
The child needs to know that he can leave her bedroom whenever she wants simply by getting up off her floor mattress or conventional bed. They will also be able to make movements that their body craves, and observe more of the space around them, which they won’t be able to do when they’re put in a crib or a bassinet. They are set up in a way that eliminates any potential hazards that could be within your baby’s reach.Ĭhildren should be able to get out of their beds independently when they are ready without assistance from an adult because that helps develop confidence and independence. While it might be scary to think of leaving your baby unattended, especially when you are asleep, remember that floor beds are generally safe.
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One of the most pressing questions most parents tend to have when they’re trying to wrap their heads around the concept of using a Montessori-style bed is this- are floor beds safe for children who are still learning how to roll over, scoot, and crawl? Are floor beds safe for pre-walkers who can stand up but still lack balance? You’ll need to keep a few things in mind, however, before you go ahead and use what you already have.

You can even just get started by using your child’s crib's mattress and set it up on the ground. Instead of going ahead and purchasing one, look within your home and check if there’s a mattress that you can repurpose and set up as a floor bed for your child. Remember that every family and every child is different, so there's no right answer about when it's time for your baby to transition out of being held or sleeping in your room.Ĭontrary to the popular belief, setting up a Montessori-style floor bed isn’t expensive.

You can start the transition as early as 6 months of age however, the AAP does not recommend placing infants in bed until they are one year old.īut if you have already started laying your baby down for naps or nighttime, there are safe ways to transition from being held for every nap. If you’re wondering when a baby can start sleeping in a floor bed, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this one. In contrast, floor beds provide a safe and healthy sleeping environment that nurtures the child rather than restricting and obstructing him. This creates an environment that limits normal activity for healthy development during infancy. This is because, in the current situation, the baby is restrained to a place where he can't see anything but four walls and feels helpless and becomes frightened by the lack of sensory input. In doing so, he resists going to sleep until he is completely exhausted. In a traditional crib, a baby naturally feels trapped and begins to cry out of fear when he realizes there is no way out. When a child is put to sleep in a crib, their ability to move freely is restricted, which is not the case when they are put in a floor bed.

Why? Because it's what's best for the child.

The Montessori method highly encourages the use of floor beds. Like with most other Montessori-powered approaches, the floor bed allows the child to explore and move around independently- something that cannot be done when the child is in a crib. One common example is using Montessori-approved methods to potty train children instead of diapers.Īlthough the Montessori floor bed is not yet as common as other Montessori materials used in everyday life, this sleeping environment may be the next step in education, especially if parents begin to realize the many advantages over traditional beds. There are many advantages to using Montessori guidelines in designing products used in everyday life. The bed allows your child to get his/her feet firmly planted on the ground when they are learning to stand, making it easier for them to walk when the time comes. It can also be covered with a firm mattress, which is much safer for infants than loose bedding. The floor bed usually features a wooden frame that is low to the ground and has a safety rail on one side to keep a young infant from rolling off. Most standard beds cannot be used until 2 years old, but Montessori floor beds are made with materials that are soft enough for younger children but still strong enough to keep them from rolling off or getting stuck under them. This bed has several design elements to make it safe for an infant to use as a sleeping place.
