Over the last few decades, more and more technology has entered our lives and increasingly determines the daily routine of children as well. At the same time, school has changed. Comprehensive schools, but also the G8 system in grammar schools, have led to longer school days and less free time. In addition, parents often have to put their children into all-day care so that both parents, or single parents, can work full-time. Not least for these reasons, one sees groups of children playing outside in meadows and streets less and less often.
It is all the more important to make the children's room as pleasant as possible on the one hand, but also functional on the other. Where the children's room was previously only needed for homework and sleeping because the children were out of the house for the rest of the day, this room is now often a focal point in the daily routine. This means the children's room has to reconcile two tasks: it must provide enough space for playing and resting, but at the same time also space for learning and working.
The loft bed
To meet all these tasks, more and more parents are opting for a loft bed in the children's room. With the help of such a bed, you can increase the space in the room by around 2 m², because under the high bed you can create space for a desk, a cozy corner, or simply for playing.
A loft bed can be interesting even for younger children. Theoretically, a loft bed is possible from an age of 3-5 years if the following points are taken into account:
- the child can climb a ladder up and down safely
- the child knows how to correctly assess the height of a loft bed and does not jump down
- the child does not try to climb down the ladder while half-asleep when they need to go at night
- the child does not sleepwalk
- the child sticks to the agreement not to climb onto the loft bed with several people
So, if parents are sure that their child understands these points and generally adheres to them, then there is basically nothing standing in the way of a loft bed.
For parents who are uncomfortable with the height of a normal loft bed, for example because they are not sure whether they can trust their offspring in this regard, smaller loft beds, so-called mini-loft beds, are a good option.
A large number of these beds are less than 1.20 m high, thus significantly safer and offer parents a good and secure feeling.
These beds are designed for smaller children (kindergarten age) and offer many play possibilities. As a rule, these are then a loft bed with a slide, which naturally makes children's eyes light up.
Parents who specifically want to purchase a mini children's loft bed should look out for corresponding play variants. There are many possibilities for children to discover here. For example, the free space under the bed can be excellently used to build a den for playing and hiding.
What do parents need to look out for?
Anyone who wants to buy a loft bed for their child should definitely pay attention to a few points.
- If the bed has a quality seal, you can generally rely on the fact that the bed has been tested by an independent organization for stability, safety, and good materials. Such seals are, for example, the mark for tested safety (GS) or the TÜV seal.
- A ladder on the loft bed must be firmly anchored and stand securely on the floor. Especially for small children, the steps must be wide enough so that the child can step safely even when half-asleep.
- The surround of the loft bed must be sufficiently high. This means that the parapet edge should be at least 18-20 cm above the mattress so that the child cannot roll out while sleeping.
- A slide must also be firmly anchored and stand stably on the floor. It must not be able to move. The edges of the slide must be high enough so that the child cannot accidentally fall off the side while sliding. The edges must also be perfectly finished so that the child cannot get a splinter.
A final tip
Even if the price plays a decisive role for most parents when buying a children's loft bed, you should always focus on stability, safety, high-quality workmanship, and pollutant-free materials. After all, it is your child who has to sleep and play in the bed for several years.
Photo by Alnatura: Mini loft bed
