I really do strive to be helpful in this blog. I learn so much from other bloggers that I want to give back. And as I was putting clean sheets on the top bunk of my sons' bunk beds, it occurred to me that I'd not shared how our bunk bed situation was working.
I think I blogged a few months ago, before we moved my toddler out of his crib, that I was worried about the bunk bed logistics, but now that it's been a few months, here is the update: (And the helpful part, I know you're all sitting there thinking, "When exactly is this going to be helpful?")
We did in fact move the toddler into his big brother's room right when he turned 2, with him sleeping on the bottom bunk. That moved my 6 year old son up to the top bunk. We continued to keep the ladder side of the bunk beds facing the wall as we'd always done and figured out a way that the 6 year old could climb up the footboard of the bunk beds using a little red ride-on car as a step stool.
It is not the safest solution, but the 6 year old scaling the footboard to get to the top bunk is much safer than turning the ladder to facing out and thus allowing the toddler to climb up to the top and jump off. Which if you know my toddler, you know he would totally do!
This solution has worked great! There is still floorspace for playing in their room (there wouldn't be any if the beds were unstacked), and I think the fact that they can talk but not see each other cuts down on the silliness at bedtime. They laugh and talk a little, but there is no rough-housing going on. Only the 6 year old can get up to the top bunk, my guest room is now freed up to be a guest room again, and I do believe their bond as brothers will be even stronger from them sharing a room!
Now my daughter is praying every night for a sister to share her room. Have mercy!
And I need tips on making it easier to change the sheets on that top bunk -- anyone?
Find more Works for Me Wednesday tips here.
After several years of owning bunk beds, I have come to the conclusion that there is no easy way to change the sheets. That is, hands down, the worst part of having bunk beds...followed closely by hitting your head on the top bed when you stand up too soon after leaning under the bottom one.
ReplyDeleteWhen my youngest was little he was a climber, too, and I was always concerned that he would climb up and get hurt. I love your idea, very clever.
ReplyDeleteChanging the top bunk is hard, but on the plus side, you don't have to exercise that day as it gives you quite the work out!
Have a great day and Lord bless you!
oh thank you for this.
ReplyDeletewe are in the process of assembling bunk beds for our kids and i hadn't even thought about needing to keep my younger (also a crazy daredevil climber) from getting up to the top bunk.
We put the bottom sheet on the top bunk mattress and use sleeping bags for the rest. No top sheet to straighten, no blankets or comforter to assemble. One bottom sheet and straighten out the sleeping bag and voila!
ReplyDeleteWe do something similar to the last commenter... We use a bottom sheet and a duvet cover. During the summer, just a fleece blanket. The bed still looks nice; the duvet is easy enough for my 4-year-old to fluff, and he can neaten the blanket during the summer by himself, too. Just get a bottom sheet that will stay put!
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing a tip with baby crib sheets that was to put two or three sheets on at a time - that way you just have to remove the top dirty one and only have to wrestle with it once in a while. I must admit though - I have never tried it!
ReplyDeleteGood comments. I'm going to have two sharing a room soon and I'm torn when it comes to bunk beds.
ReplyDeleteWe have never had a ladder for the bunk. The bigger kid just scales the bed and gets in. It has always worked for us! I cannot stand to think about the younger kid getting up to the top.
ReplyDeleteAs for the sheets, we only use a fitted, no flat and a blanket. It is a pain to get the fitted sheet on, but at least there is no flat one to deal with.
Toni
I don't think there is an easy way, but wearing shoes to do it, sure does help my balance and it doesn't hurt my feet as much to stand on the ends of the bed.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't easy way to change the sheets on the top bunk either.When I am fully stripping the beds I find it easier to pull the whole matrress down to put the new fitted sheet on.We do the same with the ladder for our bunks,it scares me to think of my baby trying to climb up to the top bunk.
ReplyDeleteOne way I change the sheets on the top is to put the 2 outside corners on and the one corner at the back of the matress that I can reach. The 4th corner is in the corner of the wall and the only one I have problems with. I lay on the bottom bunk and reach up and grab the side of the sheet at the connected bottom corner and slowly work it up and over the last corner. That seems to be the only way-besides removing the matress- that I can get it securely on all 4 corners. Hope that made since to someone besides me?!?!
ReplyDeleteMost of my experience with bunk beds is from Girl Scout camps, where they're often placed side-by-side so that the middle ones in the row can be accessed only from the foot. I always bring a fitted sheet to cover the mattress, and what I do is put on the bottom corners, then crawl onto the bed from the foot pushing the sheet ahead of me, then put on the top corners. If you don't have enough clearance above the bed to crawl up there yourself, then your 6-year-old will have to be involved in changing his sheets...which sounds like a fine idea anyway! :-)
ReplyDeletethat's a pretty nifty bed. we don't have one cause we only have one child but my niece has one all to herself. no idea why though. i used to want one but never got one. :(
ReplyDelete