Co-sleeping: Guide and IKEA hacks for your shared bedroom

Family bed: guide and IKEA hacks for your shared bedroom

A family bed is a bed in which parents and children sleep together. This may sound unusual to some, but it is a matter of course in many cultures and has a long tradition. When you consider the advantages of co-sleeping, it seems to be a great solution for some families - maybe it's something for you and your family too!

3 reasons in favour of the family bed

1.Security: The family bed creates a sense of security and closeness, which in turn leads to a stronger bond between all family members.

2.Space-saving : The family bed also saves space, especially as only one bedroom is needed for the whole family.

3.Better sleep: Another reason for co-sleeping is the opportunity to improve the whole family's sleep. Especially as a new mum or new dad, you probably know the feeling: There's hardly a night without an interruption. This is due to the countless reasons why our little ones' sleep is restless or even interrupted. With a family bed, you don't need to leave the bed in most cases, as many things can be solved by cuddling or breastfeeding directly in bed. This way, your sleep mode is not interrupted and you can continue to recover for the next day.

Junge Familie im gemeinsamen Schlafzimmer

However, there are also fears on the other side, which is why parents decide against a family bed. In particular, the issues of sudden infant death syndrome, disturbance of sleep due to constant movement and a restricted love life are of concern to those interested in a family bed. These issues must be considered individually for each family and should be weighed up from the perspective of each family member.

Family bed: what you need to know

Have you and your family decided in favour of a family bed? There are a few things you should bear in mind. We have noticed that there are a lot of questions about co-sleeping in particular, which we want to answer for you in a Q&A.

From what age is a family bed suitable?

Some parents start using a family bed in the first few months, while others start later. It is important to consider the child's safety and ensure that the child is able to sleep safely in the family bed.

Who sleeps where?

You can place the bed against the wall or in the centre of the room, depending on what works best. Children should never fall out of bed while sleeping, so if the bed is free-standing, it should be in the centre or, if it is against the wall, along the length of the wall.

What should be considered when using a family bed?

Stability and safety: When a baby sleeps in a family bed, certain precautions should be taken. The bed must be safe and must not pose any danger to your little one. It is important that the bed is stable and safe so that there is no risk of suffocation and that all sleepers have enough space. You should also pay attention to your child's individual needs and make sure that the family bed also works for your little one.
Fall protection: Fall protection is usually recommended for the family bed, especially if small children sleep in the bed. Fall protection can help prevent accidents and protect your child from falling out.
Closeness in partnership: Realise with your partner that the family bed can have an impact on your love life and how you can deal with this situation so that everyone is happy.

Which mattress is suitable for a family bed?

The number of mattresses in a family bed depends on the size of the bed and how many people are sleeping in it. A family bed can have one large mattress that offers enough space for everyone, or several mattresses can be placed next to each other. It is undoubtedly important that you and your loved ones have enough space in the family bed, so it is recommended to allow 90-140 cm for each family member aged 6 and over and 60-70 cm for younger children. When buying a mattress, pay attention to the body weight that will be lying on the mattress and when buying several mattresses, make sure that they have a uniform height so that a large lying surface is created. In addition, a topper such as the GRUSNARV waterproof mattress protector from IKEA* could be useful, so that the transitions between the mattresses are not noticeable and the actual mattress is protected from small accidents. With regard to pillows and blankets, we recommend a separate set for each family member, which is individually customised. For babies and small children, you should avoid decorative and unnecessary pillows and blankets due to the risk of suffocation.

When to wean from the family bed?

A gradual approach is recommended when weaning a child off the family bed. It is important to be patient and support the child, for example by letting your little one spend the night in their own bed in the same room as a first step.

The perfect formula for a family bed

Familybed with one child: 1x 180cm double bed and 1x 90cm single bed

Familybed with two children: 1x 180cm double bed and 2x 90cm single bed or 2x 180cm double bed

How to build your IKEA family bed

Your new family bed can be easily combined from various IKEA products. The bed frame should be selected so that it does not have a wide, bulky frame so that the lying surface is not interrupted when several beds are put together. From the IKEA range, the MALM * and NEIDEN * beds and the DUNVIK * and ESPEVÄR * box-spring beds are particularly suitable.

Add a slatted base and mattresses for extra support and comfort. IKEA offers different slatted frames such as LURÖY* or LÖNSET* that you can choose to match your bed frame. IKEA also offers various mattress models that are suitable for a family bed.

Tip: The SIGGERUD* mattress wedge is the perfect bridge between adjacent mattresses. | Image source: ikea.com

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IKEA family bed with storage space

If you want to integrate additional storage space in the family bed, you can choose beds with drawer such as the MALM. Alternatively, the ESPEVÄR* and NEIDEN* beds offer 20cm high storage space under the bed, and the IKEA boxes SKUBB*, PÄRKLA*, HEMMAFIXARE*, GÖRSNYGG* or STUK fit perfectly underneath.

IKEA hack for getting into the family bed

With the TROGEN* step stool, your little ones can crawl into and out of the family bed easily, safely and independently. Design the family bed to your taste by adding decorative elements to make it cosy and inviting.

How to easily wean your little ones off the family bed

When the night of nights arrives when it's finally time to sleep alone, your little ones are about to take a big step towards independence. To support them on this path, you can take small steps to get them excited about their own nursery. You know your child best and therefore also know their interests, so cater to these and decorate the nursery accordingly so that your child feels comfortable and is happy to spend the night there. Pay particular attention to the sleeping area, because sleeping alone is certainly strange and totally new after leaving the family bed.

The KURA bed* from IKEA is a classic in the children's room, as it can be customised in many different ways. As a low bed, it is perfect for younger children, but it also remains true to itself as they grow up. When your favourite little person gets older, you can convert the bed into a bunk bed with a play corner. With the accessories for IKEA cots from Limmaland, such as adhesive foils or curtains in creative design motifs, moving out of the family nest is child's play.

All IKEA KURA hacks