Bunk Beds Debunked – The Pros and Cons of Bunks Beds

Bunk Beds

Bunk beds have been a popular space-saving bedroom solution since Ancient Egyptian times, yet these popular beds have recently come under fire because of health and safety concerns. However, can this children’s bedroom staple really be that bad?

Read on to discover the real pros and cons of bunk beds.

Pro: They’re Space Savers

Bunk beds are so popular among families with multiple children because they cut down on bedroom clutter. When children are sharing a room, a set of bunk beds takes up as much floor space as a single bed. Putting in a pair of single twin beds, or even a double or queen bed, can often take up most of a room’s real estate and leave little space for homework and play.

Con: There are Some Safety Concerns

Elevating a bed will always come with safety concerns. Children can fall off the ladders or from the bed itself while sleeping. However, there are some measures that parents can take to minimize these risks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests children aged six years or older should sleep on the top bunk, as these kids have the motor skills needed to use ladders safely. Parents can reduce the risk of falls by putting the bunk beds against a wall and installing guard rails or using fabric bumpers. Children should also be taught never to roughhouse on or under their bunk beds.

Pro: They Give Children Their Own Space

Image via Flickr by Joe Goldberg

Sharing a room can be trying for children, but a bunk bed can help ease the stressful situation. Bunk beds give children their own sleeping and living spaces. Children will enjoy a more restful night’s sleep in a bunk bed than they do sharing their sibling’s double or queen bed.

They’ll also be able to carve out their own space and identity in their bedroom. Many parents allow children to personalize the space around their bunk with posters, bedding, and wall-mounted shelves packed with favorite books and toys. Clip-on lamps allow an older child to read quietly while his or her younger sibling gets much-needed sleep. Â

Con: They Can Aggravate Allergies and Asthma

Dust mites are released from the top bunk’s bedding during the night, which can set off allergies and asthma symptoms in the person sleeping underneath. For this reason, health experts suggest that children who suffer from asthma or allergies shouldn’t sleep on the bottom bunk. Children who don’t have a history of asthma or allergy symptoms can happily sleep on either bunk bed, though. Washing bedding regularly can also minimize the impact of dust mites.

Pro: They’re Versatile

Bunk beds are a versatile bedding option that can be converted into twin beds in the future. Some families decide to put young children of different genders in the same room and then separate them when they’re grown. Others have kids sharing a room until the purchase of a larger house. If the time comes when bunk beds aren’t the right sleeping solution for your children, they can be separated into single twins.

There are certainly some downsides to bunk beds, but if safety and health precautions are taken, they can be an excellent addition to any bedroom.