Parents are growing more interested in setting up Montessori-aligned home environments for their children as a result of a recent boom in interest in the Montessori Method, combined with increased time spent at home (hello COVID!). Montessori beds are one topic that has had a lot of people talking. In this overview, we’ll explain what a Montessori bed is, why you might want to consider ihaving one in your child’s room, and how to implement a floor bed bedtime routine.
- What is a Montessori Floor Bed?
- Why use a Montessori Floor Bed?
- How to choose a Montessori Floor Bed?
- The Best Montessori Floor Beds
Table of Contents
What Is The Montessori Method?
Dr. Maria Montessori created the Montessori Method in the early 1900s. It’s a type of child-centered education that includes child-led activities (referred to as “work”), mixed-age classrooms, as well as parents and teachers who foster independence in the children – not just in classroom environment but at home and in their own room as well. .
What Is A Montessori Floor Bed?
A Montessori bed is simply a mattress or bed that is placed on the floor. A floor bed is chosen because it gives the child autonomy and control over their surroundings.Plus, what child doesn’t love having their own bed – a big kid bed – that they can climb in and out of themselves!
Are Montessori Floor Beds Safe For My Child?
Montessori beds are not recommended for young children under the age of one because they violate the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep guidelines, which are intended to reduce the risk of SIDS. Montessori beds may not pose a serious threat to older, more mobile toddlers, but its lack of restriction (bye bye baby gate), which allows children to get out of bed and explore as they choose, implies that parents must be vigilant for other risks in the room. After the age of three, when most children are capable of staying in bed until an adult arrives (and hopefully not wandering in the middle of the night anymore), the difference in safety between a Montessori bed and a typical toddler bed is minimal. By that point, it’s all about aesthetics and how much you believe in the Montessori philosophy.
Why Use A Montessori Floor Bed?
A Montessori floor bed allows toddlers and children to a little bit of freedom – to move freely, develop independence, give them agency, and make it easier to explore the space and its different features!
When To Start Using A Montessori Floor Bed?
This is quite a contentious question due to the safety concerns mentioned above. This really does come down to an independent decision and how you as a family want to approach your child’s sleep space.
Since they were six months old, our children have slept on floor beds. We chose to use floor beds in our child’s room for a variety of reasons. (They are now 12 months and almost 3 years old.) One of the most important is that they foster independence and freedom within certain bounds (we all need peace of mind). While the children have more freedom to explore, they also learn to respect those limitations. We established clear and regular bedtime and sleep standards. The children feel safe, capable of falling asleep on their own, trusted, and respected as a result of this (not to mention they get a few extra cuddles at their level before being tucked up for the night!)
How To Choose A Montessori Floor Bed
Base
The truth is, not all Montessori beds come with a base. Some are extremely basic structures that merely encircle a mattress on the floor. For many parents, this is a step too far. There are a lot of Montessori beds on the market with strong, sturdy bases, but the quality varies a lot. Although some bases are higher than others, the goal with a Montessori bed is to be as close to the ground as feasible. As a result, it’s critical to find a base that’s close enough to the ground for your toddler to walk right up on.
Rails
To enclose or not to enclose, that is the question. This is a hot topic among Montessori enthusiasts, but you are the only one who can decide which choice is best for your child. Some of the beds have fences or guards all the way around the perimeter, while others are completely exposed. Both have advantages and disadvantages: If you’re transferring from a regular crib to a railed bed, your child may feel more contained, which they may prefer. A rail-free choice is your best solution if you want your youngster to be free of such things (or if they’re prone to launching themselves off the rails to avoid nap time like my kids).
Size
Montessori beds come in a variety of sizes, from toddler to queen. A toddler bed is ideal for small children, however it is constrictive. A queen bed, on the other hand, is appealing, but it takes up a lot of room in a nursery. It might not be worth it if they aren’t planning on keeping the bed for several years. However, because these beds are so lovely, there’s no reason to quit using them when your child grows older. Generally, twin beds are the most popular, but hey… if you really want to go huge, go for it (or if you like to snuggle in with them on occasion).
The Best Montessori Floor Bed Options
The Best Montessori Floor Bed: Zipadee Kids Montessori Floor Bed With Rails
This quality-built floor bed frame will make your child’s transition to a “big kid” bed a breeze!.
– A simple introduction to the “large kid” bed
– Front and back railings that may be removed
– Appalachian Poplar that has been responsibly forested
– All-natural solid wood with no veneer or glues.
– Made entirely in the United States of America
The Most Budget Friendly Montessori Floor Bed – HomeForDreams Toddler Floor Bed
This twin size wood bed is composed of high-quality polished aspen or alder wood. The wood is painted using an environmentally friendly, baby and toddler-safe natural protective wax for wood that contains linseed oil, colophony (pine resin), beeswax, and a blend of other high-quality waxes, and has a nice honey aroma.
The Best Toddler House Bed: 2mamabees Montessori House Bed
The 2mamabees Montessori House Bed is made to make bedtime enjoyable, in a safe place. This adorable bed frame is made of solid cedar wood and is a perfect method to move your little one from a crib to a big kid bed.
The Best Single Montessori Floor Bed – Eastern Warehouse
Launch a fun, playful atmosphere in your little one’s space with the Teepee Timber Single Bed from Eastern Warehouse.
- Frame is constructed of pine wood for natural strength and stability
- Pine is naturally resistant to wear for easy good looks and a low maintenance design
- Strong timber slats for a supportive bed
- Teepee design to encourage creativity in young minds
- Teepee frame could be used to hang things — perfect for creating a bed fort with sheets and blankets
- Neutral colouring works well in all existing colour palettes for easy styling in their space
Floor Bed Bedtime Routine
- To ease the adjustment, we made sure to stick to the same bedtime ritual every night. A consistent bedtime ritual establishes stability, tranquilly, and signals to your infant that sleep time is approaching. As we started our little ones in a floor bed from a young age, this child sleep routine is based more for that under 2 age group, but can be adaped for an older toddler.
2. Our kids assist us in setting up their room and bathroom in preparation for the evening routine (and have done from around 14 months of age). Things go more smoothly when everything is planned ahead of time.
3. The routine begins with a bath, followed by a visit to the room, where we dress them in pyjamas and a sleep sack (or whatever is appropriate for the time of year). We turn off the lights and turn on the sound machine (we use this blackout blind for better quality sleep).
4. Then we get the lovey (which is kept for the rest of the ritual and sleept with) and take them to the rocking chair for their night feeding. We then lay them down on their bed when they are normally ready for sleep or has fallen asleep. They need a bit more time some nights before they are ready to sleep alone.
5. They usually fall asleep when we put them down for a nap or at bedtime. If they wakes up sobbing at any point, we keep an eye on them and respond to their cries as needed.
6. We go into the room when they wakes up in the mornings, but when they wakes up from a nap, they often do so happily and may play for a few minutes before we go in to get them.
7. We switch the sound machine down and the light on (through the app) to encourage exploration if they like, because the room is dark for sleeping.
8. The room has been arranged with their safety and needs in mind, and we keep an eye on them with the help of the baby monitor app.
How To Make A Montessori Bedroom
Step 1: De-Clutter
One of the things that drew us to a Montessori-style bedroom was how simple it was. There are no excessive toys, bulky furniture, or general kid clutter in the room. It’s a plain, straightforward atmosphere that caters just to the child—and I believe we all appreciate the clutter-free environment of a montessori nursery.
Step 2: Ditch the Crib/ Moses Basket
See all of the above re: the idea of a floor bed.
Step 3: Maintain a Toddler-Friendly Environment
My son has a lot of options for what to play with because each shelf has one type of toy on it. For us, this design alleviates overstimulation while simultaneously making clean-up a breeze. Our son has even begun to figure out which shelf each toy belongs on! I’ve also strewn a few book baskets around his room. This offers him easy access to them and allows him to choose his favourites when it’s time for storytime on his own – even when it’s early morning and those bedroom doors are still closed.
Step 4: Make a Diaper-Changing Routine
I’m not sure about your personal experiences with changing a toddler’s diaper on the floor, but I’ve found it to be the most convenient (if your back isn’t too bad!). There will be no wrestling your child up onto a table or wrestling a dirty diaper off and on. My son enjoys changing on the floor, near the edge of the bed and will even assist in removing the diaper when the time comes!
Step 5: Organise The Required Storage Space
We started by removing a lot of furniture from my son’s room, but we quickly realised that we still needed a place to store his things. His ‘good’ clothes are currently hanging in his closet, while his play clothes are stored in the tall dresser’s bottom two drawers. I intend to let him help me choose his outfits once he’s a bit older, so placing the clothes on the bottom prepares us for that now. Having a place for everything means if you decide to go for a montessori twin floor mattress, it doesn’t feel like it takes up the entire room!
Step 6: Don’t Be Afraid of Decorating
All of the artwork from my son from an early age at our previous home was reused. It saved us a lot of money, and I think it really brings the room to life. I wanted to add the mobile I made for him even though he no longer has a cot. Fortunately, he’s currently enamoured with balloons and has rediscovered his hot air balloon mobile hanging on the house beds. It makes my heart melt!
Step 7: Pay Attention to the Small Print
One of the last things I did in my son’s Montessori-style room was to examine some of the subtleties that I may have missed otherwise. A new light and fun knobs on his dresser that are easy for young hands were among the additions I made. I’m always amazed with how much of an impact something so small can have on a space!
Step 8: Create a Toddler-Friendly Workspace
It must be difficult to be a small person in an adult environment. That’s why I wanted to make sure there was a little work area that was appropriate for my child. He now has a desk to sit at while looking through books by simply adding a small table and chair.
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