My 2 year old just transitioned from the crib to a Montessori style floor bed and I honestly wish I did it sooner. I was nervous about the conversion because I wasn’t sure if she would stay in bed. She loved her crib and had gotten accustomed to it. We previously tried turning her crib into a toddler bed and she hated it. She cried and refused to sleep in it which forced my husband to put the crib rails back on. Yet at the same time we knew she was ready for a change. So we decided to try out a floor bed. To our surprise- she absolutely LOVED IT from day 1. If you’re thinking about making the change from the crib to a Montessori Style floor bed, here are some keys to making the switch!

Is Your Child Ready?

One of the main reasons that parents may ditch the crib is safety. If your child is already climbing out of the crib or is able to get their leg onto the top rail, then it is a clear sign that they are ready for the switch. If they are going to get out anyway- let them do it safely! Another reason to convert may be potty training/overnight training. This was the case for us. Kira refused to sleep with a diaper on which forced us to begin overnight toilet training. The independence of getting in and out of bed would allow her to access the potty more easily. Another reason may be to simply foster independence. If you are following or interested in following the Montessori philosophy, then a floor bed aligns with the core principles of free movement and choice in the child’s environment.

Benefits Of A Montessori Style Floor Bed

There are many advantages for the child who converts to a floor bed. Believe it or not, it actually promotes a better relationship with sleep because the bed it is not seen as a space they can’t get out of. It becomes known to them as a place to rest and not entrapment after they have rested. I was worried that my toddler wouldn’t stay in the bed at bedtime or would wake up way before she had her full night’s rest- but that was not the case. Although she had the option to pop out of bed- she didn’t and slept through the entire night. It also promoted her independence with using the potty at night and during her naps. Other benefits to the floor bed include developing their gross motor skills and boosting their self confidence.

Setting It Up

This can be as simple as placing a mattress on the floor in a child safe environment. The mattress can be in any space you choose whether the child has their own room or not. You can also choose a floor bed frame like we did which provides a little bit more structure and may keep the child from rolling off the mattress. The main thing to keep in mind is the environment. The area should be fully child proof and the child’s items at their level. They will want to explore their environment when they wake up and that is perfectly fine. Having kid size items like a low toy or book shelf for them to help themselves to is a good idea. Placing a gate at the room door can keep them from roaming the rest of the house or going down stairs alone.

We chose a bed frame from Wayfair that fit my toddler’s crib mattress perfectly, so we didn’t have to buy a new one. We decorated it with a pretty garland from Amazon and that was it. Simple & classic. We couldn’t be happier with our setup.

The Montessori style floor bed was by far the best choice for us. I can’t tell you how much Kira loves her new bed. Seeing her plop herself right onto it so happily makes me smile tremendously. It’s been such a positive change for us and we hope it can be too for your family!