Montessori floor bed from the start vs cot then bed, experiences?
Expecting our first and quite taken with the Montessori floor bed idea instead of buying a cot we'll just end up replacing. Bit nervous though. Does it genuinely work from the baby stage or do you spend the whole night putting them back? Keen to hear from anyone who's actually tried it.
Hi Rosa, I can see why the Montessori floor-bed idea is appealing, particularly if you are hoping to avoid buying several different sleep spaces! A bedside crib or co-sleeper can be a great option for at least the first six months. It keeps your baby close for feeds and reassurance while still providing their own firm, flat and separate sleep surface alongside your bed, in line with safer sleep guidance. As your baby gets a little older, you can review what feels right for your family. Some families move into a cot, while others choose a low or floor bed. If you choose a floor bed, the entire bedroom needs to be treated as the sleep space, with furniture secured and cords, gaps, climbing hazards and anything unsafe kept completely out of reach. Whether you spend lots of time putting them back is quite temperament-dependent. Some children are naturally happy to remain on the mattress, while others will roll, crawl or wander around the room once they have the freedom to do so. As they become toddlers, impulse control also plays a big part. A floor bed does not teach a child to stay in one place, so some families need plenty of calm repetition while their child gets used to the new boundary. I would also review the co-sleeping guidance below, even if bed-sharing is not currently your plan. It will help you understand the different options and risks so you can make an informed decision about which sleep space feels right, and when. I hope that helps! www.lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/safer-sleep-information/co-sleeping/
Reviewed by Gemma Coe, child sleep specialist — general guidance, not a substitute for your GP or health visitor.
We started a floor bed at about 6 months, she was in a bedside crib before that rather than a floor bed from birth, and it's been great. The absolute must is the room being 100 percent safe because it basically becomes their cot. Early on there was a bit of rolling about and the odd night of putting her back, but way less than everyone warned me about. Now she's a toddler she's really independent with it.
We did it pretty much from coming home from hospital. Being really honest, for the first 3 months a bedside crib would have been easier for night feeds, all that getting down onto the floor at 3am. We made it work but it was more of a values choice than a practical one, worth knowing that going in.
For the newborn bit we honestly found a normal crib easier and switched to the floor bed later once he was on the move. It can work from the start if you're set on it, just be realistic that the safety proofing has to be spot on and the first few weeks take patience. Bedside crib first and floor bed when they're mobile is a decent compromise.
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