A question that is posed of me and our staff quite often is, "Can I just put my mattress on the floor?" Of course you can put your mattress on the floor, its your mattress! The Alexander Signature Series Foam Mattress However, the answer really isn't that simple. While the floor can make sense for some, depending on the type of mattress, the type of flooring, the environment in your bedroom and the part of the country you live, there can be many reasons why it is not the best place to put your mattress. Putting your mattress on the floor can make for an inexpensive solution as to what to place your mattress on, but it can be a really bad idea depending on the factors above. Let's look at those factors: If you have a foam mattress, putting it on the floor can lead to mold beneath the mattress, and that can ultimately cause severe health issues. Even coil mattresses can provide mold with a great place to grow. Basically, mattresses need to breathe, or, air out. We all sweat in our sleep, some more than others.
That moisture needs to go somewhere, and gravity pulls it to the bottom of your mattress. When your mattress is on the floor, that moisture is retained, and combined with a lack of light, provides the perfect breeding ground for mold. A spring mattress with the springs encased in foam is another example of a type of mattress that needs to be on a surface that is breathable. A regular spring mattress can allow airflow through the fabric sides. If you live near the water or a very humid environment, placing the mattress on the floor could allow for mold growth. If you have old hardwood floors, mold spores can be dormant in the flooring and lead to mold growth.Technically speaking, I have figured out two primary reasons for using a bed frame against keeping the mattress on the floor:Enhanced Durability: Mattress lying on floor are subjected to 'point' pressure of feet which degrades internal material. While a bed frame helps to elevate mattress thereby avoiding any 'point' pressure and reducing wear and tier.
Enhanced Freshness: Keeping mattress elevated ensures circulation of air through the mattress which helps in retaining freshness and original feel of the material inside.Hope that answers' the question. :-).au, aren't there for decorative purposes: they're there for a purpose.Do you actually want your mattress to be exposed to dirt, dust and stuff on the floor? Bed frames are there to prevent that. People in ancient history made sure that beds are elevated because they did not want to end up sleeping with rats, ants and insects. A mattress on the floor would end up with a shorter lifespan compared to ones placed on beds. Montessori Floor Bed Logistics? Q: I'm currently pregnant with my first and have been considering trying a montessori-style floor bed for the baby. I'll probably keep the baby in our room in a co-sleeper for the first several months, and instead of transitioning to a crib, would move the baby to the floor bed. I have a few nagging questions, though: I really want to use a non-toxic, safe mattress, but I also would prefer a thinner mattress in case of roll-offs.
We have room for a twin, and I'd prefer that for longevity. I do have access to the thinner Ikea mattresses, but I don't know how safe the contents really are. More importantly, I don't know that it's possible to get a safe, tight fit with the sheets and mattress cover on a thinner mattress. I wouldn't think there'd be sheets out there for a mattress only 3" thick. I also found an organic futon online, but it looks relatively soft and quilted, and I worry about SIDS with a softer, pillowy surface. Frankly, figuring out all these logistics is making me lean more towards a crib, because it's just easier to make it all add up, and of course, safety is the most important thing. Loose, baggy sheets aren't an option. I'm wondering how any other people have solved this conundrum. My other question is about a baby's comfort in an exposed sleeping environment. I'm sure that many cultures - traditional Japanese and Native American cultures come to mind - may not use a crib or cradle, but in those cases the baby probably sleeps close to its mother.
Might there be an instinctual fear of being left so exposed and vulnerable? Intuitively, that feels likely to me. Has anyone noticed a baby's discomfort with the floor bed because of this? I'd hate to invest in an expensive organic twin mattress or futon only to discover that it's just not going to work out. There are many things I really like about the idea of a floor bed - the baby's freedom to explore a safe environment, the ability to lie next to the child to lull it to sleep/comfort it, the reduction of a possibly unnecessary piece of furniture - but these logistical issues currently have me stymied. I'd love to hear from others' experiences. Editor: Leave your suggestions for Miranda in the comments - thanks! • Got a question? Send us yours with pic attachments here (those with pics get answered first)From the day we brought Plumblossom home from the hospital, she slept in her crib. We hadn’t researched other options, and she made it clear from the start that she had no interest in a family bed (the girl has always liked her own space).
No matter, we weren’t offended: she was sleeping, we were sleeping, all was good. However, around her second birthday, she started plotting an escape. She had height to her advantage, and began hoisting a leg over the side and teetering on the brink. She didn’t have quite enough leverage to get over, but she was close; we knew it was only a matter of time. So she was still sleeping, but we weren’t—every bump in the night had one of us jumping to check on her. It was one of those milestones both anticipated and dreaded: time for a big girl bed. We could have bought a conversion kit for her crib; however, in the time since her birth, we had discovered and begun to implement Montessori practices in our home. And no Montessori home would be complete without a floor bed. We would have loved to have put a mattress on the floor and called it a day—easy peasy lemon squeezy. Unfortunately, in our house, that would have been an invitation for mold; we needed a floor bed with air circulation underneath.
We decided to go straight to a twin-sized bed (rather than a toddler-sized one), as our little beanpole would certainly outgrow the latter by year’s end. But, as we learned after exhaustive Google searches, super-low twin bed frames are a rare commodity indeed. So our DIY minimalist Montessori bed project was born. Time was not on our side. The nights were nerve-wracking, and we were determined to both build the bed and transition Plumblossom into it over the Christmas holiday (in case her newfound nighttime freedom meant no sleep for us). By no means would this be a designer-quality example of fine woodworking—we needed to throw something together fast. Our solution: take the Ikea Sultan Laxeby slatted bed base, paint it white, and elevate it on three 4×1 wooden rails. We also made a padded headboard and sideboard with plywood, batting, and fabric to add some cushioning and warmth against the wall (Plumblossom likes to sleep flush against the wall, with her head up in the corner).
These padded panels are attached to the wall, and rest on the frame for additional support. Here’s a photo of the finished product: We kept telling ourselves it was a temporary solution until we found something better—but, to be honest, we like the way it turned out and have no plans to change it. Most importantly, Plumblossom seems to love it—she made the transition without a hitch. And, as a bonus, she can do all the jumping and acrobatics she wants on it without her mom having a heart attack. [Note: Montessorians recommend skipping the crib and using a floor bed from the start—not a bad idea if you can sufficiently baby-proof the room.] So have you read through this entire post, even though you have no little ones underfoot? Bless your heart, and thank you for sticking with me. The concept makes a lovely, minimalist adult bed as well—my husband and I are sleeping on the queen-sized version, and we love it, too. I’d love to hear your thoughts, be they about toddler beds, Montessori beds, or just minimalist beds in general!