In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful
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Today we’re talking about sleeping on the floor. In our home, my husband and I along with our toddler have been sleeping on a floor bed for almost 3 years now. I’ve seen a lot of questions and discussions about this topic in some of the mom circles I’m in the past couple months and I want to share a little bit about our experience.
Our almost 3 year old has been sleeping on a floor bed from the beginning and we completely skipped a crib. For the first few months there was a mix of co-sleeping, using a Moses basket and a mini-floor bed right next to our bed. I’m going to do my best to answer some of the main questions I see coming up around this topic, what you need to get your child’s floor bed set up and share some tips that I’ve learned along the way.
Sleep can be a huge topic when it comes to parenting. There’s a lot of back and forth about co-sleeping versus having your baby in their own bed. Having your baby in your room or should they be in their own room. And there are so many options depending on safety protocols, your personal preferences, your child’s needs, your space, etc. You have cribs, bassinets, playpens, and as we’re talking about today – floor mattresses.
I don’t follow the Montessori strictly but the floor bed, specifically for toddlers, is very much aligned with the Montessori method. It promotes independence and allows your little one a lot of freedom in their movement. Your child is not confined and they are able to get in and out of their bed independently much earlier than they’d be able to with a crib. Also, it gives you freedom from worrying about them falling out of their bed.
You can avoid that adjustment from crib to toddler bed.
You save time, money and energy when you start with a floor bed from early on. The floor bed has potential to grow with your child. Not only will you save time and money on buying all these separate things – crib or bassinet and all the accessories and then toddler bed with all the big kid accessories, you’ll also save the time and energy for yourself and your little one because you don’t need to adjust from this space to another. It’s one bed throughout the stages. This allows your baby to not only become comfortable in their sleeping space but also they learn to associate their bed as a positive experience.
Your child may get out of bed and try to do some exploring.
This is to be expected. Once your baby starts rolling over, they will begin exploring their environment. With that in mind, you’ll need to set some gentle, firm and clear boundaries around your little ones’ sleep. But at the same time, part of the benefits is allowing your child some independence of exploring their space and being curious. It also allows your baby to become familiar with physical boundaries – such as where their bed ends and the floor begins. Finally, within reason, sleeping on a floor bed allows your child to learn to regulate their sleep and come to learn their sleep cues.
There are many benefits for all ages to sleeping on the floor.
A floor bed can have health benefits for all ages, including babies and toddlers. Having that firm surface can be awesome for posture and alignment. But there are also many other benefits including saving money and space. Depending on your choice of mattress, you can fold up your bed during the day and store it away or perhaps turn it into a seating option.
There are so many possibilities and you can really let your imagination run freely.
3 Tips to help you get started;
1. While it may feel strange, opt for a twin size bed from the beginning.
With proper care a good mattress can last 5-10 years. If you get your child a twin size mattress from the very beginning, they’ll be able to grow into it and you won’t have to purchase another bed for quite a while. With that said, because you are thinking long-term, when choosing a bed, try to choose a mattress made of natural fibers.
2. Baby-Proofing is absolutely necessary.
One key concept of the Montessori method is making sure that your child has their things at their level. To go with that, you’ll need to make sure that your baby’s room is a safe space for them. I’m very much for a minimal space. But regardless, make sure the outlets are covered. Make sure you don’t have anything your little one can get hurt with, pull over on them or choke on. Consider that your baby / toddler will explore their entire space and so, check every nook and cranny as best as you are able.
3. Start early.
I think that floor sleeping is something that you have to be comfortable with in order to be successful with. That said, I don’t think there’s really a ‘too early’ or a ‘too late’. But the earlier you start, the better. It allows you to work with your baby to form habits around sleeping on the floor. It allows your baby to get used to their mattress, their overall environment and all of that much more quickly.
There are only 3 things you need to get started;
A. Floor mattress of your choice
We have a couple of options including this 8 inch microfiber futon mattress and this traditional japanese shiki futon. We enjoyed the Shiki futon a lot – the only downside is that it’s not completely natural. We are upgrading our mattress soon and I’m definitely a fan of The Futon Shop because their mattresses are made in the United States and they have mattresses that are 100 percent cotton, cotton and wool… Basically they have a great variety but they are well-made and the material is natural.
B. Mattress cover
Part of taking care of a floor bed, especially if you get a traditional style mattress, is flipping it regularly and letting it air out. Still, when it comes to a baby or a toddler, you’ll want to get a waterproof mattress cover. You’ll still want to make sure you take off the cover and air everything out a few times a week. But having the mattress protected will save you a lot of time, frustration and work in the case your little one spits up, wets the bed or has a blowout.
C. Baby-proofing materials
Specifically, you’ll need;
–a baby gate for the doorway and maybe the top of the stairs
Some other things you may want;
D. Bed frame
There are so many options for you to explore. We chose not to use a bed frame because among our top reasons for choosing a floor bed is flexibility and being able to save space.
E. A shatterproof mirror
This can be great for your little one to explore as they begin moving. It is a learning tool but also provides a wonderful and simple form of entertainment. Be sure that when choosing a mirror you choose one that is shatterproof.
And of course all of this can translate for adults as well…except we might not need a baby gate in our doorway.
Question for the comments: Are you considering a floor bed for yourself or your toddler? What’s your biggest obstacle right now?
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