The Montessori bed is one of the symbols of a Montessori household.
While traditional cribs have their advantages, many of their features are in sharp contrast to the Montessori philosophy – especially when it comes to freedom of movement and independence of a child.
After all, it was Dr. Maria Montessori who recommended floor beds instead of traditional baby cribs in one of her writings:
“One of the greatest helps that could be given to the psychological development of a child would be to give him a bed suited to his needs and cease making him sleep longer than necessary…
This is why we suggest that the typical child’s bed should be done away with as has already been done in many families. The child instead should be given a low couch resting practically upon the floor, where he can lie down and get up as he wishes.”
That’s why, when we say “Montessori bedroom“, the floor bed is one of the first things that come to mind.
So, let’s take a closer look at why a floor bed may be a great option for your child’s sleeping area.
Advantages of a Montessori bed
The floor bed is not just a current Pinterest trend. Sleeping on the floor is quite natural and normal in many cultures across the world.
In addition, floor beds actually have many advantages when compared to traditional baby cribs. Here are some of them:
1. It promotes freedom of movement
A child sleeping in a crib must be put inside and wait until the parent takes him or her out. This limits their freedom of movement and choice and creates an unnecessary dependence in such a natural process as sleeping.
With a floor bed, on the other hand, they are free to move and get in and out of the bed without any help from the parent. For example, they can simply crawl off their bed and go playing as soon as they wake up in the morning.
This way, children can explore their own independence and get a sense of control.
2. There are no cage-like bars
From a very early age, children learn a lot from observing their surroundings.
They observe the life of the family and their every-day habits as well as the beauty of the world. It is hard to enjoy and benefit from their view if it is blocked by the bars of the crib.
3. It is easier for nursing
Parents do carry their children a lot – especially if their little one cries a lot. Taking the child out of the crib (which can be quite frequent at night) can be difficult for the spine.
It is much easier to lie next to your child and do the side-lying nursing. A floor bed is ideal for that.
4. It is safer
Infants and toddlers can be very talented climbers and quite often, the crib fence is not a real obstacle for them. In fact, cribs are associated with the highest child injury rates of any nursery item.
On the other hand, if you put your child on a floor mattress you don’t have to worry about safety that much. If they roll out from the mattress, they will fall safely on a floor that is just a few inches away.
5. It makes the transition to a big bed easier
Older toddlers who have been protected all their life by the crib walls may find it difficult to transition to a bigger bed.
By sleeping on a low mattress, children learn about their surroundings naturally and get some practice ahead. That’s why the transition to a bigger bed is usually not an issue in Montessori families who use floor beds.
Best Montessori beds
It is probably no surprise that the most important component of a floor bed is a quality mattress. Get one, put it on the floor and you have a Montessori bed. Yes, it’s that simple 🙂
Here are some great mattresses from Amazon:
- Graco Premium Foam Crib and Toddler Mattress (crib size)
- Linenspa 6-Inch Spring Mattress (twin or full size)
- Linenspa 8-Inch Memory Foam Medium-Firm Mattress (twin or full size)
Further reading: Read our detailed guide to choosing the best mattress for a floor bed.
Of course, the most recognizable part of the Montessori bed is the iconic wooden frame.
It can be customized in many ways to create a sense of a dedicated, personalized, and aesthetically-pleasing sleeping place.
Let’s take a look at the best Montessori bed frames:
Low Montessori Floor Bed by Sprout Kids
- high-quality Baltic birch
- super easy to assemble
- available in various sizes
- made in the USA
The Montessori floor bed by Sprout Kids is a high-quality product designed and made in the United States. It has a unique construction that can be flipped, which makes it easier for older children to transition to a bigger bed. It is available with either 1 low side and 1 high side or 2 low sides.
Available sizes: Crib size, Twin size, Full Size
HomeForDreams Toddler Montessori Bed
- natural solid hardwood
- finished with bees wax
- very sturdy construction
- available in various sizes
- made in the USA
This beautiful, sturdy floor bed is made from polished high-class aspen or alder wood. It is available in many different sizes (both common US and European dimensions) and provides a great opportunity to learn your child to sleep independently and switch to a “big” bed when the time comes.
Available sizes: Crib size, Twin size, Full Size, Queen Size
ThePinnedPurveyor House Bed
- clear-grade poplar wood
- quality, handmade design
- available addons (e.g.chimney)
- made in the USA
- free delivery
This high-quality US-made bed provides a great frame for a beautiful sleeping area for your little one. It comes in various sizes and styles (you can order the model with or without the mattress slates) and it’s quite easy to assemble.
Available sizes: Twin size, Full Size, Queen Size
Sweedi Toddler Bed by South Shore
- 100% solid poplar wood
- removable crossbar
- meets NA safety standards
- 1-year limited guarantee
- made in the USA
This simple, sturdy South Shore bed with clean lines made from natural poplar wood is a great choice. One of the biggest advantages of this model is the removable crossbar that will prevent you from hitting your head when playing with the child. Fits any crib-size mattress.
Available sizes: Crib size
Premium Wood Montessori House Bed by UHOM
- premium Finland pine
- durable and stable construction
- two different shapes available
- certified & environmentally-friendly
- made in Europe
The UHOM Montessori floor bed comes in two sizes and various designs, including a double bed (the bottom bed can be pulled out). You can also order a certified 3D sponge memory foam mattress by the same manufacturer that fits the bed perfectly.
Available sizes: Crib size, Twin size
House Bed Twin Size with a Fence by Meritline
- sturdy pinewood frame
- available with ot without fence
- child friendly finish
- various color variations
If you want to make sure your child doesn’t fall from the floor bed, this model is equipped with practical side fences that provide extra safety for your little one. The bed is made from sturdy pinewood and comes in 3 different colors (espresso, gray, or white) and various styles. It fits any Twin size mattress.
Available sizes: Twin size
Common questions and worries
Here are the answers to the most common questions and worries of parents considering a floor bed for their child.
Are Montessori floor beds safe?
Well, think about the worst that can happen – falling on the floor that is just a few inches away (as opposed to the cribs that are much higher and falling on the floor may be much more dangerous for a child).
If your baby is small and you worry she or he is still very fragile, you can consider using bed bumpers (like these on Etsy) that will help prevent the baby from hitting the wall and falling from the mattress.
Of course, if you decide to have a floor bed, you must ensure that it is completely safe for your child to spend some time in the bedroom alone.
If you decide to apply the Montessori approach to sleeping, you should definitely look at the Montessori household from a wider perspective and learn about how to create a Montessori-friendly space.
Won’t the child be cold when lying on the floor?
Poorly insulated houses with cold floors were one of the main reasons why cribs became popular in the 1900s.
There’s no real reason to worry about it with today’s technology. If your house is a bit colder, you can consider putting some extra padding between the mattress and the floor.
It can be a carpet, a baby mat, or simple foam tiles that provide extra insulation between the floor and the bed/mattress.
What if the child won’t stay in the bed?
Now, this problem is very individual, as every child is unique and their sleep patterns differ.
The experience of many parents with floor beds is very positive. They observe that children are much more willing to go to bed when it’s “on their own terms” as opposed to staying in a crib because they don’t have any other option.
That being said, the kids are curious little creatures. Even though children in Montessori households are encouraged to fall asleep and wake up independently (to regulate their own sleep patterns), we all know the reality may be different 🙂
It may take some time until your little one gets used to the newly-acquired freedom but it will most probably be sooner than you think.
Tip: Find more Montessori-friendly pieces of furniture for your household in our Montessori furniture guide.
