Bunk beds vs. loft beds; which bed is right for you?

Most of us grew up either having a bunk bed or knowing a friend who had one. There’s really nothing better than bunk beds for maximizing space in a small bedroom. Kids are active and like to climb, so having their bed is several feet off the floor is definitely "cool". It’s a place they can go to survey their bedroom domain. It keeps them active and inspires their imaginations. Plus, bunk beds are GREAT for fort building!

Bunk beds typically consist of only a bottom bunk and a top bunk, but what about storage? Enter the loft bed. Loft beds incorporate storage into a typical bunk bed, so in addition to the floor space you are already freeing up with the bunk bed, you can now get rid of the chest of drawers and desk that is taking up so much valuable real estate in your child’s room. Many loft beds only have the top bunk, but there are several styles that come with a bottom bed, too.

So, do you choose a bunk bed or a loft bed? Really, the choice is yours, but the loft bed is a great way to go if you’ve got a small bedroom occupied by one child. If you’re putting two kids in one bedroom, you may want to go with the bunk beds and some extra storage (chest, dresser, desk). Also, most bunk beds can be down-stacked into two twin beds, so if your kids are too young for a bunk at this time, you can still invest in one now and use them as twin beds, then stack them into bunk beds when you feel your kids are ready for it.

Benefits of Bunk Beds

Beside the "cool factor" of bunk beds, there are several practical benefits to choosing one for your child's bedroom.

First, quality bunk beds can last your child from age three on through college. Since most bunk beds can be down-stacked into two twin beds, your child can begin enjoying his/her new room even if they are still not old enough to manage climbing up to the top bunk. As your child grows, you can stack the twin beds into the bunk bed formation, thereby freeing up valuable floor space for a desk, since by this time your child will most likely have plenty of homework to do - much to their dismay. :)

Second, the space-saving features of bunk beds are unparalleled. You can sleep two in the same amount of space that you would normally be able to put a twin bed. With today's homes and their small bedrooms, this is a huge benefit.

Third, as long as you buy a quality bunk bed, you will have no trouble selling it at a later date if you decide your child is ready for something else.

In my next post I'll discuss the differences between bunk beds and loft beds, so be sure to check back.

What's the right age for bunk beds?

I often get emails from prospective customers asking to know what the right age is for their child to move into a bunk bed. Since we have several different styles of bunk beds to choose from, from 49 inches to 72 inches tall, I always ask which be they are interested in.

On the whole, most bunk beds are suitable for children 5 years and up, but it also depends upon the child. As long as your child is grown enough to safely climb the bunk bed ladder, then there's really no reason to not get a bunk bed. Usually the climb up to the top bunk is a piece of cake, but initially the climb down can be somewhat daunting. As long as you are there reassuring your child and helping him/her find that first step on the way down, then there's no problem.

Kids learn fast and mastering the bunk bed ladder will come quickly and even give your child a sense of accomplishment if they had to get over their fears to make the up and down climb. Not only that, but the top bunk is a really cool place for a kid to be. It brings them at eye level with mom and dad, and that's a pretty neat place to be when you're used to being only waist high. :)

Bunk Beds & Loft Beds Galore

Are bunk beds safe?

When I was about 5 years old I remember waking up one night to the thud of my body hitting the floor. Since this was around 1973, I had the good fortune to land on a rather plush shag carpet. Other than my startlement I was unharmed. Since those carefree days - back when you took responsibility for your own actions and people didn't automatically think of who they could sue for their own carelessness - bunk bed safety has come a long way.

There are now ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) safety standards that most manufacturers abide by that go a long way to ensuring the safety of bunk beds. Some of the highlights of those standards are

• Guardrails on both sides of the upper bunk, except for up to 15 inches at each end of the bed.
• The upper edge of the guardrails shall be no less than 5 inches above the top surface of the mattress when a mattress of the maximum thickness specified by the bed manufacturer’s instructions is on the bed.
• Guardrails shall be attached so that they cannot be removed without either intentionally releasing a fastening device or applying forces sequentially in
  different directions.
• That openings in the structure surrounding the upper bunk be small enough to prevent passage of a tapered block having a base measuring 3.5 inches by 6.2 inches.
• That openings in the end structures and the FHSA rule addresses hazards associated with bunk beds intended for use by children.

What this means for the consumer is that any bed purchased from a manufacturer that follows the ASTM guidelines will have sturdily secured guard rails and the positioning of the guard rails is such that little heads are too big to get caught between them, thus avoiding strangulation, and little hands and feet are too small to get wedged between them, thus avoiding broken bones. Also, there is always enough guard rail available to prevent mishaps such as my fall from the top bunk.

So, if you're looking for a bunk bed that you can feel your child will be safe on, be sure to check if the bed is ASTM safety certified.

Bunk Beds & Loft Beds Galore

Intro to Bunk Beds

Is your child ready to move up from the toddler bed to a bunk bed? Are you looking for a way to make your child want to sleep in his or her own bedroom instead of yours? Bunk beds are almost a right of passage for kids and no other kind of sleeping arrangement provides the level of fun your child will experience with a bunk bed. Over the next few posts I'll go into the pros and cons of bunk beds vs. loft beds vs. captain's beds, etc., as well as explain the differences between them. Keep your eyes peeled for more info...

Bunk Beds & Loft Beds Galore