Bunk Beds Pros and Cons

Pros and cons of bunk and loft beds

When looking for the right sleep solution for your child or children, the topic of bunk beds is bound to come up. This fun and classic sleep solution is a top choice for kids of all ages and offers the right mix of fun and function to keep everyone happy. Before making this necessary purchase, looking at the pros and cons of bunk beds is helpful.

Pros:

  • Saves on space. There is no denying that bunk beds help save on space, which is important in any room, especially a child's room, where they need ample room to play and explore their imagination. With bunk beds, you get two beds for the floor space of one. Add a trundle and you now have 3 beds!
  • Teaches kids not to roughhouse. With bunk beds comes a certain level of responsibility for most kids because roughhousing on a bunk bed can lead to accidents and injuries. When you teach children not to use the top bunk for play or not to play with the ladder as if it were a toy, you are teaching them to be responsible for their actions at a young age.
  • Encourages independence for siblings without separating them. When siblings share a room, teaching independence can be as simple as two separate beds, giving them the illusion of being alone at night. It is also a good way for the older child on the top bunk to feel like they have a little more privacy from a younger sibling.
  • Let each child have more control. Another benefit of bunk beds is that kids won't have to fight over the light in the room. Instead of one child wanting the light on and one wanting it off, you can attach clip-on lights to the bunks, and each child can control their light without disturbing the other.
  • Bunk beds last for years as your child grows. A great thing about a well-made bunk bed is that it will last for years, so even if you purchase them when your child is in kindergarten, they will still be able to use them as a teen years later.

Cons:

  • Safety concerns. While bunk beds have to meet rigid testing standards to be sold, the safety concern is still present. Even with the proper safety measures in place, the potential of a child falling off the top bunk from roughhousing or not following the rules of safe bunk bed use is a concern for parents.
  • It is not suitable for very young children. Bunk beds, especially the top bunk, are suggested for children six and older.
  • Making the bed is a little more complicated. If you teach your child to make their bed as part of their chores, the top bunk of a bed can make that a little difficult, especially for younger children.

  • The battle for the top bunk in shared bedrooms often persists among older siblings. Although the top bunk is intended for children over six years old, competition for it remains fierce. Many parents find solutions to this dilemma, such as allowing the oldest child to have the top bunk or rotating nights between the siblings.