apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I know someone who, at at totally fearless age three, jumped off a 9' loft bed and broke her ankle. It was during a huge kids' party in a strange apartment and she slipped away from her mom. I can't believe the hosts didn't shut off the bedroom with such an attractive nuisance in it during the party!

we hope to do three of those in our triplets' room, when they get older. i'm guessing when they're around 5 or so.

One thing to think about before even getting an older child a loft bed is how to change the sheets. We got our son a loft bed and ended up having to lower it because no one could get up there to change the sheets and he was having trouble on his own. Once we lowered it we could do a better job teaching him how too and now a year or so later he can mostly do it on his own. You also want to make sure that even up high you are comfortable being able to check on your child at any time. When they are sick being up that high is no fun.

We put my daughter in the top at age 4, mainly out of necessity. I was nervous about it at first, but she was super careful and has never had a fall. I wouldn't even dream of putting my son in the top bunk at that age. He's too wiggly, and far too fearless. But my daughter has always been a still sleeper, and very cautious. She's diligent about making sure her younger brother never climbs up. She's nearly 6 now, and we've never had a bunk-bed related accident. I think they're great. A fantastic space-saver when you need to multi-purpose a bedroom.

I had a bunk bed myself (sleeping up top) from the age of four, and my brother slept in a "half-loft" bed from the time he moved out of his crib, and I cannot remember (or remember ever hearing of) any unpleasant incidents.

The half-loft is possibly a good choice if you're worried about accessibility, ours was around 1 meter off the floor, leaving room underneath for a "cave" for play/reading etc. or even a mattress for young guests, while the bed is low enough for you to change sheets and monitor the child in case of illness.

We changed around when I was 16 and he was 8, he got the bunk bed and I used the half-loft, mostly because our ceilings were too low and I'd knock my head sleeping up top in the bunk bed at that age. I did like (still like) sleeping in the to bunk, though, and the half-loft gave me something of that same feeling (and leaving room for a guest underneath, still). We didn't get rid of the beds until I was around 20.

We have the Ikea Kura bed with tent. Our older daughter started sleeping in the top bunk @ 4 3/4 years and little sister is on a mattress on the floor underneath from age 27 months on. The Kura bed is nice because it is only ~45 inches tall. It works for a small shared bedroom....more room for toys!

Read Heather Bailey's post on her daughter falling out of the top bunk and losing two front teeth at a sleepover. My son has a teeny tiny room and a bunk would be so practical but I can't help but recall this story every time I'm tempted so we'll be waiting until he's seven.

http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/heather_bailey/2007/04/toothless_rose.html

When my nephew was 3 a little girl at daycare threw a rock at his face and killed the root of one of his front teeth.
At two years old, my friends son fell forward onto their wood floor when he was playing and smashed his teeth back up inot his gums. He's fine.
Many kids have never been hurt in bunk/loft beds. As with everything, it's not just about manageable hazards, but lifes necessities.

well... my cousin broke his arm falling off a bunk bed, and he was 8 i think. so i dont know if there ever is a 'right age'. I think it goes on a kid by kid basis.

i personally think that bunk beds, and loft beds are so cool. I want one myself. im sure you could come up with a solution.

As soon as my son is 'old enough' or stops doing flips in his sleep I will get/make a bunk or loft bed for him. I will most likely fashion some sort of railing from bed edge to ceiling for half of the bed. and possibly the end leaving a few feet to get in and maneuver. I at first thought of, essentially taking the crib, and raising it to the ceiling. I would of course make it not use the crib, but pretty much that. But I thought against that, in case of emergency or fire people wouldnt know how to open it. So open part of the way is the best. anyways.. man.. im rambling again.. sorry!


good luck!

My son has had the Kura (I think) short loft bed from Ikea since he was about three-and-a-half, and we haven't had any problems in the first year. I will add, he is a pretty cautious kid.

We have a family bed - we sleep on two double futons pushed together - heaps of space. And it is so low that teeny guys can't fall off the bed. They wake up in the morning and crawl off for the day! But when our beds got two jammed we bought half lofts for our older kids - age 5, 6, 7 ish... We got them because of space saving and the drawers underneath would be great for storage and space saving. But and I didn't think of this before, I for one don't want to hoist myself up into their beds for a cuddle and story at bedtime - I regret that its a real hassle to snuggle down on the couch and then shift them into bed.

I am searching to buy similar kids beds. Went to Ikea and didn't find anything I would like. I found something on the internet. Do you think it would be ok ordering a bed on the internet?

I'd recommend going custom. Besides paying for a bed that may fit, or isn't right, get one locally. A local NYC company called Sticks for Stones makes custom beds. I found this article interesting because I thought one of those beds might be a bed of theirs. Anyway, Google them or something for their website, you won't be disappointed. I wasn't.