Bunk beds - what age for top bunk?

My big girls are in toddler beds at the moment but I need DD2s for DD3 to sleep in (so I can put one side back on and make it a co sleeping bed - its a cot/toddler bed) as our bed just isn't big enough for the three of us all night anymore so I hope to slide DD3 over into the cot when she isn't feeding.

Anyway, I am trying to decide if I should buy individual beds or bunkbeds, bunk beds are obviously space savers, my concern is age. I would put DD2 on top as DD1 is mildly disabled and could not climb up and down, she struggles in her toddler bed at times. DD2 is 2y9m and a capable climber, she has never fallen out of her bed while sleeping during the night and she does not have a rail, obviously the top bunk would have a rail which would go 3/4 of the way across just leaving the stairs exposed.

So I am wondering, what age did your child sleep on a top bunk? Do you think my DD is still to young?

DD1 went up there when she was 5. I know families who have put younger kids in bunks though. The only issue I think is can she climb down in the dark? And, Is she night TT? If not, is that going to be an issue with bed wetting and stripping the bed etc? DD1 has vomited in her bunk once and it was a nightmare to clean up!!

Divvy's kids have a bunk that's a low-line one and I know she has found that easier for clean up as it's not up so high (and again easier for the kids to get in to). I got mine from the same place as she did - Bunkers (you can look at the range online) and they are really great in terms of quality and range.

interesting thread Daintree! we are having similar ponderings :think: my concern would be DD2 climbing UP the darn ladder lol...(she will be 2 in september).

need to check out this bunkers website.

Mine were 4 and 2 when they went into bunks. 2yo was on the bottom, though. I think it really depends on the kids. I'd check out the bunkers range - particularly their low line bunks, where the stairs are actually at the end of the beds so the kids won't fall through the sides. My kids never fell out of the top bunk. I also have strict rules about them only being in the bunks to sleep - no playing etc in that room, it's for sleeping, homework and reading. We are lucky enough that we have a playroom, though.

Hope this helps.

We got bunks when DS1 was 3 and DS2 was 2, expecting DS1 to be in the top bunk (there was no room to put the beds side by side). What happened was the boys did not want to be separated and so they both slept in the top bunk for months. Not how I would have planned it but it worked for us and gave us the bottom bunk as a spare for when my mum stayed over.

I didn't think of TTing hmm. We were hoping to get a low line bunks initially for safety I didn't even consider the fact that it would make changing the sheets easier, actually I didn't think about the difficulty in changing the sheets at all :lol:

We do have the space for individual beds, when we renovate which I hope happens before baby arrives our current lounge room will be the main bedroom and there is plenty of room for all of us (yes we are crazy and all sleep in one room! DD1 suffers from sleep apnea and DD3 stills feeds overnight/co sleeps, I can't move DD2 out on her own can I?!) we will have a playroom so if we do get bunks there won't be a concern with playing on them.

I have seen bunkers, they have a triple bunk (2 beds on the ground, 1 raised) which might be good for the girls, I am just not sure if it is a bit crowded. I will keep thinking and looking.

You have given me a couple of things to think about thank you.

DD (4yrs, 3 mths) is almost at the stage where she is ready to sleep on the top bunk (we planned ahead and bought bunks two years ago in anticipation of two children lol). She's been practicing climbing up and down for a few months now and is very keen to sleep up there (although she has no need to sleep up there for at least another 18 months!) but my biggest concern is how she will go climbing down half asleep. She takes after me and is slightly unco, and while she does fine going up and down during the day, I'm quite sure she'll fall flat on her face right now if she was to sleep up there and try to climb down half asleep. I'll probably delay her for at least another few months. I think they're ready when they are able to climb up and down without issue.

DS is in the top at 4.5. DD3 is down the bottom & I won't even let her up the ladder of either set of bunks. She's a dare devil ;)

There's a recommendation of 6 or over on their beds.

DS climbs down successfully every night to come into my bed. without fail ;)

Just for an interesting piece of information did you know that they know say 9yo recommended for bunk beds! I got the girls study beds you can see in my wahooooooo thread. And even they which are quite low lying ones have a sticker on to say only for 9yos. My girls are 3 & 5

Yup ours have a recommendation of 8 years. (They arent set up as bunks) just individual beds. Ive witnessed a friend with their DD in a neck brace from an accident falling from them. She wasnt being silly just an unfortunate accident. She was of the recommended age. Not sure about the lower style bunks.

We have a recommendation of 7years lol. We had ds1 fall out of a bunk and bruised the bone under his eye really badly but he was 4 at the time.
Personally, I think it totally depends on the beds and the kids.

We got bunks for DS1 and DS2 at Easter this year - at the time DS1 was 4y1m (top bunk) and DS2 was 2y3m. DS1 has never had any dramas going up/down ladder in light or dark. He's been perfectly fine to sleep in the top bunk. Plus there are two railings 100pc preventing him from rolling/falling out. DS2 worked out a month or so ago that he could climb the ladder up ... but he won't come back down (not sure if it's lack of ability or just scared - the latter, I think).

One thing to note though ... bunk beds are a b*tch to make - especially when one long side is against a wall as ours is. Takes us AGES to undo and remake the bunk bed.