it was on the floor she wanted it up in the air! Good luck with your decision.

My son was six when I finally got bunk beds for my children. My son got the top and my daughter who was four was told she was NOT allowed up there. Both the recommendations and her doctor agreed it isn't a good idea and she'd seen too many broken arms from children being on bunk beds too you.

Well now she is 5 and 3/4's and every once in awhile I catch her up there. I let it go because she is nearly 6 and now i can clearly see she isn't going to try and jump off it, or be spiderman off it or anything. She never has and that isn't her personality. My 7 year old son actually is more likely to spiderman off it and break his arm! So I have to still remind him...

But personally I go with the recommendations of 6 for top. My doctor told me at least once a month or more she's setting broken arms, or other injuries from bunk beds and she really wishes people wouldn't use them anymore for kids under 10. I have no choice but to use bunk beds because of how small their room is... so I just drill it into their heads all the time the safety of having them.

I am uncomfortable with bunk beds I don't think they are safe. I feel the same way about loft beds. I don't know what your budget is like but I would consider Captians beds, they have drawers under them. That way you could have two beds in the room and have room for their clothes. If buying new beds is not an option you could separate the beds and get some under the bed sized plastic bins to put their clothes in. If there is enough room check out thrift shops and yard sales for a small dresser that will fit in the room. Right now because the girls are so young they won't care if their clothes are in another room but in a few years they will not be comfortable having to leave their room to get clothes.
As far as the monsters go I used 'monster spray' in my kids room. You can use any number of things air freshener, with the label covered to say Monster Spray, or just a spray bottle with water and a scent added to it. Spray under the windows and at the doorway and around the bed, monsters can't cross monster spray so they can't get into your room and bother you. Works great!!

We have bunk beds but haven't stacked them yet as our girls are 3 and 4-1/2. I'd say if you have the space, better to be safe. Enough other things to worry about :) Here's the info from kidshealth.org.

http://kidshealth.org/research/bunkbeds.html

According to a new study, more than 570,000 kids were treated in emergency rooms throughout the United States from 1990 to 2005 for bunk-bed-related injuries, mostly to the head, face, and neck.

Tots 10 and under using bunk beds were the most likely to get hurt, with kids younger than 6 accounting for nearly half of all the injuries. Youngsters 3 and under endured the most head trauma (as much as 40% more than older kids). And very young children, who tend to fall headfirst off the bed when they're sleeping, are at increased risk of serious injuries like concussions and skull fractures.

We recently took apart our bunk beds that our 2 and 4 year old share. Not because of safety or issues with her not being able to get down but because we currently have the space to have them both on the floor. Our daughter first started in the bunk bed at 2.5 and did just fine getting in and out. Never worried about her playing up there. Now she is a pretty well behaved girl so the only think I could think of is whether or not you truly trust your daughter up top. As far as getting up and down. It took about a week of good practice but she has had no problems. And it sounds like your daughter is already handling it a little on her own already.

J.,

My boys were 4 1/2 and 2 when we put them in bunkbeds. My older son never woke up in the night to use the bathroom until he was 5-6. It worked fine, but we have some firm rules about the bunkbed.
1. They are for sleeping. No playing on them.
2. Younger sibling not allowed up there, period.
3. Friends don't play in the room. No friends on the bunkbeds.

We had a friend who bought their barely 3 year old a bunk bed and let him play on it however he wanted it. Within a matter of days, he fell off the top, shattered his pelvis and was in a body cast for an entire summer.

I think it has more to do with the children than it does their age. Will they follow the rules and be careful on the bunkbed or are they going to get up there and jump around when you aren't looking?

If you think your girls can handle it, but you are still afraid of your oldest not being able to get down, have her practice in the dark and see if she can do it. Keep a night light on for them so she has enough light to manage it.

Good luck,
S.

Would a trundle bed or an "L" shaped bed fit in the room? The trundle bed can be stored under the regular bed during the day, or just left out if you like. There is storage under the "L" and that might be helpful. They are both low.

2 of my kids share a room and space is limited. We have the dresser in the closet.

We just got my son a loft bed and he will be 6 in 2 weeks. I am even leary at this age if he will remember that there is a ladder to climb down. I personally would take the 2 beds apart for another year or so.....just my opinion....