Using Trundle Beds in a Nursery - Pros/Cons & Alternatives

Introduction

A trundle bed is essentially a smaller bed that built in such a way that you can store it underneath a regular bed and roll it right out on the rollers in case you have guests sleeping over. These are a pair of beds that work in conjunction with one another.

Trundle beds are excellent beds for a parent in a nursery because they can be hidden away when not in use, add space for overnight guests, provide a comfortable gathering place for your family, and can give tired moms a nice place to rest when they’re up dealing with a fussy baby during the night.

Trundle beds are made in such a way that the parent bed is twin-sized while the trundle bed is a bit smaller. The lower frame (called the trundle) of the bed has rollers (also called casters) that can easily slide and be stored beneath the upper trundle bed frame.

Besides their use in nurseries, trundle beds make excellent guest beds as well. This is a great way to welcome guests with a place to stay while at the same time-saving space in your apartment. Trundle beds are exceptionally useful to those who live in smaller apartments. After using your trundle bed in the nursery, you can reuse it as a guest bed.

Because they save space, trundle beds can be used by people with larger families, multiple roommates, or as a transitional bed before a child moves on to an ordinary bed after their crib.

This way, they can still be close to the parent before making the final switch to a regular bed. This paper from Gallacher, 2006, Children’s Geographics, can provide more insight into how to redesign your child’s space as they grow into toddlers.

In this article, we will discuss whether you should put a trundle bed in your nursery, or even a daybed.

Why Should I Put A Trundle Bed In The Nursery?

When talking about putting a bed in your baby’s nursery, you will hear a variety of different opinions. While some people strongly dislike this idea, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be convenient and useful to parents.

Adding a trundle bed to your nursery will add an additional sleeping area for overnight guests, provide a comfortable space for your family to gather on, and give tired moms a comfortable place to rest when they’re dealing with a fussy baby during the night.

A wooden crib with a trundle bed in a nursery gives parents space to sleep on long nights.

Reason 1. A trundle bed provides an additional sleeping area in the home

This is especially useful in the early months when the baby will be sleeping in the parent’s bedroom, and the nursery will actually sit empty overnight. And if you have family members living near you that will occasionally take care of your little one, it can also provide them with one extra sleeping space. It also allows you to keep the guest bedroom available for visitors.

Reason 2. Trundle beds can provide a comfortable spot for the family to gather on

This seems especially practical if you have a toddler that will want to hang out in the nursery when you are in there, often feeding/changing, etc.

Reason 3. A trundle bed can provide a place for tired moms to rest during those long and fussy nights

Since there are some nights that you will inevitably have to spend with your baby, having a bed in the nursery can be quite useful.

Before you purchase a slide-away bed, be sure to check out our slide-away bed measurements article to make sure you find the right size. Also, make sure that all of the slide-away bed hardware is included with your purchase. Our related article will show you just what you need.

What Other Furniture Should You Have In A Nursery?

We all know that planning a baby nursery can be quite an overwhelming task. With so many baby items available nowadays, it can be challenging to figure out which ones you really need and are really worth buying.

The furniture you buy for your nursery will depend on your personal preferences. Still, some of the furniture basics like a crib or bassinet, changing table, dresser, and a rocking chair may be useful for every new parent.

Crib or bassinet – Let’s start this list by mentioning the most essential baby nursery furniture, a baby’s bed. Whether you choose an elaborate crib or a simple bassinet, your baby’s sleeping spot will probably be the central part of the nursery.

Cribs and bassinets come in a variety of styles and price ranges. No matter how much money you spend and whichever style you choose, be sure that the crib or bassinet is sturdy and made of quality materials. You may want to take a look at a cot bed for your nursery too. Our article, do you need a cot bed? may help you decide. Also, make sure to read our ultimate guide to buying a crib mattress for your baby to make sure you’re buying the one you need!

Changing table – There is no doubt that there are going to be thousands of dirty diapers in your baby’s first year. Although you will become skilled at changing these diapers quickly, it’s always a good idea to have an organized, stationary changing table in a baby’s nursery.

There are a variety of changing tables that you can find, some with shelves for organizing diapers and other must-haves, such as wipes and ointments. Most changing tables also feature a comfortable pad to lay baby on that can be very useful.

Dresser – Most babies often go through several changes of clothing each day, making an organized dresser a much-needed piece of nursery furniture.

Infant dressers should have at least three drawers and feature compartments for socks, bibs, and other small items that your baby will need.

Rocking chair – A comfortable rocking chair or glider for parents to sit in while feeding and rocking their baby to sleep is something parents have been using for a long time. Babies are soothed by the rocking motion offered by chairs and gliders.

These chairs also offer a comfortable spot for breastfeeding. A rocking chair is one piece of furniture you should definitely consider getting for your nursery.

A Ph.D. student from the University of Pavia released a study about how to design your nursery similar to a nursery school to help promote early learning. Take a look at the study from Lichene, 2018, University of Pavia to find out more information.

Pros And Cons Of Having A Trundle Bed In A Nursery

As we have already mentioned, a trundle bed is essentially a small bed that can be stored underneath a larger one. It provides two sleeping spaces in one piece of furniture (similar to bunk beds) but doesn’t take up more space than a regular twin-sized bed during the day. The bottom bed is usually smaller than the other and set on either rollers or casters, which makes it easier to move it in and out from underneath the main bed.

The pros of having a trundle bed in a nursery include additional sleeping space and storage. Trundle beds also come in a variety of stylish options that may be beneficial to many parents. Some parents, however, may find a trundle bed inconvenient, difficult to set up, or that it takes up too much space. Make sure always to weigh these pros against the cons to make sure you’re making the right decision for your space.

Usually, the main reason people buy a trundle bed is to save space. You can store two beds in the same space that one bed would usually occupy.

Depending on the style, trundle beds could also serve as daybeds or chaise lounges in the daytime since the size is similar to a small couch, which makes them very practical for a nursery.

Then, when you require the bed function, you can quickly roll out the second bed. Just add your pillows and bedding, and you’re ready to sleep. You can even get trundle bed designs that include drawers to store your baby’s clothes and toys if you need extra space apart from the drawers. You can find more information on how a trundle bed works in our recent article.

Some of the pros of having a trundle bed in a nursery may be:

Two beds in the space of one – This is one of the main reasons parents opt for a trundle bed in their nursery, both parents can sleep in the room if needed and trundle beds can save time and space in the room.
A stylish piece of furniture when not in use – There are a lot of trundle bed designs that you can find, and a lot of them can be very interesting and could easily fit in with your baby’s nursery.
Some models come with under-bed storage – These models might be the most useful for your baby’s nursery. We all know how quickly you can run out of space in a nursery. Models that have under-bed storage are great because it provides you not only a bed but with extra storage space for your child’s toys and clothes.

Some of the cons of having a trundle bed in a nursery are:

Difficult to get in and out of the top bed without disturbing the sleeper on the lower trundle.
Takes up as much space as a regular bed when not in use.
It’s inconvenient to pull the trundle bed mattress out.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Having A Daybed In A Nursery?

Adding a daybed with a trundle gives you more sleeping space in your nursery.

A daybed is one of the best multi-purpose furnishings you can have in your home. A daybed is essentially a combination of a bed and a sofa. They are known for having an attractive and space-conscious design. Most daybeds are significantly different from typical beds because the headboard extends along one side of the daybed, rather than just the head of the bed.

Some of the advantages of using daybeds in a nursery can include having an extra guest room, adding storage, and providing a comfortable space for your family to gather. The disadvantage to a daybed in the nursery is that it’s only a temporary solution. Due to the numerous functions of daybeds, they can be placed almost anywhere, including spaces where a full-size bed or sofa would not fit. This makes them one of the best beds to put in a nursery.

Some of the advantages of having a daybed in a nursery are:

You can use the nursery as an extra guest room – Having a daybed in the nursery allows for the nursery to double as a guest room during the early months if the baby is sleeping in your room.
Daybeds can provide additional storage – Most daybeds have additional space for storage, sometimes appearing as shelving or drawers. You can use this space to store bulky blankets, extra clothes, toys, or just about anything.
It can provide a comfortable spot for family to gather on – This seems especially nice now that I have a toddler that wants to hang in the nursery when I’m in there, often feeding or changing.

Some of the disadvantages of having a daybed in a nursery are:

It feels like a temporary sleeping situation – 6 – 12 months after you put in the daybed, the baby will be making use of his room overnight, and you practically won’t need it there anymore.

We recommend considering this daybed for your nursery – The DHP Franklin Mid Century Upholstered Daybed. It’s constructed well, highly rated, and best of all, it’s affordable.

Is A Murphy Bed In A Nursery A Good Idea?

Murphy beds fold down from the wall, making them the ideal choice for small and multi-use spaces. When they are closed, they look like a bookcase, cabinet, or wood panels. When folded down for use, a standard-size bed appears.

A Murphy bed may be a great idea in a nursery depending on the size and layout of your space because you can hide it away when not in use and doesn’t take up valuable floor space. One of the biggest disadvantages to adding a Murphy bed to your nursery, however, is that it can be complicated to install.

The bed can fold down from the wall in the standard vertical way or along one side horizontally. Since you use a standard mattress with a Murphy bed, they are more comfortable than fold-out sofa beds, no support bar running along your spine.

And, you can store them made up with sheets and blankets, so, you don’t have to rush to make up your guest bed before your guest arrives in case you are using it in a guest room.

Consider using a murphy bed in places where space is a bit tight and in a room you typically use for another purpose.

Adding a Murphy bed to a home office, an open loft space, a studio apartment, or even a child’s nursery brings a second purpose to the room and adds another sleeping space to the home.

Advantages of having a Murphy bed are similar to those of the other beds we have talked about, but they mainly focus on the free space Murphy beds allow you since they practically aren’t there until you pull them down.

One of the cons of Murphy beds, however, can be the slightly complicated process of installing the murphy bed in your baby’s nursery. If you’re seriously considering a murphy bed, take a look at our murphy bed weight capacity guide and our in-depth guide to Murphy bed mattresses, frames, and bedding to help you find the right one to fit your needs.

It’s hard to claim to be the “best Murphy bed on the market,” but if you’re considering adding one to your nursery, this Horizontal Murphy Bed from Amazon seems to be easy to assemble and highly rated.

How Much Space Do You Need For A Trundle Bed In A Nursery?

Trundle beds take up space in a nursery. You will need to check the folded and unfolded size of a trundle bed .

Before purchasing a trundle bed, it is important to consider the area where you want to place the bed. A trundle bed is a good alternative when you have limited floor space in the bedroom.

The space you need for a trundle bed in your nursery includes both the space for the parent bed and the space for the trundle bed once it’s pulled out. For example, a twin size parent bed with a twin size trundle bed can take up the same floor space as a king-sized bed with the trundle pulled out. Make sure you know the dimensions of your space to ensure you have room to use a trundle bed before purchasing one.

Twin trundle bed dimensions are usually 38 inches wide by 75 inches long while the corresponding frames are 39 inches and 75 inches.

Most full trundle beds mattress dimensions are 53 inches wide by 75 inches long while the corresponding frames are 54” x 75”. The standard height of a frame is about 7-9 inches tall, while the trundle bed mattress will be 6-8 in.

To see if the trundle bed will fit in your nursery, you should get the dimensions of the free space available in the room and compare it with the size of a trundle bed.

One example of a trundle bed that has high ratings on Amazon and would make an excellent bed for your nursery is the DHP Manila Metal Framed Daybed with Trundle.

Conclusion

We understand how difficult it can be for parents to organize and decorate their baby’s nursery and figure out exactly what furniture they will need.

Therefore, we hope this article helped you gain some knowledge about trundle beds and how they can be useful in your nursery.

Murphy beds vs daybeds, sofa beds, and futons – a comparison guide

Trundle Beds in a Nursery: What’s the Best Bed for a Parent in a Nursery?