My twins are 2 1/2 and we are looking for twin beds for them so they can transition from cribs. The bedroom is small so with 2 twin beds the door won't even be able to open fully. :lol
I was saying 'no way' to bunk beds, but I like this one maybe:
http://www.woodcrestmfg.com/ (upper right with stairs)

Would it be awful? Any parents done bunk beds and hate or love them? I know it could be a pain when someone pukes or feels yucky ... or falls off, but there is a rail. It would save a lot of floor space!!!

I would not be comfortable with 2.5yr olds in bunk beds. Most stuff I read says bunk beds aren't safe until at LEAST 5-7yrs old.

Could they share a bed instead?

-Angela

I would say you could get bunks now if you wanted, remove the ladder, and use the top bunk for storage of things life stuffed animals, or for things you want to keep out of reach like crayons or something.

at 2.5 I'd have them sharing a bed. OR- you could get a trundle for under the bottom bunk so they could both have their own mattress, or, just slide a regular mattress under the bottom bunk during the day, and pull it out at night for one twin.

I understand your small room struggle, but the bed in that link looks scary to me. My sister knocked out a tooth at 2 and broke an arm at 5 on bunk beds.

We have small rooms too. At 3.5 and 5.5 we started using this (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10123996) as a bunk bed (second thin foam mattress sits on floor) with this (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20116207) on top. I would still not trust my almost 4 year old sleeping on top even though it is only about 4 ft tall.

Before that we had a twin and a crib mattress head to head on the floor. Since they were on the floor the room did not feel as small and the beds doubled as safe play space.

Hope that helps a little.

Could you fit a couple toddler beds? I'd do that before putting a 2.5 y.o. in a top bunk. They take crib mattresses, and the frames are durable and you could probably pick them up gently used, if you don't want to invest much in a solution that will only last a few years.

ZM

We had this issue for my two daughters. What we did was get a daybed and a metal trundle underneath. It works PERFECTLY. They've been sleeping that way now for over a year. Bunk beds are not safe for children under 6 years old. Even at 6 y.o. I think I'd only trust my second DD with a low rise loft bed. It's just too dangerous.

The daybed/trundle combination is perfect for saving space, and it's also very aesthetically pleasing. They just roll the trundle out every night, it takes less than a minute, and is equally easy to roll back in the morning.

We bought ours used on Craigslist for $100 (it was barely used, it was in a guest room) though you can easily get one for about $250 for the daybed and $100 for the trundle new. I believe JC Penney even has some good prices on them.

There's also something like this...VERY simple, might be more attractive than a daybed for a boy! And, VERY safe!

http://www.bedroomsandmore.com/images/products/daybeds/daybed-trundle-duo-riser.htm

Thanks! We'll pass on bunks. :) We don't want any broken bones!!!
Trundle or regular twin beds will have to do - I don't think either of them would get any sleep sharing a bed. :lol

Also, if you end up with a day bed you can arrange head to head with part of the bottom bed stowed under the top bed until the kids are bigger.

We have this from Ikea and love it. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10123996 We're using the floor for toy storage, and once we night wean the baby we'll put him on a single mattress down there. The bed is much smaller space-wise than a regular bunk bed, and if you use the Ikea mattress, you have 7" of railing. (Only 3-4" w/ a reg twin mattress) The opening to climb down is at the foot and very narrow and only 3' off the ground.

We've been using it since DS1 was 3.5 and have had zero problems.

My kids are older, and we have a bunk bed, but I'm not quite comfortable with my 5yo sleeping in it yet (she's the older one), so actually the kids share the lower bunk and the ladder to the top is resting on the top bunk. At some point, my 5yo will move up, but for now, there's actually plenty of room for the two of them in one regular size twin bed, and I think they like being able to talk and play a bit before falling asleep each night.

I think 2.5 is bit young even for this. But we did find a bunk bed in a L configuration which allows the top bed to be much closer to the floor. . . .http://www.bedroomfurniture.com/Berg-Furniture-22-905-XX-FX1021.html DS has had it for about 6 months and he just turned 6, so he's had it since he was 5.5 and it's been fine for him. We did not get the stairs on the end, btw, to space and money and because I felt that he would play on the stairs and they would be a hazard for that reason. He gets to the top bunk by climbing on the lower bunk.

I would try for toddler beds for another couple of years and then move on to a bunk I think.

Catherine

My eldest went to a top bunk at 3.5, never fell out, no accidents, no disasters at all apart from a bright green footprint on the ceiling. (no idea...) In your shoes, though, I'd put toddler beds in for now, though I love that bunk.

We have this from Ikea and love it. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10123996 We're using the floor for toy storage, and once we night wean the baby we'll put him on a single mattress down there. The bed is much smaller space-wise than a regular bunk bed, and if you use the Ikea mattress, you have 7" of railing. (Only 3-4" w/ a reg twin mattress) The opening to climb down is at the foot and very narrow and only 3' off the ground.

We've been using it since DS1 was 3.5 and have had zero problems.

We have 2 of these. My 7 yr old has it as a loft and my 4 yr old has it down. Though to be honest he could easily have it up but I sit with him at night still. We also have the tent over the top. If your boys were a little older and you had room for two in the space I would suggest it for sure. Having the space underneath is really nice. And unlike regular bunk beds it is not that tall. I would also not use a regular mattress with it up.

I think toddler beds might be the way to go for you or a mattress on the floor for them to share. Then in a couple of years look into the bunk bed idea again.

I love the daybed/trundle idea. I wouldn't be comfortable with my 2.5 year old in a bunk bed!

We ended up finding a great sale on some beautiful twin beds. I am SO excited to get them. This will be perfect. Thanks for your replies... we steered clear of bunks. :)