Age Recommendations For Bunk Beds, Mid and High Sleepers

Bunk beds are great for sleepovers and children sharing a bedroom, but you must be careful introducing them at too young an age.

Falling from the top bunk can result in severe injury or death, so it is imperative that you only use them when you are confident in your children.

The ideal age for bunk beds and high-sleepers is when children understand the dangers of sleeping at height and are not likely to mess around. Usually, this maturity comes between the ages of six and seven.

At six years old, most children can recognise the dangers of falling and are unlikely to take risks that could lead to severe injury or death.

This article explores age recommendations for bunk beds, mid and high-sleepers, and why you should always prioritise safety.

Pictured: Nebula Gaming Bed with Desk – Anthracite, Available from Bedstar. The Online Bed Superstore.

Age recommendations

Bunk beds are only suitable for children over six years old; even then, you must educate them on the risks of sleeping at height.

This age recommendation applies to high sleepers (beds with a top bunk and no bottom bunk) and mid-sleepers.

Children younger than six are more likely to fall out of bed and misuse the ladder. Our advice is simple – children under six should not have a high bed. If you need two beds in one room, find a way to use one bed, even if it means topping and tailing.

The dangers of sleeping at height

Sleeping at height is dangerous because a fall can cause injury or death.

The biggest problem with bunk beds, high sleepers, and to a lesser extent, mid-sleepers is that children can fall out of bed while sleeping. 

This means children can unwittingly come to harm at night, despite behaving during the day.

It would be best to ensure your children are safe sleeping at height. Otherwise, it’s best to go for a single bed or twins.

We know this is probably a disappointment if you have young children, but safety comes first. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

How to improve top bunk safety

The most important safety device on bunk beds is the guard. A bed guard must provide ample height to stop your child from falling out of bed, and it needs to be locked into place securely with bolts that do not work loose.

Pictured: Julian Bowen London Bus 3FT Single Wooden Bunk Bed. Available from Bedstar. The Online Bed Superstore.

The most common mistake parents make buying a mattress that is too thick, which reduces the effective height of the bed guard. You want a mattress no more than 15cm thick to ensure the bed guard does its job.

Another mistake parents make is not installing the bed guard properly – bolts should have washers to distribute pressure and stop them from working loose. It is also prudent to spray the bolts with white lithium grease to prevent corrosion.

We also recommend fastening the bed to the wall so that no amount of weight will cause it to tip over (this is a significant crushing risk).

Ladders are another safety risk, especially for young children. Children should be taught how to use the ladder and the importance of holding on and watching their feet. Improper use of the ladder – like swinging off or sliding down – can also damage it. Encourage good behaviour and nip improper use in the bud early.

When do children grow out of bunk beds?

A high sleeper is an excellent option if you have older children because it makes space for a desk and TV/games console under the top bunk. However, your children might want a wider bed when they are over fourteen.  

With bunk beds, most children grow out of them at around age thirteen or when they are finishing year seven at high school. Having a bunk bed in high school can be embarrassing because they are associated with younger children.

When your child gets older, consider their opinion first. Do they want a bigger bed, or are they happy with bunk beds? This will give you the answer.