Everything you need to know about Montessori floor beds

From Moses baskets to high sleepers and everything in between, parents have a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to a place for their little ones to sleep. An important decision, given that your child’s bed will form the cornerstone of their room, and therefore their sleep routine. As you’re no doubt aware, sleep is something of a hot topic among parents, with dozens of tried and tested approaches to choose from. For new parents, it can be hard to know where to begin. It’s important to remember that every child is different, and while some parents may have a foolproof routine that’s worked for each of their children, at the end of the day, only you know what’s best for your child.

Montessori is a learning philosophy that has reached most corners of the globe. Maria Montessori, Italian physician and educator and founder of the Montessori school of thought, believed that children thrive on independent learning and the freedom to make choices for themselves. This education method is centred around children’s interests and uses hands-on learning to develop real-world skills. Many parents are interested in how this method is applied to children’s bedtime routines and sleep in general.

What is the Montessori method of sleeping on the floor?

The Montessori method of sleeping on the floor refers to the use of a mattress or floor bed that is close enough to the floor for even the youngest children to climb in and out of unaided, without being restricted by railings or guards. The floor bed can still have railings on three or even all four sides if you wish, as long as there is an opening that allows the child to get in and out independently and move around the room freely.

Why choose a Montessori floor bed

Once your child develops the ability to move around through rolling, crawling and taking their first steps, if they are still sleeping in a traditional cot, their ability to decide when they’ve had enough sleep is restricted. Choosing a Montessori bed empowers children to make decisions for themselves, from deciding how much or how little sleep is needed to choosing when they go to sleep, and even the way in which they wake up. Some children enjoy a quiet period alone in their bed or exploring their room upon waking, before going on to seek out family members. For this reason, it’s important to make sure you can always hear your child, either through the use of a baby monitor or by remaining close by during nap times.

Discover our Montessori toddler bed «Ellipse».

When to transition to a Montessori bed

Although the thought of transitioning to a Montessori bed can be intimidating, just try and remember that in many places around the world, it’s completely normal to use a floor bed from a very young age. Perhaps this isn’t something you did with your older children, but you want to try it out with your youngest. You can always start by using their existing cot mattress as a trial run before committing to purchasing a larger mattress or new Montessori toddler bed. Our range of kid's floor beds includes classic frames as well as fun designs in the style of houses or cabins.

Some sources state that children should use a Montessori toddler bed from two years old, with others saying that the younger the bed is introduced the better. Just remember that under six months of age a baby should sleep in the same room as their parents. This can be in a cot, before making the switch to a Montessori floor bed at a later date, co-sleeping, or on a kid's floor bed next to their parent’s bed.

The easiest way to get started is by first transitioning naptimes to the new floor bed, and making sure to spend plenty of time in this new space during the day. After all, the aim of the Montessori philosophy is to get the child comfortable with choosing when to use their floor bed, and when it’s time to wake up and move around their space.

Now all you need is the perfect set of bedding to complete your child’s new space. Have fun with the Montessori method, getting your little one involved in helping pick out their new bedding and making the bed together. You might want to browse the latest additions to our range of high-quality bedding here.

Other Montessori-inspired furniture

Montessori-inspired furniture simply refers to any furniture item that is designed around empowering children to make decisions and take action for themselves. This can be child-sized furniture items that are accessible to the child, or simplified designs that make it easier for young children to understand their functions and purposes. 

• Toddler table and chair set (as opposed to an adult deciding when it’s time for a child to get up or down from a standard-sized table or desk)
• Children’s bookcase (the child being able to pick out and tidy up their favourite books without assistance)
• Realistic-looking toys that are based on building real-life skills, such as wooden cutting boards and toddler friendly knives for chopping fruits and vegetables (The principles of Montessori would have your toddler helping out in the kitchen as much as possible from a young age)