You've probably seen a Montessori bed before, even if you weren't aware of the term or the theory behind it. A Montessori bed is a toddler bed that is very low to the ground, similar in height to a mattress on the floor (which is one of the terms used to describe it).
For many parents, the aesthetic benefits of Montessori beds are secondary to the peace of mind they provide knowing their child won't have far to fall if they roll out of bed. For some, though, the advantages go far beyond practical considerations and aesthetic preferences.
Montessori beds are used by some families beginning with their newborn infants as part of a bigger philosophy that aims to instil compassion and self-reliance. Some parents on the internet have likened cribs to prison cells, while others have praised Montessori beds as a morally superior option that respects a child's physical autonomy.
However, there are safety issues to think about in addition to aesthetics and alleged ethics. Montessori beds are not recommended for infants younger than one year old since they go against the safe sleep practises recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
It's true that the Montessori bed itself is safe for larger, more mobile toddlers, but because it allows the child to get out of bed and explore at will, parents need to be on high alert for additional dangers in the room.
By the time they're 3, the vast majority of youngsters are old enough to sleep in until someone arrives to get them. As far as appearances go, a Montessori bed and a regular toddler bed are virtually indistinguishable. Aesthetic preference and overall commitment to the Montessori approach are the deciding factors.
The co-author of the forthcoming book The Montessori Baby is a Montessori educator who utilised a Montessori bed with her three children from birth onward.
Uzodike argues that the independence provided by Montessori beds enables children to self-regulate their sleep schedules, putting the child's needs ahead of the parents'.
She says her children's improved gross motor skills and ability to sleep independently may be directly attributed to their use of the Montessori bed. She claims that her children were all able to climb into and out of bed by the time they were four months old. This allowed them to play quietly with toys or crawl to her room if they woke up during the night.
Many Montessori parents share her views, seeing the Montessori bed as a more morally sound alternative to a crib that gives children more control over their sleep schedule and, in turn, fosters their sense of agency and self-assurance.
Putting them in a crib won't make it easier for them to get to sleep. You're basically locking them up and making sure they go asleep because they can't do anything else.
Helping a kid recognise their own fatigue is a basic tenet of the Montessori approach. This can be done by noticing when they yawn and indicating that it's time for bed.
This includes knowing when the kid isn't weary and not making them sleep anyhow. This principle is applicable no matter where a child sleeps. A youngster who is awake is safer in a crib than in a bed from which they can easily escape.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics have produced sleep guidelines based on decades of study to reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation, which kill 3,500 American children each year.
They recommend putting infants to bed in the same room as their parents on a firm mattress that is snugly fitted into a crib (with no space between the mattress and the crib, and no pillows or blankets). Given that the Montessori bed deviates from those standards, it is not prudent to use one.
If parents choose a bed that their child can climb out of, the entire room should function as a giant crib. Ensure there are no hazards, such as a dresser, that kids could pull over on themselves, and check for stray cords and unplugged appliances.
It's important to think about whether or not they have access to the stairwell and to any other rooms. Schneider notes that many of the parents she assists aren't comfortable with keeping their children in a room and suggest that these parents instead invest in a baby gate or monitor. Uzodike and Schneider both believe that a low bed frame is an advantage of the Montessori method since it reduces the risk of slipping out of bed.
The question then arises as to whether or not giving children so much independence is beneficial. Generally accepted theories of child development are at odds with the belief that young children are best off deciding for themselves when they need to go to bed.
Children of all ages benefit from routine and consistency, but babies and toddlers in particular.
Implementing a Montessori-Inspired Nursery for Your Infant or Toddler: Sleeping Tips
Many of the pedagogical ideas of Maria Montessori's approach can be implemented in your child's bedroom or nursery.
When you set up your home like a Montessori nursery, you're showing your support for the idea that children thrive when given opportunities to do things on their own. Everything from the furnishings to the clothes to the toys to the books to the playrooms is included.
A crib is not used in a Montessori nursery; instead, a bed is placed on the floor when the child is very young. Some people believe that a floor bed is more courteous to the child than a crib, and that it allows for more freedom of movement and independence for the child, as well as empowering the youngster.
The mobile child, however, will appreciate the convenience of a floor bed because they can go in and out of it whenever they like. In turn, this may affect your kid's capacity to go to sleep, remain asleep, and remain in bed during the night.
If you're thinking about giving your infant or toddler a Montessori-style bedroom, consider the following five suggestions.
- Whether or not your infant or toddler will sleep well on the floor depends greatly on his or her previous sleeping arrangements. A floor bed may not be the ideal option if your infant has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night or during naps.
- How well your infant or toddler adjusts to a Montessori floor bed depends on his or her own personality and temperament. Your child may have trouble falling asleep at bedtime if he or she has an overly active or tenacious attitude. If they get up several times, they may require encouragement and gentle guidance to return to bed.
- One other possibility is that they get out of bed to play when they should be asleep. This could be an excellent method to relax some kids, and they might even fall asleep if they're getting tired. There is a risk that it will prevent some kids from getting a good night's rest.
- Young children may lack the cognitive maturity to respect limits such as sleeping in their own beds. It's also possible that they do comprehend it but simply lack the self-control necessary to follow the guidelines.
- Keep in mind your child's developmental readiness for concepts like "remain in bed" and "time to sleep." You should probably wait till they show more maturity before introducing a floor bed if you think they will have too much trouble adjusting to it.
- If your infant or toddler is too young to sleep through the night in a regular bed, you may want to try transitioning them back to a crib until they are older. We suggest making the transition from a crib to a bed between the ages of two and four. If your child's sleep is being disrupted by the transition to a floor bed, you should probably wait until they've established more stable sleep patterns before making the switch.
- Please be patient with your child while they adjust to their new bedroom if you have decided against switching back to a crib and will be keeping the floor bed instead. It may be more challenging and time-consuming to teach someone to better sleep, but it can be done. For your child to learn the boundaries surrounding bedtime, you must be consistent.
Those of you considering a Montessori-style nursery or bedroom for your kiddo, we hope you'll find these sleep advice helpful. We strongly encourage parents to do what they think is in their children's best interests, since we recognise that every child and family is different.
If your child is having trouble sleeping after you switched to a floor bed, we have a number of solutions for you to try.
Infant and Child Montessori Bunk Beds
Some of the advantages of a Montessori bed are obvious, such as less injury from a fall (children are less likely to hurt themselves when they roll out of bed) while others are less apparent (children will gain independence and confidence if they are allowed to roam their own rooms).
However, there is no danger in utilising a Montessori bed if your child is beyond the age of three and can stay in their bed until an adult arrives to fetch them (or if the room is entirely childproofed). Here are four excellent options for Montessori floor beds for your young child.
FAQs About Baby Nursery
The most widely discussed Montessori sleep arrangement is the floor bed, a crib- or toddler-sized mattress placed directly on the ground or upon a low bed frame. The idea behind this is that children can independently access (or exit) their beds at any time, requiring that the bedroom be fully child-safe.
The inventor of the method, Dr Maria Montessori, believed that children thrive when given the freedom to move and learn independently. So, generally speaking, a Montessori bed is a mattress without restrictive railings around it, close enough to the floor so that the child can get in and out of it by himself.
This, now, is their new routine, and they appreciate no deviation from it, just like with their old routine. This is sleep training in a nutshell, and it is the route many Montessori parents choose, as co-sleeping is not always desired by the parents and child, and many parents' work situations don't allow for it.
The Montessori bedroom is typically neutral in colour, painted white or muted, natural tones. These hues promote a sense of calm, allowing animated objects like toys, photographs, and artwork to draw the baby's attention. Lighting should be soft and warm, with minimal glare.
Maria Montessori favoured “real” toys made of natural materials like wood because they're healthy, safe, and inspiring for children. They're also beautiful and durable; some of the earliest toys ever discovered were made of wood.
Pottery Barn Kids Camden House Bed
This unique bed frame comes in twin or full size and is shaped like a traditional Montessori house. Although it's a more refined look than just having a mattress on the floor, the difference is purely visual. The same height is achieved, making it possible for even the smallest of children to climb in and out without assistance.
A Twin Sized Bed in the Poppy Home
To make it easier for young children to get in and out of bed, this version of the Montessori home bed is elevated a few inches off the floor. The built-in book shelf at the foot of the bed is arguably the greatest part of this space, as it means that a good book can be easily found whenever sleep rolls around.
South Shore's Sweedi Twin Slat Bed
The headboard and house-shaped frame of this twin bed evoke the classic Montessori aesthetic. At 3 1/4 inches from the floor, it's a safe height for kids to get in and out of bed on their own.
Furniture for Little Ones, Home for Dreams
This minimalist Montessori bed has a fence and gate that opens and closes to allow children easy access to the bed without the risk of their falling out as they sleep. This is a fantastic choice for kids who are known to be unusually active when they sleep.
Using a floor bed in the Montessori method: advantages and disadvantages
Instead of using a traditional crib, which does not provide enough space for a toddler to crawl around and explore their new environment, consider a Montessori floor bed to provide your kid with a safe place to sleep, play, and learn that is on the same level as the rest of the living space.
Consider the benefits and drawbacks of setting up your baby's floor bed in either your room or the baby's room before making a final decision.
Arguments in Favor
- Your youngster will develop into a self-reliant person with the support of a Montessori bed. Your baby's ability to make decisions and his desire to explore the world around him will benefit from sleeping on the floor.
- When a youngster has their own bed on the floor, they don't need to wake you up to get them out of bed in the morning. Another perk is that your kid can get out of bed whenever he or she wants to, rather than having to wait for you to give the go-ahead.
- It will turn out to be a cost-saving measure. A standard crib may have to be replaced every three years despite being a significant investment. Instead, you can count on a high-quality mattress to last for many years.
- You won't have to continually monitor your child or keep him occupied, and you'll have more free time as a result.
- Children who are used to sleeping on the floor are more likely to develop the skills necessary to fall back to sleep on their own if they wake up during the night.
Issues to Consider
- Time spent babyproofing the space where the floor bed will be installed is time well spent. You should consider any and all potential threats to the safety of your child. Remember that infants can be unpredictable, so it's wise to use caution.
- Because they are lower to the ground, Montessori beds trap more heat. Your infant needs to be in a room with good air circulation.
- Allergen exposure is also increased when sleeping on the floor.
Tips for Buying a Floor Mattress
Are you prepared to give your infant a bed in the Montessori style? Consider these points.
- When placing a bed next to your own in a bedroom, make sure it has a modest rise on the side where you sleep and a rail that extends the full length of the mattress.
- When putting up rails, make sure there isn't a space wider than your child's shoulder between each board. Remember that a newborn can easily fall through spaces wider than 1 or 2 inches.
- Be sure there are no soft objects, like pillows or stuffed animals, in the child's bed, as they could cause suffocation if the child rolled into them.
- Move any sharp objects and electrical wires or cords out of the way of the floor bed. Young children should be kept away from these products.
- You should think about usability, too. Put your child's Montessori floor bed in a convenient location so you won't have to go far to get to them.
Additionally, you should check that all of the other pieces of furniture in the room are secure and won't endanger your infant. Your baby's safety is your top priority, so make sure all of the furniture is substantial enough that it cannot be moved, and out of reach, so that he or she cannot climb and perhaps be injured.
Also, remember that you'll want to put a rug or soft floor mat down around the perimeter of the bed. This will cushion his fall in the event that he rolls out of bed.
Conclusion
A Montessori bed is a toddler bed that is very low to the ground, similar in height to a mattress on the floor. Some parents use them as part of a parenting philosophy that aims to instil compassion and self-reliance. Others have praised them as morally superior option that respects a child's physical autonomy. A Montessori bed is an alternative to a crib that gives children more control over their sleep schedule and fosters their sense of agency and self-assurance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics have produced sleep guidelines to reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation.
Many of the pedagogical ideas of Maria Montessori can be implemented in your child's bedroom or nursery. Some people believe that a floor bed is more courteous to the child than a crib, and that it allows for more freedom of movement and independence for the child. If your infant or toddler is too young to sleep through the night in a regular bed, you may want to try transitioning them back to a crib. We suggest making the transition from a crib to a bed between the ages of two and four. Some of the advantages of a Montessori bed are obvious, such as less injury from a fall.
Use a Montessori floor bed to provide your child with a safe place to sleep, play and learn that is on the same level as the rest of the living space. South Shore's Sweedi Twin Slat Bed has a fence and gate that opens and closes to allow children easy access to the bed without the risk of their falling out as they sleep. Babies who are used to sleeping on the ground are more likely to develop the skills necessary to fall asleep alone if they wake during the night. When putting up rails, make sure there isn't a space wider than your child's shoulder between each board. Remember that a newborn can easily fall through spaces wider than 1 or 2 inches. Make sure all of the other pieces of furniture in the room are secure and won't endanger your infant.
Content Summary
- A Montessori bed is a toddler bed that is very low to the ground, similar in height to a mattress on the floor (which is one of the terms used to describe it).For many parents, the aesthetic benefits of Montessori beds are secondary to the peace of mind they provide knowing their child won't have far to fall if they roll out of bed.
- Montessori beds are used by some families beginning with their newborn infants as part of a bigger philosophy that aims to instil compassion and self-reliance.
- However, there are safety issues to think about in addition to aesthetics and alleged ethics.
- Montessori beds are not recommended for infants younger than one year old since they go against the safe sleep practises recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
- Aesthetic preference and overall commitment to the Montessori approach are the deciding factors.
- Many Montessori parents share her views, seeing the Montessori bed as a more morally sound alternative to a crib that gives children more control over their sleep schedule and, in turn, fosters their sense of agency and self-assurance.
- Putting them in a crib won't make it easier for them to get to sleep.
- Helping a kid recognise their own fatigue is a basic tenet of the Montessori approach.
- A youngster who is awake is safer in a crib than in a bed from which they can easily escape.
- They recommend putting infants to bed in the same room as their parents on a firm mattress that is snugly fitted into a crib (with no space between the mattress and the crib, and no pillows or blankets).
- If parents choose a bed that their child can climb out of, the entire room should function as a giant crib.
- Uzodike and Schneider both believe that a low bed frame is an advantage of the Montessori method since it reduces the risk of slipping out of bed.
- Implementing a Montessori-Inspired Nursery for Your Infant or Toddler: Sleeping Tips Many of the pedagogical ideas of Maria Montessori's approach can be implemented in your child's bedroom or nursery.
- When you set up your home like a Montessori nursery, you're showing your support for the idea that children thrive when given opportunities to do things on their own.
- A crib is not used in a Montessori nursery; instead, a bed is placed on the floor when the child is very young.
- In turn, this may affect your kid's capacity to go to sleep, remain asleep, and remain in bed during the night.
- If you're thinking about giving your infant or toddler a Montessori-style bedroom, consider the following five suggestions.
- Whether or not your infant or toddler will sleep well on the floor depends greatly on his or her previous sleeping arrangements.
- How well your infant or toddler adjusts to a Montessori floor bed depends on his or her own personality and temperament.
- Keep in mind your child's developmental readiness for concepts like "remain in bed" and "time to sleep."
- If your infant or toddler is too young to sleep through the night in a regular bed, you may want to try transitioning them back to a crib until they are older.
- We suggest making the transition from a crib to a bed between the ages of two and four.
- If your child's sleep is being disrupted by the transition to a floor bed, you should probably wait until they've established more stable sleep patterns before making the switch.
- Please be patient with your child while they adjust to their new bedroom if you have decided against switching back to a crib and will be keeping the floor bed instead.
- For your child to learn the boundaries surrounding bedtime, you must be consistent.
- Those of you considering a Montessori-style nursery or bedroom for your kiddo, we hope you'll find these sleep advice helpful.
- If your child is having trouble sleeping after you switched to a floor bed, we have a number of solutions for you to try.
- This unique bed frame comes in twin or full size and is shaped like a traditional Montessori house.
- A Twin Sized Bed in the Poppy Home To make it easier for young children to get in and out of bed, this version of the Montessori home bed is elevated a few inches off the floor.
- South Shore's Sweedi Twin Slat Bed The headboard and house-shaped frame of this twin bed evoke the classic Montessori aesthetic.
- At 3 1/4 inches from the floor, it's a safe height for kids to get in and out of bed on their own.
- Using a floor bed in the Montessori method: advantages and disadvantages Instead of using a traditional crib, which does not provide enough space for a toddler to crawl around and explore their new environment, consider a Montessori floor bed to provide your kid with a safe place to sleep, play, and learn that is on the same level as the rest of the living space.
- Consider the benefits and drawbacks of setting up your baby's floor bed in either your room or the baby's room before making a final decision.
- Instead, you can count on a high-quality mattress to last for many years.
- Issues to Consider Time spent babyproofing the space where the floor bed will be installed is time well spent.
- Your infant needs to be in a room with good air circulation.
- Tips for Buying a Floor Mattress Are you prepared to give your infant a bed in the Montessori style?
- Consider these points.
- When placing a bed next to your own in a bedroom, make sure it has a modest rise on the side where you sleep and a rail that extends the full length of the mattress.
- When putting up rails, make sure there isn't a space wider than your child's shoulder between each board.
- Move any sharp objects and electrical wires or cords out of the way of the floor bed.
- Put your child's Montessori floor bed in a convenient location so you won't have to go far to get to them.
- Additionally, you should check that all of the other pieces of furniture in the room are secure and won't endanger your infant.
- Also, remember that you'll want to put a rug or soft floor mat down around the perimeter of the bed.
