It seems like there are two major complaints when it comes to using a floor bed: the baby rolls off while sleeping and/or the baby crawls off to explore the room instead of staying put and falling asleep. I’ve experienced both situations, and I hope that I can provide some encouragement and realistic expectations for parents going through the same scenarios. Because the truth is, when used correctly, the floor bed is an amazing tool for supporting your child’s development, both mental and physical. Before we get to the solutions, let’s discuss the main purposes of the floor bed: encouraging independence, allowing the development of the child’s will, and supporting their need for movement. A child on a floor bed can get in and out on her own as soon as she can slither, thereby reducing her dependence on adults and increasing her sense of self-reliance. This experience supports the development of the will, wherein the child formulates a goal, tries different strategies, accomplishes her mission, and feels successful.
And all the while, her need for free movement is being supported, because she can use each skill (focusing her eyes, rolling, slithering, crawling) as soon as she develops it. Like any other Montessori developmental aid (including mobiles, weaning table & chair, and every single Montessori material), it is important to introduce the floor bed at the right time. Failure to do so can result in reduced effectiveness and increased frustration for both parent and child. The best time to introduce the floor bed is a few weeks after birth. At first, the newborn should sleep in a bassinet that allows unobstructed views of her surroundings. However, around the time that recognizable sleep patterns are established and before the child is rolling, she should transition to the floor bed. Each child and each family is different; you can read about how I transitioned my son from the bassinet in our room to the floor bed in his room here. Transitioning your child at the right time doesn’t mean that you won’t encounter challenges.
Once your baby starts rolling, chances are she’ll probably roll off the floor bed at some point. This seems like a bad thing, but consider it from your child’s viewpoint: she’s free to move and practice her new skill; she’s developing an awareness of borders (which will come in handy when she navigates stairs and transitions to a “big kid bed”); and she’s experiencing the consequences of moving past those borders. Many families find that a soft rug or blanket placed just next to the floor bed is all that’s needed to cushion the baby’s “fall” (which in reality is not more than a few inches). Some parents find that they can gently move their baby back to the bed without waking them, while others (like me) prefer to let the baby snooze on the floor. If your child is particularly active while sleeping (like mine is), and she’s at the stage where she’s able to slither on and off her mattress at will, you can also try placing a rolled towel at the edge of the bed under the fitted sheet, or investing in the wonderful IKEA Kura loft bed (minus the slats, so the mattress rests on the floor).
This set-up won’t hinder a child’s independence as long as you show her how to get in and out, and will provide the support they need to stay on the mattress. The more stressful challenge to parents is when the child starts slithering and decides to move off the bed to explore her room, instead of staying in bed and falling asleep. While frustrating to adults, we must remember that this is exactly what the floor bed is designed to do – encourage independence and develop the will. You can read here about what happened when we decided to follow our child’s lead. The best piece of advice I can give parents who are going through this phase is to keep their child’s room as sparse as possible. On the shelves the child can reach, place only a few carefully selected items for her to explore and leave them there, always in the same order. Don’t make the bedroom her activity or play area or feature lots of new and interesting objects at her eye-level, because this will encourage her to get out of bed and go see what’s new.
She will certainly crawl out when she first develops the ability to do so, but once the novelty fades, if there’s nothing new for her to explore in her room she’ll be more interested in resting (because all that slithering and crawling is exhausting!). Many parents make the transition from crib to a floor bed after the child is slithering or crawling, expect them to just stay put and fall asleep, and feel frustrated when this doesn’t happen. When a young child is given freedom, she’ll use it to further her development. It’s an evolutionary mandate. If you’ve chosen to give your child the freedom to move, then you can’t be angry at them when they take full advantage of it! Be patient, provide a predictable routine and clear expectations, and gently re-direct back to the bed as many times as necessary each evening. I assure you that with consistency and realistic expectations will come success, and your child will reap the long-term benefits of the floor bed!
Every new mom can surely relate to the magnitude of questions that one is presented with when having that mama glow and darling baby bump. “Are you having a boy or a girl?” “Honey, have you decided on a name yet?” “Will you be using cloth diapers?” “What theme are you doing in the nursery?” “Did you get your crib yet?” And the list goes on and on. Now I should note, I was one of those moms who absolutely adored being pregnant. I opted for shirts that were nice and snug, putting my bump right in the limelight. With that, it was very obvious that I was expecting which made the questions come flooding my way right from the start. I couldn’t go anywhere without someone asking me something about baby. And while I was able to skirt the questions and make light of most, the ones that really shook me up and gave me angst were surprisingly in relation to the nursery. I didn’t have the slightest clue what I wanted to do. Aren’t moms supposed to feel all “nesty” and stuff?
More times than I can count, I would fill up my Amazon shopping basket with beautiful items for the perfect nursery, only to empty it out moments later. Even though the pressure was high, there was something so unsettling to me about committing to such a mainstream designed room. At 28 weeks, my husband, who was admittedly feeling the pressure, too, made me venture with him to one of those big box stores in search of our nursery furniture. He thought we could at the very least start there, and then fill in the rest of the gaps later. We walked from crib to crib for what seemed like days. Finally, he suggested we take a break and relax in the neighboring rockers. As I sat there, feeling defeated, I was overcome with a thought, “why do we need any of this?” I realized in that moment, that I could not and would not be buying baby a crib. I didn’t know exactly why yet, but there was something tugging away at me, telling me that it just wasn’t right for me. It wasn’t right for us.
My husband wanted “research” supporting what he, at the time, thought was just an irrational, emotionally driven, pregnant brain decision. At this time in my life, being somewhat familiar with the Montessori philosophy, I immediately began researching crib-less rooms – specifically the idea of simply having a mattress on the floor (known in Montessori as the floor bed). If you are on the fence about going mainstream with your nursery, consider these six reasons to skip the crib. We are trained to believe that the crib is the safest place for baby to sleep. While much regulation has been put in place to address the structural deficiencies of cribs, still thousands of babies die each year falling into the side rails and suffocating. Even more children are hurt when they begin to try and climb out of them. Less obvious, yet just as dangerous, our government doesn’t adequately regulate the chemicals used on the baby furniture. There’s much scientific evidence that off-gassing of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), from furniture, which have been linked to a range of diseases and conditions, such as asthma, cancer, immune disorders, etc., when being inhaled even in low concentrations over a long period of time.
This is not okay! Cribs are confining and don’t allow the child the freedom to fully explore their environment. The idea behind a Montessori floor bed is in line with the general principles of the Montessori Method: a child should have freedom of movement, and should be able to move independently around his (carefully childproofed!) room. “A crib is not an inspiring place for an infant,” writes Montessori Experts Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen. Think about it for a minute… The view from the crib is mostly “cage” or “jail-like” bars. That’s no way for sweet babes to take in this brand new world. A floor bed allows him to explore his environment visually, until he is able to physically. Allowing for freedom of choice between sleep and play allows the child to explore his own environment when he so chooses. It is important to remember that the prepared environment plays a key role in this process. Make sure that accessible objects and toys are safe and attainable.
We want to foster independence and allow for movement within the room. After all, a crib’s main benefit is making the parents job easier and not necessarily helping to shape your child to become independent and purposeful. We don’t want to hear those cries from “baby jail,” just giggles as they explore and engage with their environment. Having a bed on the floor makes all the difference. Let’s face it, you can’t really crawl into the crib and cuddle, breastfeed (or bottle feed) your baby comfortably. It’s simply not realistic. Babies were meant to be next to mama or daddy. Having a mattress on the floor makes life easy! As a natural health advocate, I was highly discouraged to discover that not only are most cribs toxic, but that the “safe” ones are extremely expensive and hard to find. They do exist, but will cost you an average of $1,000 – that’s not even including the organic mattress! Every day parents all around the globe are amazed by the advantages of a Montessori education for their children.
Skipping the crib is one simple way to embrace Montessori from birth. Your little one will relish in hands-on learning and self-discovery. This will only mark the beginning of a beautiful journey to independence! If you are looking for permission to skip the crib, consider it granted. Remember, only you can decide what’s best for baby! Here’s another great article on the topic. Tonya Holcomb has a true passion for natural parenting and the infusion of Montessori principles and attachment parenting. She dreams of one day (soon!) opening a nature-based Montessori school in her community. As a Holistic Health Coach and real foodie, she works to help guide busy moms towards their most nourished and balanced selves. Through her health coaching programs, she specializes in helping moms achieve desired weight-loss goals and adopt natural living through all aspects of life. Tonya is a true example of a busy, entrepreneurial spirited wife and mother who always makes time for her health!