Pros and Cons of Buying a Bunk Bed
The advantages of buying a bunk bed:
Two beds. Each of your girls wor boys will still have their own bed to sleep on, giving them their own space.
More space. Bunked beds mean more room in any bedroom. It allows you to actually store toys in their bedroom.
3. If someone has an accident or gets sick in the middle of the night you don’t have to wake them both up to change the sheets (like you would if they shared a bed).
When the time comes, the bunk beds can be separated into two twin beds.
They can be a ton of fun for little kids to play on.
The disadvantages of buying a bunk bed:
Safety concerns: Kids can fall off the ladder when climbing up or down. They could fall off the bottom or top bunk if they aren’t being careful enough. They can crack their head or body part on the wood or metal rails. If the bunks don’t have a ton of space between them, the bottom child could crack their head on the bottom of the top bunk. Also, will the slats or boards support your bouncing child enough so that the mattress doesn’t fall through? Will the bunk bed be stable enough? It is recommended that the top bunk only be used by children aged six or older.
Making the beds. Not as easy when you can barely reach the top bunk, or have to climb on top of the bed to make it.
The child on top can likely reach the ceiling, light, ceiling fan, curtains or whatever else might be higher up in their room.
In the middle of the night whoever is on top can’t see the ladder very well and can have problems getting down by themselves, as they have a sleepy and tired body.
Tucking the child on top in may not be very easy if the bunk bed is very high. Or giving them their goodnight hugs and kisses.
We figure that the advantages of buying a bunk bed outweigh the disadvantages and every parent is determined to find as safe and as comfortable a bunk as possible for their family - be it in-store or from a bed shop online.
Tips for Finding the Best Bunk Bed for Kids – A buying guide
How much space is between the bunks? This one is more important. You don't want your kids to outgrow these bunks in just a few years because their heads are touching the bottom of the top bunk (or because they are kicking the bottom of the top bunk). I think it would be very nice if an adult (mom or dad) could sit on the bottom bunk without stooping or hunching over and cracking their heads. Maybe this won’t be as important to you, but it is something to consider. At least a metre and above between the beds will be comfortable.
How high will the top bunk be in your space? Do you have low ceilings? Or a ceiling fan? Because then you might want to consider how tall this bunk bed will be, especially with the ceiling fan.
To trundle or not to trundle? Trundle beds are a great option for a or occasional use. If you going to have two kids sharing a bunkie, and usually have sleepovers then a trundle will come handy.
What type of ladder or stairs will the bunk bed have? If your kids are still very young (under three), you will ideally need a ladder that comes out at an angle from the bunk bed or has stairs (with storage drawers in them) so they can climb up and down safely. Some bunks’ access to the top is only by climbing up on one of the ends (no real ladder). Will that affect where you have to place your bunk bed? Will the ladder or stairs take up too much space in the room? Is the ladder removable? Are the rungs of the ladder too far apart or the initial one too far off the ground? All important things to consider. Ladders ain't ideal, especially if kids use the toilet during the night or if they decided to climb down at any point while sleepy. Climbing up a ladder for smaller kids can be a challenge as well, while stairs cater safely for all age groups.
How high do the rails come? Is there only one rail above the mattress? Or two? Or three? Do the rails cover the entire front or back or ends? On both top and bottom or just one? You will definitely need high rails for your very young children to ensure it would be as safe as possible. Rolling over and falling should be a matter of concern.
How stable are the bunk beds? Whenever you go to look at bunk beds in the stores, you should be especially adamant about having to put the bed through a “shake test.” How much did the bunk bed rock? Part of the reasoning is that kids are hard on furniture. They will jump and bounce and yank and rock that bed, so the more it allows for that, the sooner the bed may “die” or fall apart or collapse. To gauge whether you thought a bed was fairly stable, you should look at how thick the corner pieces of the bed frame was as well as how it was assembled together and the materials used.
Aesthetics. Do you like how the bed looks? Is the wood sanded and polished nice and smooth? Or is the wood gritty feeling? Do the drawers (if applicable) slide nicely in and out? Do you like the colour of the wood or metal? Do you like how the bunks look when separated? If you like DIY projects then these may not be as important to you, but if you don’t want to have to worry about these things, it is important to consider.
Storage space. Does the bunk come with extra storage space? Is there room under the bottom bunk for things? Are there drawers in the staircase? Does the bunk come with a desk or shelves attached? If you are looking into a loft bed these things are probably much more important to you. But, remember the space you plan on putting the bunk bed or loft in. Will there be enough room around it to access the shelves or desk or drawers provided?
Cost. You are, like most people, always looking for a great deal. And you’d be surprised how quickly the price of bunk beds can escalate, but also how unstable and unsafe the cheapest new bunk beds can feel. My suggestion is always to shop around at reputable bed shops online or in-store. Figure out what features are most important to you of the nine points I listed above. Safety of course should be a top concern, so the materials and construction of the bed should be among your top priorities. Do you feel more comfortable with a metal-framed bed? Or do you really prefer wood? Also, when thinking about cost, remember that you will still need to buy mattresses and sheets and perhaps even bunkie boards. For better convenience - shop for all your bunk bed needs at Bed King’s online shop.
Article from: https://bodaciousbedrooms.weebly.com/blog/to-buy-a-bunk-bed-or-not-to-buy-a-bunk-bed
