A floor bed gives a child freedom of movement and encourages a child’s independence, which is why it is such a popular sleeping arrangement in the Montessori community. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that to best support a child’s development, they should be able to independently get in and out of their bed and that they should also be at eye level of their surrounding environment. This will also encourage their self-regulation skills.
Here are some advantages to a floor bed:
- With a floor bed, your child can independently climb in when they are tired and get out when they wake up.
- A floor bed also provides your child with a safe, quiet place to “retreat” should they need some downtime.
- Your child learns to happily entertain themselves when they wake up, instead of screaming or crying to get their parents’ attention and out of their crib.
- Generally, floor beds offer your child more space to move around during sleep, which ensures they can find a comfortable position and settle themselves back to sleep.
- Floor beds also minimize the fall risk that toddlers confined to cribs may have – often, your toddler becomes a crib escape artist overnight!
- Floor beds also give parents the opportunity to snuggle up with their little one for comfort or a bedtime story or song.
In alignment with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, floor beds should not be used until after your child is 12 months old, after your child is comfortable standing, sitting, walking and moving around.
If you think a floor bed would work well for your family, talk to your child’s physician and:
- Ensure the environment is secure and baby-proof
- Check for things like shelving and dressers being anchored to the walls, outlets are tamper-proof, electrical cords are out of reach, and that there are no choking hazards in the room, including small objects, plastic bags, etc.
- Ensure curtains, blinds are safely secured to the wall and there are no dangling cords
- Ensure shelf corners are secured
- Ensure the mattress is firm and there is no loose bedding, bumpers, toys or pillows in the bed
- Ensure the door to your child’s room is securely closed or gated.
- Consider choosing a floor bed with a frame; this will prevent your child’s mattress from shifting away from a wall and your child rolling into that gap. Check that the frame and gaps between rails follow safety standards for your child’s age.
- Ensure the floor bed is away from any large furniture or objects
If you would like to move your child to a floor bed, be prepared for a transition period. If your child is old enough, you can include them in the process of choosing a bed or bedding to help them look forward to the change. Other children may need a couple of weeks of consistent, patient routine while they explore their newfound freedom. This may look like a bedtime cuddle and story with mom or dad and then consistently walking them back to bed should they get out to explore! Given some time and consistency, a floor bed may be a wonderful addition to your home and support your child’s independence and development.
