Has your child outgrown their crib and now you are frantically looking for options for their own sleep environment? This can be a tricky time in a parent and child’s life but it shouldn’t cause as much stress as it typically does! If you follow the Montessori method (or even if you don’t), a Montessori floor bed is a perfect way to ease your little one into sleeping in a bigger bed!
What is a Montessori floor bed?
Just as it sounds, a Montessori floor bed is a bed that is placed on the floor or low enough to the ground that your little one can easily crawl into and out of it on their own. There are several varieties of Montessori floor beds on the market or you can choose to simply place a mattress on the floor. Whichever method you choose, there are special considerations to take before taking the leap!
Is a Montessori floor bed right for my child?
Not only is it important to consider whether a Montessori floor bed is right for your child, but you should also question whether it is right for the entire family. If you are starting the Montessori floor bed at an early age, you will most likely be also dealing with sleep training. This is already a stressful time in parent’s lives. Adding in the Montessori philosophy maybe even more overwhelming. However, if you are ready for the challenge (trust me, it isn’t that hard), you won’t regret it!
If you are starting with a Montessori floor bed when your child is very young, it is still important to follow the recommendations presented by the American Academy of Pediatrics on safe sleep. These include:
- Infants should be placed on their back for sleep until 1 year of age
- Use a firm sleep surface
- Room sharing is encouraged and bed-sharing is discouraged
- Keep soft objects and loose bedding away from the sleeping area
If you are not actively practicing the Montessori philosophy in your household but still wish to use a Montessori floor bed, never fear! You are not alone. There are many families deciding to pursue floor beds for their children as there are several benefits.
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Things to consider when buying a Montessori floor bed
Accessibility
The biggest reason for using a floor bed in the Montessori philosophy and education is to teach independence. That means, your little one needs to have the opportunity to crawl into and out of their bed on their own safely. Make sure the bed you choose is low enough to the ground that your child will not be injured if they happen to roll or fall off of their bed and to make sure it is easy for them to get into it in the first place.
Safety
Other than simply ensuring your babe can get in and out of bed safely, you will want to make sure that they are safe while sleeping. Meaning, does the bed provide enough airflow? Airflow is important for your little one and their mattress. First, your child. Sometimes, floor beds can have sides to help prevent children from falling off of the bed. While this may seem helpful, you will want to be careful in the siding you choose as it must be breathable in the case your child’s face rests closely to the side. Now, the mattress itself. Since Montessori floor beds are so low to the ground, it is crucial there is enough airflow to prevent mold from growing on the mattress. This is a bigger problem for those living in humid climates!
Our favorite Montessori floor beds!
WALCUT Children Floor Bed
While sitting extremely low to the ground, this Montessori floor bed still lifts the mattress off of the floor enough to allow adequate airflow. This ensures the best possible sleep environment for your child! Plus, the framing done on this bed leaves kids in awe! We know that this bed is used for sleeping but it can also be used for plenty of fun as the frame is constructed in a house-like figure.
As for the material used on this frame, parents can have peace of mind knowing it is made of premium Finland pine and painted with environmentally friendly materials!
Sprout Montessori Floor Bed
The Sprout Montessori floor bed is one of the most popular options on the market. After taking a look at the material used and special aspects of this bed, there is no wonder why! This frame is made of Baltic birch and is extremely sturdy. It can hold up to 250 pounds which is perfect as it comes with the ability to be converted into different sizes. Therefore, it grows with your child! You can assemble this bed frame into a twin, toddler, or full-size bed whenever needed.
Coco Village Montessori Floor Bed
Many Montessori floor beds come in neutral colors making color matching difficult at times. Plus, you may simply want to provide your little one with a pop of color. Why? Well, because they are children and who wouldn’t want all the colors of the rainbow in their room? If this sounds like your family, the Coco Village Montessori floor bed may be the fit for you. This bed comes in a variety of colors and can be found in either a twin or full size. Unlike the Sprout bed above, these beds can support up to 500 pounds as Coco Village understands that sometimes parents and children share the same sleeping space.
Material wise, this frame is painted using eco-friendly paint and varnish and only made of premium quality pine.
KD Frames Twin Trundle
A more budget-friendly option, the KD Frames floor bed is perfect for the minimalist family. Not only are you simply spending less, but you also have all that you truly need for a safe yet independent sleep environment. This, of course, is perfect for many Montessori homes as these families also typically follow a very minimalistic lifestyle. However, if you do not, this frame is still a great option if you are looking for something a bit cheaper while still following Montessori principles.
Themed Plastic Sleep and Play Bed
Finally, a Montessori floor bed that is even more budget-friendly! Face it. Our children won’t be in these beds forever. Plus, they are kids! Sometimes it is fun to give them a playful and bright sleep space and that is exactly what you get with this bed. Coming in three different themes, you can find this bed in a Frozen, Trolls, and Peppa the Pig theme.
There are a few considerations to take before purchasing this bed to make sure it aligns with your lifestyle. First, this bed is made of plastic. That is why it is so budget friendly. This may not be an issue for some but others prefer to avoid plastic. Second, this bed does not lift the mattress off of the floor. Therefore, this bed may not be ideal for those living in a humid environment. Lastly, this bed does come with built-in rails. We discussed above assessing side rail situations when choosing a bed. This is ultimately up to you as the parent on whether your child is ready or not!
Sleep Simply, Safely, and Soundly
There are so many options for a great Montessori floor bed out on the market. These are only a few of our favorites! If these don’t work for you, just remember a few of the aspects we talked about above in choosing your perfect floor bed. It is important that it works for the whole family! Once you do find your match, you can rest peacefully knowing that your independent little one is safe!