Which Bed for Eleanor?

Sarah Wilisch Horn

I love that peacock headboard, but I think you should turn it into outdoor furniture. It’s all wickery cool. I would totally find a bench about the same width, bolt that headboard to the back of it, paint it some wonderful color and have a grand, swirly, outdoor fantasy loveseat. Then you can get whatever little-girl friendly bed you like and STILL use the cool headboard. Now I think I’m going to look for something like that. My garden could really use a fancy loveseat.

Jules

I was going to get the IKEA bed as we are now transitioning our girl into a big girl bed. I was ready to bite until someone mentioned to me that with this bed, you’ll always have to tuck in the blankets and comforters. Since we’re not a “tuck in your duvet” kind of family, I have (sadly) come to realize that this bed isn’t for us. Good luck!

Rina

I would go with the Minnen and save the headboard for when she’s a bit older and ready for a “big girl” room. Can the slats on the Minnen be secured somehow?

Dana

Tough call… I would lean towards the Minnen. :)

Christy

We have the Minnen for our 2-year old and she and I both love it. She’s been in it since she was 1.5 at the shortest length. The side rails are great at this length as the head and foot rails are much closer together. We haven’t had any issues with the slats. The only con that I have is that it is pretty tedious to put on the sheets at this short length and with the stationary rails. I use twin sized sheets and fold the extra length under at the foot of the bed. My vote is for the Minnen, especially if you have limited space/small room (like we do).

Janet Hale

I agree with Renae…..be pratical use the peacock, besides the minna looks like an accident waiting to happen as i can just see eleanor getting something stuck between those rungs.

Katie W

The peacock headboard is amazing! There is no question that you should hold onto it for when Eleanor is older.

But I think the Minnen gives you more options for now. It has the safety rails that make it look more like a sleigh or carriage (a little Princess touch I would have loved way back when). The adjustable aspect is pretty great as she transitions to a little girl and then young lady. Plus, I think that you can make it work for a boy by covering the scrolling with wood or use it later as a guest bed.

mary

i bought the minnen in white for a gray room, and i **love** the way it looks. i like it close to the floor – fits the tiny room nicely. haven’t used it yet, though.

Anna

You can always use the peacock headboard to embellish a dresser, mantle, or seating (etc). That way, you might not really have to choose between either :)

Tonya

I think that the bed will pull away from the wall and you’ll have pillow problems, as you suspect. I think you should go with the minnen for the baby. Buy the Peacock for yourself or your guest room.

erin godbey

From the reviews on the Minnen bed, it sounds like it may be too flimsy (though I am certainly not an expert since I don’t have the bed myself)… if you could save the Peacock bed for a few years for when she’s older that would be great, though I’m sure it could be attached to a standard metal bed frame so it wouldn’t shift if that’s the main concern. I bought a stand-alone headboard and was able to attach it to a frame. If you do decide to get rid of it, please let us know, I’d love to buy it!

Ricci

if you choose the minnen, I’ll happily purchase the peacock from you :)

rachel

hmm since you asked i say go for the peacock… you can always put locking castors to keep it from moving, and those fold down mesh rails work great for keeping them in bed. Forget about that headboard being too precious, it’s lovely now, you love it now, and you and she should enjoy the hell out of it now, in a few years your taste will change and you’ll probably regret not using it when you haul it out to the curb/give it away. Plus you just cannot curl up and cuddle and read a book with her in that ikea bed.

Katie

I’ve never had a headboard but never lost any pillows down in between the bes and the wall.

I’d get a proper bed/mattress – she’s a growing girl and needs good support as she sleeps. The Minnen mattress looks flimsy. If you get a good single/twin now she’ll have it for the next 10 years.

mel

As the first poster said it will move away from the bed. I work for a furniture maker, and we take safety VERY seriously. There have been cases of kids being strangled by falling between the bed and wall. How ever you lay out the room make sure you leave gaps big enough so the kids don’t get stuck.

Lara

As a grown-up, I love the peacock headboard. It’s totally in tune with what my style is now, and I think it would look so cute in a little girl’s room. But then I thought about Eleanor loving the Minnen in the store, and I remembered when I was a little girl. I had two beds in my childhood. The first was a cheap old canopy bed I loved more than anything in the world. I would grab the posts on the sides and stand on the edge, pretending it was the bow of a pirate ship, I would pull the curtains shut and pretend I was a princess locked in a tower, I would spend many hours when I couldn’t fall asleep making up games for my canopy bed. One year our lovely neighbor offered her grown son’s old bed to us. It was a beautiful antique hardwood bed, with curvy posts at the head and feet. Looking back, I can see it was the cooler and more stylish of the two. But little girl me didn’t care about that. I just wanted my pirate ship. I was miserable in that bed. When I look at the Minnen, I can see Eleanor loving it like I loved my first bed.

Brandi

Although the Minnen is super cute, in person it does seem rather flimsy. I say go with the Jenny Lind from Land of Nod and save the amazing and delicate Peacock for when Eleanor is older. The Jenny Lind is so charming and versatile. It looks like it will stand up to playful growing children and be suitable for both a girl and a boy. I love it here in Sunshine Ruffalo’s home (from the estate of things blog): http://www.theestateofthings.com/wp_teot/2010/05/05/big-up-yourself/

Erin

Tough call! In situations like these, I tend to go with practicality. I went to Land of Nod to see what Brandi was talking about and WOW it’s super cute too. But you don’t want a third option! Since you already own the peacock, you have it as a backup if you buy the Minnen and end up not liking. I’m not a fan of sleeping with footboards so it’s appealing to me since I burrow and my feet stick out. Not being sure of Eleanor’s sleeping habits, I have officially been no help!

Heather K

Having no clear opinion myself, I called in my resident “experts,” my daughters ages 7-1/2 & 11. Both said the Minnen is your best choice. My 7-1/2-year-old especially liked the side rails for safety/comfort (though she also loves the fanciness of the peacock headboard). Maybe Eleanor could use the Minnen for a couple years and when your baby boy is ready for a big bed, he can use the Minnen and you can get a twin bed for big sister at that time.

Nicoletta

Peacock all the way! Much more versatile. You can use any simple twin bead frame and the headboard can be changed out anytime. I would just get a cheap metal frame and a box spring, or just put it on the floor. You could also go toddler bed style and just set it up like a daybed.

pascaletb

Love, love, love the peacock headbooard but little fingers are not rattan friendly. Lovely curlicues are so easy to break.
I don’t know whether somebody has suggested that already but you could use it as a stencil and paint it on the wall or on a fabric covered headboard.

Chicky Chicky Baby

I usually lurk but I had to comment on this because we have the Minnen in white and while it is cute, it is a perfect pain in the neck to change the bedding due to the footboard and railings on the sides. Top quilts need to be tucked in and I’m not a fan of that look.

However, it does hold up well – my five year old will be getting a new, more mature bed that will grow with her in a few months and my 2 year old will be getting the Minnen unless we spring for a new toddler bed. If you get it, I would recommend getting a regular twin mattress when you’re ready to extend it because the mattress it comes with is two pieces and, again, a pain in the neck.

Wow, ramble-y. Sorry! Obviously I feel strongly about this. :)

Jane

Does your daughter move around a lot when she sleeps? If so, the Minnen is a good choice because it’s low to the ground and the sides prevent most kids from falling out anyway. Our 4 year old has one and we love it. I would not allow her to jump on it though…the slats seem sturdy but not strong enough for jumping.

As for making her bed, we just have a fluffy comforter on it and no top sheet so it’s simple for her.

Jordan

I have two vanity chairs that match your peacocke headboard exactly. The swirls can break off easily as you feared, but it is such a beautiful & fun design. And so very special & whimsical. Either option is ultimately a great option, but you do already have the headboard. I use one of the chairs in my ten year olds room & it just does add a special, girly touch. Good luck!

Kellie

I had a peacock style headboard when I was little and I did, indeed, break off the curlicues. “If they’re pretty on my headboard, they’ll be even prettier off my headboard!!!!” RIIIPPPPP!