Dr. Maria Montessori didn’t design a specific bed for children, but the concept of the Montessori bed emerged from her approaches to child-rearing and interior design for children’s rooms. A bed without rails, positioned close to or directly on the floor, has come to be known as a Montessori bed. These bed designs are called Montessori beds because they align with the approach that grants children as much freedom as possible to explore their space and develop independence.
The Benefits of a Low Bed
A traditional bed is often too high for a child to climb out of or lie down in when they want to. You may have noticed that children sometimes get so tired that they fall asleep right on the playmate surrounded by toys. Even though it seems like they have an endless supply of energy, toddlers need regular rest. Even at preschool age, they can listen to their body’s signals and understand when they need to rest. When this moment is missed, tantrums, crying without a clear reason, and difficulty falling asleep at bedtime can occur.
A low bed indirectly helps to solve this problem. For example, if you have a Montessori house bed and the toddler has free access to it, the child can lie down in their bed to nap or simply rest when the first signs of fatigue and exhaustion creep in. They recharge their energy, and instead of crying for no apparent reason, they continue playing at their own pace. This is the key advantage of such a bed.
Easier Bedtime Routine
A low bed allows the child to get up whenever they need to use the toilet or get a drink of water and then return to bed. They don’t feel trapped in their sleeping space, and this freedom promotes overall calmness. Children fall asleep faster in a relaxed state, without anxiety or fear.
When they wake up, they can also leave their bed immediately to browse a book or play with their favorite toys, instead of waiting for their parents to help them out of bed. Morning tantrums, accordingly, become less frequent. Childhood (and parenting) becomes a more pleasant journey.
A Routine Adapted to Individual Needs
Biological rhythms are naturally ingrained in humans, meaning some people are more productive in the morning, while others prefer to sleep longer and become more active in the afternoon. These rhythms manifest from early childhood, and understanding how they work can help establish a bedtime routine.
For instance, if you’re raising a little “early bird,” they may wake up earlier, get out of bed, play, and feel comfortable with it. Likewise, they will tire earlier and go to bed—just pay attention to the signs of fatigue to avoid missing the moment. A low bed helps to track the child’s individual rhythms and adapt the daily routine accordingly. When the child is tired, they can go to sleep right at that moment, rather than later. This is beneficial for their health and convenient for parents.
How to Ensure Safety?
Using a Montessori bed gives the child a lot of freedom. Along with its advantages, this brings some risks. Therefore, when choosing such a sleeping arrangement, it’s essential to ensure the following:
- Childproof window locks. If the child wakes up before the parents and climbs onto the window, they should not be able to open it easily.
- Electrical outlet covers. Protection should be installed on electrical outlets to prevent the child from using electrical devices unsupervised.
- No dangerous electrical appliances. Items like kettles or stoves should not be within the toddler’s reach.
- Safe storage. Make sure that small or dangerous items, household chemicals, medicines, and sharp objects are not stored on lower shelves within the child’s reach.
Children under three years old are still learning to navigate their bodies in space, and they may toss and turn at night searching for the most comfortable sleeping position. It’s possible they might occasionally roll off the bed. Therefore, modern Montessori beds usually have side rails to prevent this. However, you can also place soft rugs around the bed. Even if the little “tumbler” rolls out of bed, it won’t be traumatic: the height is low, and the soft rug will cushion the fall.
It’s advisable to choose low-pile rugs with a silicone base: they adhere well to the floor, provide softness, but do not slip, and don’t accumulate dust and dirt between the fibers. This is a hygienic and safe alternative to fluffy rugs.
These simple rules can help your whole family sleep better. For a choice of low beds, be sure to check out Busywood’s online store: they have a great collection of original and comfortable Montessori beds for children and even adults!