Which Child Gets to Choose the Top Bunk?

Who should be on the top bunk?

As a parent, it seems every day is a battle on certain topics. When you have bunk beds, the fight over who gets the top bunk may be a near-constant argument at bedtime. When it comes to choosing who gets the top bunk with minimal tears and fussing, here are a few things to consider.

Safety First

The first way to settle this once and for all is to know and abide by the age restrictions of the top bunk. The matter of safety is always a parent’s top concern, so this is an easy way to squash top-bunk debates. No child under the age of 6 years old should sleep on the top bunk. This is to prevent accidents or danger posed by smaller children becoming trapped between the railing and the mattress. It is also because younger children may have less coordination to navigate getting up and down from the top bunk. If you have two children squabbling at bedtime and one of them is under 6 years old, this is an easy win for any parent when it comes to choosing who gets the top bunk!

The Share and Switch

So how do you go about choosing who gets the top bunk if both children are old enough to safely occupy that coveted top bunk? The key is to teach them to share and switch. While it is easier said than done, if you can devise a schedule where they switch out nights to have the top bunk and then stick to it, this can make bedtime a little easier for all involved.

Pulling Rank

Of course, the schedule switch-off may not always work out, so many parents choose to use a rank system. Since the oldest child naturally pulls rank over the younger child in most cases, it makes sense to give the top bunk to the older child as a perk.

Never Double Up

A top bunk should never have more than one person in it! This is a major safety concern and should be avoided at all costs.