great little bed for small spaces (Ikea Vikare Clear Laquer Childrens Bed)

Member Name: kat_weller

Product:	Ikea Vikare Clear Laquer Childrens Bed
Date:	12/06/04 (1569 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: extendable, fits in small rooms, makes a nice transition from cot to bed

Disadvantages: need to purchase special mattress, not suitable for adults, not great quality

We bought this bed because our son was growing out of his cot and had to choose one that fitted in the tiniest bedroom in the world - basically the size of a large cupbard. A normal sized single bed would be too big. This bed is ideal for the purpose we chose. Because this bed is uniquely adjustable you need to purchase a special mattress (which comes in three parts) seperately and likewise you need to purchase special bottom covers too. However a friend I know got around this by using pillow cases on the head and foot end mattresses. The bed comes flat packed in three parts plus the slats which need to be put together. My husband claims it was very easy and only took him about 20 minutes.

You start off with the bed being in the smallest position which means having the head and foot ends in the upright position. The minimum length is 152cm which is about the same as a standard sized cot although the width (which remains the same) is 80cm - much wider than a cot. The headboard height is 58cm. This position is ideal for a toddler because its really cosy and makes the transition from a cot with bars to a bed much easier and is not too overwhelming. I think the bed is quite low which is great for your toddler to get themselves in and out and means they are less likely to hurt themselves if they fall out. However if this concerns you, putting up a bedguard more or less covers the entire length of the bed and it will give added protection and security. Because there are 'mini' mattresses in the head and foot ends, it is very comfy to sleep up against and there are few hard bits - although my son has banged his head a few times when mucking about in bed.

When your toddler gets bigger, you can let down either or both of the headrests and make the bed bigger. We haven't actually done this yet but you will require some DIY skills and tools to do this - its not automatic. The maximum length is 206cm which is about the same length as a single bed.
The mattress is very comfortable but bear in mind that it is not waterproof and you will need to purchase a waterproof sheet seperately to protect it. One of the problems we came across was the slats. I knelt awkwardly on the bed with one knee and actually managed to break one slat in half. We returned just the slats to Ikea and they were happy to replace them with new ones. We came to the conclusion that there was a knot in the wood which was weak and my weight caused it to break. Now I'm really careful how I kneel on the bed and we haven't had any more problems. Although no upper weight limit is suggested for this bed, I think it is only suitable for children and not adults. I have got into the bed for reading stories and bedtime hugs and it seems to be okay. I much prefer the openess of a bed than the cot with bars.

The Ikea extendable bed is available in white or softwood (which is like pine). I think this is a great value for money bed because it should be able to last through most of your child's early years and makes a great alternative to a cot bed. Admittedly the quality is not great but if you need a small bed for a small space, this is ideal and I believe its the only bed of its type available to buy.

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