Providing a bed area that accommodates 2 children daily and occasionally 3 kids an option could be a bunk bed with added trundle saving limited room space. Regular extended family visits children or younger adults can sleep on the spare bed under the stacked bunk.
A bunk bed with trundle that’s constructed correctly, checked regularly for defects and maintained is 100% sturdy & stable for children’s daily use for 12-15 years. Trundles for young kids and teenagers sleeping on are also reliable enough for at least 10 years, although not for everyday use as their not built a strong as the main bunk.
A bunk bed with trundle is essentially a regular 2 sleeping berth bed, one above the other that’s made for daily use for young children, older teenagers or even adults. The trundle part is a pull out bed that’s located under the lower bunk capable of sleeping 1-2 children if required.
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The point of a trundle bed is another every so often bed space when another child needs a sleeping surface for lying on, not for everyday use. The trundle has wheels to move around easily. Another benefit is in smaller bedrooms the bed saves space as it goes back under the bunk when stored.
Are bunk bed and trundles stable and sturdy?
Bunk beds with trundle are very sturdy and stable when correctly constructed following the maker’s instructions, looked after by children, also regularly maintained by parents. Two separate bunks are stable when attached to a wooden or metal frame secured together with screws & bolts and the bed becomes sturdier placed up against a wall for extra strength.
Think about it yourself as a mother or father, there are families currently using bunks in they’re children’s room for sleeping arrangements in the UK & USA. Of course parents should only use one that is good quality without any safety defects.
Trundle
The trundle bed part of the bunk is actually itself a separate bed that’s detached and can be pulled entirely away from the bottom bunk. It’s a sleeping platform low to the ground suitable for toddlers, infants and teenage children to sleep on and is sturdy and won’t fall over.
A single, double, queen or king size trundle bed has the weight capacity to hold a 1-2 people up to 350-400 lbs. You’ll require using the manufactures recommend mattress size for full effect, being up to 8cm thick. Sleeping on a trundle is less comfortable compared to a bunk at 10-16cm as the mattress depth is thinner.
2 obvious Ideas: Store the trundle bed away as soon as it’s not required so children are not walking over or standing on it to prevent additional wear & tear or damage.
Second, don’t allow children to use the trundle as a trampoline by jumping up and down on the bed as their not so strong or sturdy as the bunk or regular beds. Make this part of the children’s bedroom rules you’ll have with a high bunk bed in they’re room.
Bunk bed
With 2 children using a bunk bed daily for up to 15 years bunks are manufactured to be strong enough for possible wear and tear if you check it every 6 months for any maintenance required. Both of you’re girls or boys will be able to step on and of the lower and top bunk multiple times a day.
Make the bunk bed more secure and sturdy
- Rule of no games or acrobatics on any part of both bunks or the frame.
- Ladder, slide or steps are secure and tight to the frame, free from damage and functioning appropriately.
- Guard rails are secure and tight on both bunks.
- The entire bunk frame is flush against a wall creating a more stable and sturdy bed structure for children to use and sleep on.
- No more than 4 children on the structure at the same time.
- Check the slats on both bunks periodically for defects.
What kids’s can’t do is swing of the bunk or using it a tug of war contest as it will damage the joints and destabilise the bunk bed. In addition, jumping up and down on the upper bunk is strictly to be avoided as it will get damaged, become unsafe for kids & teenagers and will eventually make the bunk less sturdy & stable.
A bunk be will not collapse or fall over if its properly put together and checked several times a year for faults and it’s placed hard up against a flat wall. Parents can secure the bunk to the room wall with straps or bolts passed through the frame into the wall for added stability and peace of mind.
Are bunk beds & trundles reliable?
Bunk sleeping is reliable of children, will last longer, 12 to 15 years, although the trundle should be used occasionally as it’s not built as strong as the main bunks & frame. How you treat the bed and how it’s regularly maintained will dictate if reliable or not and how much time the bed last.
As stated trundles and bunks are sturdy enough to withstand daily long term use by children and will not break will normal use.
Common issues with trundle and bunks
- A trundle & bunk bed and frame can by noisy when used by with some squeaking. You can minimize this by keeping the bolts & screws tight on the wood & metal designs and oiling any joint where bolts are located.
- An unstable wobbly bunk bed is the result of loose screws & bolts, first tighten where required. Next firmly place the bunk against a flat bedroom wall and secure it with bolts if needed. You could bolt the bunk to the floor if the bed is in the middle of the bedroom acting as a room divider.
Safety of teenagers and kid’s bunk bed use
When children follow they’re parent’s instructions of how to use a bunk bed or trundle appropriately, erected correctly and maintained the beds are safe for teenagers and younger kids for sleeping.
Trundles are very close to the floor and are safer than bunk use as there is no chance of a fall compared to the risk of a child falling 5 feet of the top bunk to the bedroom floor.
Children will incur bumps, bruises & minior cuts using bunk beds as they sometimes bang they’re hand, elbows or head of the frame.