The Problem With Montessori Beds

Montessori beds are a low platform bed where a child from crawling age or older can freely exit bed to explore and play in their rooms. A Monetssori website says the advantage is,

“An infant or toddler is confined to their sleep space when in a crib, which keeps them dependent on an adult to help them out when they are ready to move, to play, to engage, or practice self-care skills that the entirety of their bedroom is supposed to offer.”

I am strongly against Montessori beds for children younger than ages 3-4. Here’s why.

1. Infants and toddlers are supposed to be dependent on their adults. Their adults should be the ones who decide when it’s time to play, engage (in what?), and practice self-care skills.
   
   There’s no way that my 8-month-old should be attending to her own self-care skills! Her bedroom is not, should not, offer self-care opportunities. Whatever those are. 
   
   
2. Young children are usually not the best judge of when they need to sleep and when they are well-rested and ready to play. They need our adult wisdom to judge their fatigue for them.
   
   
   

In my experience, children who are moved out of the crib too young get too little sleep and are much more likely to experience night wakings and early morning wakings, which in turn wakes their adults, so the entire family is too tired as a result.

It seems that too much independence is actually scary for little ones. I recommend not moving children to an open bed until ages 3-4. At that age, a Montessori bed could be a great fit for your family -- I don't have an opinion.

If your little one moved to an open bed too young and you are having sleepless nights and too-early mornings as a result, hope is not lost. Reach out for a free sleep consult and let's get your family the sleep you need to feel your best.