No One Has Ever Regretted a Floor Bed

Cribs are cages designed for adult convenience. Floor beds are environments designed for infant autonomy.

The crib, with its bars and elevated surface, is designed to contain. It assumes the infant cannot be trusted with movement, cannot be left alone, and must be physically restricted. This assumption conflicts with both developmental science and the principles of respectful care.

A floor bed—simply a mattress on the floor in a baby-proofed room—removes the bars and allows the child to wake and move freely. When an infant wakes, they can sit up, crawl, explore their environment, or return to sleep without crying for assistance. This autonomy reduces nighttime anxiety and supports natural sleep-wake cycles.

Sleep science demonstrates that restriction creates anxiety. An infant who cannot move freely may experience increased cortisol levels and difficulty returning to sleep. The floor bed, by contrast, allows the child to self-regulate and move as their body requires ^[mckenna].

For breastfeeding parents, the floor bed offers unparalleled access. A side-lying position becomes natural, and the parent can respond to feeding cues without fully waking. Dr. James McKenna's research on safe cosleeping ^[mckenna] and Dr. Jack Newman's work on breastfeeding ^[newman] both support arrangements that facilitate responsive feeding.

The Montessori philosophy emphasizes respect for the child's capability. A floor bed respects the infant's developing autonomy while maintaining safety through environmental design rather than physical restriction. The room becomes the "container," not the bed.

Safety considerations are straightforward: a firm mattress on the floor, no gaps, and a fully baby-proofed room. The floor bed can be used from birth, with appropriate bedding and supervision, or introduced when the child begins to move independently.

Remove the bars. Trust the environment. Respect the child.