We’ve done a great article explaining exactly what are trundle beds. But now it’s time to dive into the benefits of trundle beds and why they are a great, space-saving option for spare bedrooms, new parents, kids rooms and more.
Once you’re fully convinced that a trundle bed is the right choice for you, check out our review of the best trundle beds as well as the best trundle bed mattresses.
Ps. What might be considered a pro for someone could be a con for someone else, so we created a list of benefits as well as considerations which you should evaluate for yourself.
More Visual Space Benefits
A trundle bed practically disappears under a regular twin bed when packed away. This is not the case with massive bunk beds and sleeper couches which are often awkward and impractical. If you opt for a low mattress, you can often leave the trundle bed made-up with a comforter and pillow, saving even more time when you need to get it ready for guests and sleepovers. This way, it acts as a storage drawer for some extra linen as well.
Remember, you could easily have a trundle bed under a regular bunk bed, allowing for 3 separate sleeping options in a room that would usually only allow for 2! In fact, this versatility is they key to why trundle beds have exploded in popularity.
Safer than Bunk Beds
Trundle bed are safer than bunk beds. According to Nationwide Children’s Hostpital, there are around 36000 bunk bed injuries every year in the U. S.
At around 60 inches (1.5 meter) off the ground, the height of the upper bunk is inherently more dangerous whether your child is a restless sleeper or simply playing around.
Cheaper than Regular Beds
Even though a trundle bed costs more, the overall cost of a trundle bed is usually cheaper than two separate beds.
A high quality wooden trundle bed (twin including trundle underneath) costs around $200 to $300 whereas the same two twin beds will costs around $400. Metal frame trundle beds costs quite a bit less but still offer a more cost-effective solution than two separate twins.
Lastly, if you buy the trundle alone (just the bottom frame with wheels) you can save a ton of money over buying a new, complete bed.
Great Benefits for New Parents
Though this is a highly contended issue, having a new baby sleep in the same bed is generally more unsafe… not to mention very disruptive to both parents.
A trundle bed that pulls out right next to the mom or dad’s side of the bed allows for a better night’s sleep while still giving quick access to breast feeding or tending to crying or quick diaper changes.
Once baby outgrows this phase the trundle can be moved to the kids room and act as a great sleepover solution when friends start visiting.
Fingers Can Get Caught
OK, so even though they are by far the safer option, the fact that there are more moving parts can cause hand injuries. Some trundle beds are attached and use a drawer mechanism to slide in-and-out while others “trundle” along on castor wheels. Either way, while pulling it out and especially when packing it away, you have to take very careful not of your hand placement because fingers can sometimes get caught in the narrow spaces between the trundle bad and the primary bed frame.
This is way more of a factor when you consider pop-up trundles with their “scissor-action” frames. The metal slats crisscross alongside one another with very tight spaces that can cause a lot of damage to fingers. This is especially true because your fingers are hidden under the frame while you raise of lower the pop-up.
More Regular Cleaning
Trundle Mattresses have to be aired out more regularly. The dark underside of a bed with the lack of ventilation and dust collection can be unhealthy in the long run. It’s a little unfair to classify this as a con since every mattress should be aired out or cleaned every six months at least.
A trundle mattress is simply more susceptible to dust collection and trapped moisture. However, it’s probably less likely to develop bed bugs due to reduced overall use.
The best practice is to remove trundle mattresses every couple of months and steam clean them followed by leaving them in full sunshine to dry 100%.
Reduced Storage
This sounds a little counter intuitive but let me explain…
In children’s rooms especially, the underside of a bed is where most of the bulky toys get stored. Although this is not entirely ideal, this is a quick-fix for cleaning am otherwise messy room. Even for guest, rooms or main bedrooms, putting things under the bed that would otherwise be hard to store away, is a practical and effective solution to lack of storage space.
However, a trundle bed frame takes up most of that space and leaves very little storage room. Sometimes none at all! So if you’re the type of person who likes to see-through Ikea boxes 4-abreast under your beds, carefully consider where this will be moved to when you no longer have the extra space.
Not Always Available
If you’re considering a trundle bed over a bunk bed because you have two children but only one bedroom, consider this…
It’s the younger child that usually get’s the trundle and they tend to feel inconvenienced as their bed is packed away daily. It can be quite frustrating and may even have a negative psychological impact.
Having a place to “lay your head” is important, even for children. So not being able to just crash for a few minutes can really suck. Whether this is for a quick nap, reading a book or even a little screen-time.
In this case, if space is absolutely limited, a bunk bed might be a better option.
Conclusion
Although there are many more pros and cons to consider, these are the most important ones we have found when deciding whether to purchase a trundle bed. If you’d like to add to the list, gladly send us an email from the contact page. We’d love to hear from you!