Covered Wagon Beds for Kids

A covered wagon was transportation and living space for the pioneers.

During the 1800s, the pioneers traveled in covered wagons across the frontiers. The back of the covered wagon often acted as the bed everybody slept on. These days, a bed in a covered wagon is still in use, though mostly as just a bed and not a vehicle to travel in. Covered wagon beds are an entertaining piece of furniture for kids interested in how the pioneers lived, and they are a different type of bed that would add appeal to any child's room. Because of their locations or themes, some inns provide covered wagon beds for their guests.

Alternative uses

Besides being a bed, children can explore prairie life in their covered wagons. Imagine what it must have been like traveling in the covered wagon for several hours and several days to a new home. Children can try to see what kinds of things they can do while they are in their covered wagon bed to keep from getting bored. Pioneer children probably had their mothers tutor them or they read, sang songs and made up games to play.

Availability

Covered wagon beds can normally be found at specialty furniture stores. Check the Internet and see if any of the stores listed are located in your area. With luck, you might find a used covered wagon bed on sites such as Craigslist or eBay. Check the beds to make sure they are in good condition before purchase. Some of the standard covered wagon beds can sell for as little as $300 while some of the fancier beds at fancy boutiques can cost upwards of $15,000.

Comfort

For some of the beds, you can either climb onto the bed at the opening or there will be an opening in the canvas at the side for someone to sit on the bed and then lie down inside. The beds are roomy and usually wide enough for two adults. Some beds can be small enough for one infant or one child to sleep in. To add to the time period look, most people who have a covered wagon bed use a quilt or shawl as a cover for the bed.

DIY Covered Wagon Bed

If you can't afford to buy a covered wagon bed, create your own. This is easy to do if you already have a bunk bed because you can throw a king-sized white sheet over the top bunk and tie the ends around the posts with string. For a regular, twin-sized bed, however, you need to build a wooden arch frame to fit over the bed and stretch a king-sized white sheet or white canvas over it.