Robust beds

shegirl

Nicki wrote: »

DD has just broken her bed again for the third time in a year . I think it has now got to the stage where it isn't worth repairing as very few of the original slats remain.

She is nearly 12 and with profound special needs. She has epilepsy which means that she can jerk and twitch violently in bed, and also has a tendency to bounce from a lying or sitting position on the bed when she gets over excited. This is what is causing the bed to break. These are involuntary movements, so no posts please telling me that I need to teach her not to do this.

Can anyone recommend a sturdy single bed, or a style of bed which will be more robust? This is what she is currently in:

http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-ashton-bedsteads-single/p327991?colour=White

Would a divan set up be weaker or stronger? Are the beds with curved slats any good? Or any other ideas for styles of bed which might withstand the strain?

Ah,I feel your pain!ds goes through beds like crazy (just had to replace my own bed aswell lmao)

There are 'special' beds out there but they are ridiculously priced and look awful,they are padded though to provide safety.

Ds now has an ikea odda bed with a million sets of replacement slats (£10 a set) just incase.I also have kriss crossed metal supports under the slats and while he has damaged a few the bed is holding up very well (it's also handy as i got the one with the high back side and footboard along with a headboard unit so i could pad and upholster the sides to cushion any blow)

shegirl

Oh,and yes,curved slats are stronger!Much stronger.

I made the mistake a couple of years back of buying ds a £500 solid pine bed with flat slats...i'm not sure what the hell i was thinking as it didn't last long.Wooden (solid) beds seem to break easier aswell with the slats screwing in and the full wooden frame ending up splintered and damaged

Tigsteroonie

How about not actually having a bed (frame or divan) but instead a stack of three mattresses, putting the sheet/bedding onto the top one? That at least would be shock absorbing! You might be able to rig up some cabling between the handles down the sides to keep them all together (or, if you are into sewing, you could sew a large cloth case that would cover all three mattresses in one).

daska

http://www.toughfurniture.com/case-studies

Not a personal recommendation but from a friend of a friend. (Thankfully DS2 is still only 5... it won't be long though.)

stiltwalker

Thanks Daska - nice stuff on there, just been chatting to DH about the settees as if our 2 monkeys are still climbing and pulling themselves up as much on furniture in a couple of years we're going to need some seriously sturdy settees rather than bog standard ones so bookmarked it for future reference.

fluffnutter

Personally I think you're better off with a divan. A very expensive one that's built to last. Don't buy her a kids' bed. Buy a proper adult single.

Not sure about the footboard either (in your link - nice bed though). Could she kick it accidentally? Same with the headboard too I guess. I'd have thought she'd be better off with just a plain mattress on top of a very sturdy divan.

bride2be2012

can you ask someone in support services or similar, I'm assuming as your daughter has special needs you will be in touch with hospitals etc. My sister has quite severe special needs, including epilepsy, and my parents were able to get a special bed for her, its very similar to a hospital bed. I'm afraid I don't know exactly who my parents spoke to to source the bed, as my sister goes to various clinics and departments in our local health board, but perhaps your daughters gp or paediatrician might be able to point you in the right direction?

aliasojo

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

How about not actually having a bed (frame or divan) but instead a stack of three mattresses, putting the sheet/bedding onto the top one? That at least would be shock absorbing! You might be able to rig up some cabling between the handles down the sides to keep them all together (or, if you are into sewing, you could sew a large cloth case that would cover all three mattresses in one).

Problem with that is the lack of airflow. I suspect it wouldn't be long before the natural moisture from the body caused dampness/mould simply because of the lack of airflow.

Shame as this would have been good otherwise.

I echo the suggestions to ask help/advice from support services. If no joy there, then perhaps consider getting a frame made? It's not as expensive as it sounds and you could up the spec of the components.

Frith

Reading with interest as my smaller son has just broken my bed (again).

This is the 2nd Ikea double bed I have had. He has broken them both in the same way so the little leg in the middle of the bed tips over and the central beam (where the slats meet in the middle) snaps in half!

At the moment, I have it propped up on my plastic boxes full of paperwork.

Smaller son has SEN and seems to naturally want to stand on furniture. He will watch TV happily standing on the sofa, rather than sitting on it!

esmf73

Daska, thanks for this. Will be saving and buying xxx