Why Montessori floor beds are a great choice for toddlers - and why I made one for my own daughter ?

When our daughter started moving more confidently I found myself questioning the usual next steps for her sleep and her own room. Until then, she’d been sleeping in a wooden cradle in our bedroom. But it was starting to feel too small, and honestly, not safe anymore. She was on the move and could easily climb or tip over the edge. It felt uncomfortable - for her and for us.

By that time, I had read my first Montessori book and had come across the concept of a floor bed—originally just a mattress on the floor. I loved the philosophy behind it. But she was still only six months old, just beginning to sit up steadily, and I wasn’t quite ready to go all-in. She moved a lot in her sleep, and I worried she’d spend half the night rolling onto the floor, or worse, bumping into the wall.

I wanted something a bit more secure. A setup that still gave her freedom, but with a sense of safety and comfort. So I started looking. But I couldn’t find anything that matched what I had in mind.

So I built it.

A simple bed - low to the ground, with slats to support the mattress and rails around it to provide just enough protection, without limiting her overall movement across the room. Open, accessible, and designed entirely around her needs.

I knew it was important to treat her with the same respect we’d give any adult, and that meant her space should be designed for her, not just shaped around our interior style or adult convenience. A home should grow with the child, support their development, and help them become confident, independent, and calm human beings, not work against them.

And the difference it made? Immediate.

Builds independence and confidence

One morning, not long after switching, I woke to the sound of soft thud of thick pages meeting the floor, one by one.. She’d gotten out of bed on her own, found her favorite book, and was quietly flipping through the pages. That moment said everything. She didn’t need permission to start her day - she had the confidence and freedom to choose for herself.

Creates a safer space to explore, learn and grow

Her room became more than just a place to sleep - it became hers. With the bed at her level and the rest of the room prepared with intention, she could explore, play, and wind down at her own pace. It felt safer, calmer, more natural. And when she was ready to rest, she’d simply climb into bed.

Transforms sleep struggles to calm sleep routines

Like most parents, we sometimes had our share of bedtime battles. But sleeping on a floor bed from an early age, things were never as difficult as I’d heard they could be. Bedtime has been a joyful time, full of hugs and reading books and less of a negotiation. Imagine a calm, comforting routine. She had ownership over the process, and that has brought a real sense of peace to our evenings.

Allows freedom of movement and supports children individuality

This wasn’t just about sleep - it was about trust. A floor bed gave her more than physical freedom; it gave her a sense of self. And for us, it brought a new closeness. Just cuddles, stories, and connection - on her level.

Looking Back

Building that first bed for my daughter is what started everything. It taught me that when we meet children where they are - literally and figuratively - they thrive. And we, as parents, get a little breathing room too.

That’s why I believe so deeply in Montessori floor beds and those with safety rails. Not just because they’re beautiful and practical (though they are), but because they honour something bigger: the way children grow, and the quiet power of giving them space to do it.