Sleep is such an important part of your child’s life - and yours as a parent! When it comes to sleep, there are so many options available that it can be overwhelming. Would a crib or a bassinet be better? Is co-sleeping a good option for you and your family? When is it best to transition your child to a new bed? 

This interview with a pediatric sleep consultant can provide great insight to those with questions!

Watch the video, or read the interview. 

Jump To:

• Some Benefits of a Floor Bed
• Change Often Requires a Transition Period
• All Common Challenges
• What Do I Do if My Child Keeps Getting Out of Bed?
• How to Know if Your Child is Ready for a Floor Bed
• How to Safely Add a Floor Bed to Your Space

Some Benefits of a Floor Bed

A floor bed is a way to honor your child's autonomy and natural curiosity. Because the bed is low to the ground, it offers your child mobility and freedom. They can play with toys, read a book, and even have some autonomy with their sleep.

“...the child should be given a low couch resting practically upon the floor, where he can lie down and get up as he wishes." - Maria Montessori

Our founders had this to share with their experience using a floor bed:

“We used a crib for our first two babies. Now that we have a floor bed for our third, I almost forgot how things used to go. I would have to try to quickly transition my baby from my arms into the crib, which rarely worked. The “free fall” feel that inevitably happened as I tried to lower them to the crib would startle and wake them. I would have to bend over the crib sides and try to comfort them as best I could without actually being able to hold them. Sometimes I would pick them up and we’d start the whole process of rocking to sleep and trying to quickly get them into the crib before waking all over again. 

Using a floor bed makes such an amazing difference for our family! I can snuggle with my baby, then gently transition out of the bed. If she starts to stir, I can easily move closer to her and help her settle in before I go out of the room. My husband also loves that he can lay right in bed with our baby and that he doesn’t fall asleep sitting in a chair. And our baby loves the independence! When she’s done playing at bedtime she will crawl onto her bed and try to lay down or grab her blanket to let us know she’s ready. I also feel like it provides a much more natural transition to helping babies sleep more independently.”

Change Often Requires a Transition Period

Humans are wired for consistency. We have routines and rhythms, and disruptions can be distressing, especially for kids. So, if your little one’s sleep arrangements are changing, there may be an initial transition period. The routine is being disrupted and your little one is responding to that. This transition doesn't mean the change is bad, just that your child needs time to adapt.

As children grow, they may no longer need to be close to the floor. Our Montessori Bed can be raised to grow with your child, avoiding unnecessary change. The Sosta Bed has the option to add legs for a raised bed. 

A raised floor bed from @happylittlechildhood

Common Challenges and Tips

We asked parents who use a floor bed to share their experiences, and several common themes emerged: helping children stay in bed, determining the best age for transitioning, and discovering unexpected benefits of using a floor bed.

Some helpful tips for transitioning to a floor bed include:

• Letting your child choose their sleeping accessories, like sheets or a special pillow.
• Maintaining a consistent bedtime routine.
• Preparing their room with comforting items, such as books or soft lighting.
• Mentally preparing yourself for the adjustment period.

For younger children who are co-sleeping or still in a parent's room, a gradual transition can work well. Start by introducing the floor bed for naps. Once naps are going smoothly, begin using it for nighttime sleep.

If your child is old enough, involve them in the process by talking about the floor bed and building excitement. One parent even shared a creative idea: they pretended the bed could talk and had it "tell" their child how excited it was to have them sleep in it!

What Do I Do if My Child Keeps Getting Out of Bed?

Many parents shared their experiences with the transition to a floor bed, highlighting challenges and sweet successes:

Getting Out of Bed
Several parents mentioned their little ones initially getting out of bed to play or leave the room.

• @heathergrif028 shared that her 7-month-old would crawl off the bed at bedtime. They calmly offered verbal guidance and placed her back in bed. Over the course of about a month, her daughter gradually adjusted, getting out of bed less and less. “It wasn’t a sudden change,” she noted. “It still occasionally happens, but not often.”

Sleeping on the Floor
Some families found their children preferred sleeping on the floor at first.

• @growingupwithgrant said their son often slept on the floor during the two months it took him to transition to the floor bed. “We just let him sleep on the floor if that’s what he wanted!” she explained. The move to a new apartment may have added to his initial nerves. One day, her husband fell asleep on the bed while watching him, and from that moment, their son started sleeping in his floor bed every night.

Cuddles and Gradual Independence
Other families enjoyed bonding moments during the transition.

• @mrsbrightsideandsirmaxwell shared their story of transitioning their 21-month-old daughter about a week before we reached out. “We can now cuddle in bed together,” she said. While their daughter still needs them there to fall asleep during naps, nighttime has become much easier. “She did fall out once, so we now keep her favorite teddy bear on that side to prevent rolling out.” Their daughter even takes better naps in the floor bed compared to the crib. She added, “We actually ‘argue’ about who gets to put her down because we both love it so much!”

Nap Routine Changes
For some families, the floor bed brought noticeable shifts in nap routines.

• @outsidethetoybox said their daughter used to get out of bed and wait by the door after waking up, but since transitioning to a floor bed around 14–15 months (she’s now 21 months), she stays in bed until they come to get her.

Sweet Moments
Many parents appreciated the little joys the floor bed brought to their daily routines.

• @beckyrodioduncan described the happiness of nap time, saying, “There’s nothing sweeter than that post-nap smile when they climb out of bed on their own and come to you.”

How to Know if Your Child is Ready for a Floor Bed

We want to mention that regulations require us to recommend waiting until 15 months to start using a floor bed.

However, many Montessori families choose to make the switch earlier by ensuring that their child’s room is a completely safe space for an infant to be unsupervised. Ultimately, parents know their child’s environment, abilities, and development best, and we trust them to make the decision that feels right for their family.

From the feedback we've received, many parents report a smoother transition when they introduce the floor bed earlier. Families who follow Montessori principles often observe signs of readiness and let their children guide the timing of the switch. On the other hand, parents who waited until their child was older (around 2 years or more) sometimes found the transition more challenging, as their child had become accustomed to the routine of using a crib.

As pediatric sleep consultant and occupational therapist Jessie Sweeney, OTR/L and owner of Supporting Littles, explains, “Every child and parent is unique, and therefore, there is never a one-size-fits-all method or answer.”

Adding a floor bed to your child’s room is an exciting step, but it’s important to ensure the entire space is safe, as your child will have the freedom to move in and out of bed independently. To create a safe environment, take time to address potential hazards, especially those that may pose a risk when you’re not present.

Here are some key safety considerations:

• Secure all cords: Keep electrical cords, charger cables, and any other wires out of reach.
• Cover electrical outlets: Use outlet covers to prevent accidental access.
• Safely manage blind strings: Ensure that blind cords are securely tied up or out of your child’s reach.
• Remove small items: Eliminate choking hazards and any toys or objects that could be unsafe.
• Anchor heavy furniture: Properly secure dressers, shelves, and other heavy items to the wall to prevent tipping.

Taking these steps will help ensure your child’s bedroom is a safe, inviting space for them to explore and rest.

When discussing the transition from another bed or bassinet to a floor bed, Sweeney shared that “anything inappropriate for the crib is going to be inappropriate for the bedroom.” She also encouraged parents to check "that there are no "cracks" between the bed and wall.” See more about Safety Tips or Regulations. 

We hope that this has offered some helpful insights. If you have additional questions or want to share your experience using a floor bed, we would love to hear about it! Feel free to comment below, send us a dm on Instagram at @sprout_kids, or email us at support@sprout-kids.com.

We appreciate the insight from Jessie Sweeney. If you are interested in more information on safe sleep and ideas of how to support 0-3 year olds, you can check her website www.supportinglittles.com.