More modern houses are built with smaller bedrooms and couple this with larger families means less space available in the home. With 2 young girls or boys sharing a room means space is at a premium with a shorty bunk bed being one idea to free up floor area.
Bunks for sleeping on are made in different sizes and theirs a range of options for younger children from 4 to 12 years old to choose from that could also be fun.
One single bed stacked above the other with head height in between bunks attached to a frame are shorty bunk beds were they work as 2 single sleeping areas for young children from 6 years old. Shorter in length x width 2ft 6’ or 3 feet length their normal looking bed bunks that come with optional stairs, slide or storage and built lower to the ground.
What are shorty bunk beds
A normal looking 2 space bunk bed that has a lower & top bunk one above each other and shorter in length x width x height is a shorty bunk bed, typically approximately 2 ft 6’ or 3 feet in length. They are single size beds designed and intended for younger children from 6 to 12 years old as kids don’t require a big bed as they tend to be smaller in height.
What age are shorty bunk beds suitable for? Certainly 6 years old and above for access to the top bunk, although parents know best if they’re child is ready and responsible for bunk sleeping or in a child’s room.
I know there are some parents that have they’re 4-5 year old child sleeping on the bottom of a shorty bunk only, though they are not allowed on the stairs/ladder or the top bunk for safety reasons.
A fair few parents opt for shorty bed designs as they are specifically made for smaller children and have more rounded corners in addition to being not so high of the ground. In addition bunks that are shorty designed also have optional features in more expensive models from storage capacity, slide, attached stairs or moveable ladder.
Shorty bunks are durable, stable & study when constructed correctly, and intended for kids to sleep that are made closer to the ground with less height of (154.6cm 3 feet design) than teenager bunks for safety reasons.
Other explanation on how their sturdy & stable
Parents can use short bunk beds as their ideal for small rooms where 2 youngsters are sharing a bedroom and require floor space to play games and have a bigger area to move around.
Is a shorty bed the same as a toddler bed? No. A shorty bed is larger and the top bunk is for children 6 years and above where a toddler’s bed is much smaller for infants.
Shorty bunks possible features:
- Has slats for each mattress under each of 2 bunks.
- Mattress hardness medium to medium/firm.
- Mattress options: Open spring mattress, coil spring or sprung flex are 3 options for a child’s single bunk.
- Choose a wood or metal bed frame.
- More expensive shorty bunks have stair steps for a child to get up and down more safely from the top bunk, slide or storage areas.
- Small single mattress extra short 2 ft 6 inches or single mattress 3 feet length providing 2 different size bunks to choose from for you’re children.
- Headboard for lower and upper bunk included.
- Weight limit per bunk 100kg.
- Option to position the ladder on the left or right side of the bunk, although basic designs are static ladder in one place only.
- Typically a 24cm bedroom floor to the underside of the bottom bunk clearance, meaning a shorty bunk is child safety designed to be closer to the floor.
Buying, assembling and securing a shorty bed in a child’s room
Shorty bunks are beds made of solid wood, typically pine or metal framed. When you buy one you’ll probably receive 2 boxes where you self assemble the frame and bunks yourself.
When self assembling the frame and bunk there are bolts that solidly hold the static frame together providing a sturdy constructed double bunk for your sons or daughters for using and sleeping.
It’s highly recommended for the shorty bunk to be securely attached to a wall helping to prevent it falling over.
Many children’s shorty beds are sold new and can be acquired second hand each year as they are a popular choice with parents of young kids with limited bedroom space and replaced as children get older and out grow them. Some mothers and fathers don’t want a bunk bed because of the safety issues and children require more checking and supervision with a high bunk in the children’s room.
What size are shorty bunks
There are 2 distinct sizes of shorty bunk beds you’re children could sleep on although sizes vary slightly by manufactures and design:
2 feet 6 inches small single extra short design dimensions
- Bed frame size width 83cm, length 182cm, height 141cm
- Distance between floor & lower bed 20cm.
- Mattresses are 13.5g sprung and come in different thickness options.
3 feet standard single shorty bunk design dimensions
- Frame size length 180cm, width 88cm, overall height 154.6cm.
- Safety rail height on bunk 34cm.
- Mattress size length 175cm, width 75cm, depth 15cm.
- Height between lower and top bunk 81.5cm.
- Bed weight 44.65kg.
- Maximum mattress depth safety standard for top bunk 16cm.
How tall does a room have to be for bunk bed shorty?
A child will require about 33-36 inches clearance head height between the top bunk and the ceiling to move around comfortably and safely. That means the minimum floor to ceiling height for a standard 3 feet shorty bunk of 154.6cm tall you add an additional 33 to 36 inches.
How much space does shorty bunk bed take up? Space in the bedroom needed is length x width x height. Thus, for a 3 feet shorty bunk: length 180cm, width 88cm, overall height 154.6cm with the mattress slightly smaller at length 175cm, width 75cm, depth 15cm. (Measure the room height first before buying).
Shorty bunk bed benefits & disadvantages for children before you buy
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
| Ideal short bunk sleeping bed for small child rooms with 2 kids sharing. | Bunks as shorty beds provide a means for children to fall of the top bunk and injure themselves if doing something silly. |
| Save space in a bedroom for another wardrobe, storage and bigger play area on the floor. | Parents require to supervise they’re sons & daughter more often or closely using a shorty bed if it’s a bunk in case of accidents. |
| Shorty beds accommodate 2 girls or boys in one single bed floor space. | Bunks require more room ceiling height to be functionally usable for a child and for safety getting on and off the top bunk. |
| Used with bigger families with limited bedrooms or sleeping space for kids sleepovers or extended family visits. | You’re kids might hate sharing a bunk as they shake slightly when getting on and off. |
| Build a set of stairs yourself and attach them to the bunk. | Could be continued arguments for who get the top bunk or whose turn. |
| Smaller bed not too big at a young age, and shorty bunks are more safety in minded lower to the ground. | Children might be insecure or become so getting of the upper bunk in the dark at night, although install a lamp. |
| Shorter in design and not as tall as bigger beds or so close to the ceiling, possibly giving more options. | The bed might be too small for you’re child or could quickly out grow it. |
| Shorty beds are designed to be younger child friendly with plastic corners and other small safety features. | Some children get chrostophobic with the bed against the wall and on the lower bunk or close to the ceiling. |
| Some designs come with a shout that children like to play on, and bunks are generally seen as cool by young kids, but not all. | From the start you’re boys or girls might not like the look of a bunk and want single beds instead. |
| You can buy them new or second hand as parents upgrade to bigger children’s beds. | You’ll need to replace the shorty bed design for bigger bunks when the children get older. |
Are shorty bunk beds cool?
Play forts hanging sheets around the bunk creating a tunnel.
Option of adding a slide is more exciting to get down from the top bunk instead of using the ladder.
Lots of young boys and girls like the high up top bunk as it’s different, also they can hang out with they’re friend’s.
You can add a curtain rail type privacy to the top & lower bunk.
Questions on bunks
Price range: New shorty 2 bed bunks from £190 to £340 depending on size and where you purchase for basic design. You’ll pay more for additional feature such as storage, steps and attached slide.
When purchasing a 3 feet standard shorty 2 bunk bed you’ll receive 2 packages:
Package 1 size H48, W176.5, D9.5cm.
Package 2 size H30, W76.8, D13.5cm.
Are shorty bunk beds noisy when used? Yes, they can be a bit squeaky and creak sometimes, especially getting on and off the bed. After a while oil the areas of the bed that make an annoying noise if required.
How long do shorty bunk beds last? They’ll last from new all a young child’s life from to 5- to 14 years old with standard use. Of course you’re children require to look after they’re bed and not kick, damage or jump up and down on it. Basically, the bed should also last another younger child if looked after and regularly checked for safety defects.
Are shorty bunk beds easy to assemble? It’s recommended you have 2 people to construct the frame and other parts. Requires moving and holding the bed frame parts in place to attach bolts securely. Also, will take a person a few hours or day following the instructions to assemble the bed.