Bunk bed slat supports... Stronger?

[sloan127]

Our problem with just slats was when the kids wiggled around or bounced the slats would work loose. They could start to turn sideways and fall. Can you tell we had some rowdy kiddos?!

[TeacherMom]

okay got it-- slats better than plywood-- 1x2s is what I need and I will be sure to secure them so that they stay in.Great! that sounds like what I need you three gave me the combination!

[Emma's#1fan]

My dad made our bunk beds so he carved the slates to slide into the bunk bed so there was never sliding. Securing them would also work fine.

[Minthia]

We have used 2x4's instead of the standard 1x2's and we always secure each slat with screws.

[Lindina]

I've never had bunks, but I've seen some that come with a "bunkie board" rather than slats, which is a sort of thick plywood piece. It would depend, I guess, on the thickness of the plywood (not thinner than half-inch, and 3/4 even better), and the size of the slats. I would think I would prefer 1x4 boards instead of 1x2, and screw them in.

[Loriann]

At our last house we bought a bunk bed for our boys. They were 18 months and 2.5 at the time we bought them, so obviously we used them as two stand alone twin beds. We gave the top bunk with the built in rails to my youngest. The plan was to eventually turn them back into bunk beds, but we had an unexpected transfer and didn't have room for them on the moving truck.

The biggest problem I had with the slats is that the matress (a rather flimsy one) kept sinking down through the slats. It wouldn't fall, but it wasn't comfy. We ended up keeping the slats and cutting a piece of plywood and positioning it on top of the slats.

[Shepherd]

I know lots of people who've had homemade bunks out of 2x4's.