You know your son better then anyone here. Go with how you think he will behave. We got our son bunk beds when he was 5. It has a rail all the way around the top except where the ladder is. We gave him the rules before he was allowed to sleep in it. A strong rule is if you are up there and you are not sleeping you need to be sitting and not leaning over the railing. His 2 year old little brother did indeed fall off the top I caught him but it was extremely scary. Now when the bunk is not in use we put the ladder on the top bed. My son loves his bunk bed, he says it's his favorite thing. it's been two years and he still loves them.

It's the making of the bed that drives me crazy. Otherwise I'd be there already.

^^^ She is NOT allowed to sleep on top bunk….

I have one for my dd since she was 3 but she is allowed to sleep on the top bunk yet. I am not afraid of her falling while sleeping or playing there (she is allowed to play there with her dolls - 5 now), but I am afraid she would wake up disoriented during the night and forget the steps or miss steps etc.

For us, my daughter sleeps in the top which is perfectly safe, no issues. When she is in the bottom, she always falls off (too used to having a bed rail, I guess!)

It will be fine. They've been around a long time with very few reported incidences. We bought ours for DS when he was around 5. He still loves it. Got it at Costco.

We have this: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80253814/

5 year old & 7 year old switch top and bottom bunks every night. It's low enough to where you can see them & make the bed easily.

Mine was in one at 4 (and for no reason since he's an only child!). As long as the railing is sturdy and covers the whole side (mine originally only covered the head area, but I added a few clamp-able rails for the bottom section), he should be fine. The only worry is them rolling in the middle of the night, which is why you should add these additional rails. But kids love them.

DD has the Ikea Kura convertible bed, with a low and high position. I promised her when she is 5 she will be able to sleep with the high configuration, where the mattress is about chest high.

I would wait for the higher, conventional bunk bed, but that's just me.

Will he be alert enough to climb down safely when he has to use the bathroom in the middle of the night? That would be my concern. Younger kids may not be as alert.

I don't like them b/c it's very hard to snuggle with a kid on the top bunk ( my son likes his snuggling and I do too) and it is a real pain in the butt to make the beds (tucking in sheets is very difficult) with bunks. My kids use them at grandma's house and sometimes at a beach rental and those experiences have turned me off to the idea of bunks. Fun for a visit, but wouldn't want them at home.

Both boys had (separate) bunkbeds from 3 and 5. Never an accident. They are grown now!

Every bunk bed I've ever seen has a quite high, sturdy railing. It's basically impossible to fall off while sleeping. Your only worry should be if he would be reckless, like wrestling with friends while standing on the top bunk.

I waited until my twins were 6. Your biggest concern should be the 3-year-old climbing up there when you aren't looking. I made my 6-year-olds read the warning label on the bed and in the manual. They're 10 now and there have been no incidents.

We have the early version of this one from Ikea. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20247977/
I really like the metal frame. It's a lot less creaky and wobbly than the wooden frames.

Get a rail. It's fine.

Talk some sense into me! He is 5 and will sleep on the top while his 3 yr old brother will go on the bottom. Right now the older one is in a twin and the younger is in a todfler bed. I am worried that if I get a bunk the older one will fall off!