Mattress vs Crib

sowingseasons

I was viewing a website about Montessori principles and how one family decorated their children's room based on the philosophy. Instead of a crib they had each child sleep on a mattress on the floor ( with tight sheets, no blanket, and swaddled). What are your opinions on this?

here is the link: https://howwemontessori.typepad.com

sowingseasons

My bf and I thought it seemed like a great idea. We just didn't know how to handle when the baby starts crawling or moving around. I figured being swaddled would keep the baby still for a while but I am unsure. I am not sure how old your son is now but have you encountered any issues when he started crawling ( if he has!)?

beckslea

It's not safe to swaddle the baby after they start to roll a lot-for us we stopped by 4 months.  So how is this safe when you can't confine them?

juliane2004

Meh. Some people do it. It's not for us. I like having a space I know is 100% safe, and I'd rather that be the crib, than the entire room.

 

juliane2004

mands629:

Even if your kid is swaddled, they still move around.  My little houdini was able to break free of the swaddles (despite using a SwaddleMe) and I would find her in the mornings with a hand out, another hand half out, and facing the opposite way at the other end of the crib.

Bottom line, kids move - infants and toddlers.  How are you going to keep a kid contained/on their mattress?

I think the idea is that they do move and they might move off the mattress but it's not very far to the ground, so a roll off won't hurt them. It allows them to explore, I guess, and feel freedom. You are supposed to remove everything else in the room (like bookcases and wires, etc, so nothing at all is available to hurt them.

sowingseasons

I suppose I should use the term sleep sack instead of swaddle when I talk about older children. I am an infant teacher and we have infants that use a sleep sack that are a year.

kimbee009

I never used a crib with DS # 1.  I am big into co-sleeping and plan on doing this again with #2.  When my son got old enough we moved him from our bed to a floor bed in our room.  By 2 1/2 he was in his own room sleeping in his own bed by himself.  

Kids do move, but with the mattress being on the floor it doesn't really matter if they move.  They are not going to fall and drop far enough to get hurt. Also, you should not put a mattress somewhere  near furniture or stuff they can get hurt on.  Even if you have them "contained" in a crib at one point they could throw themselves out of it.

sowingseasons

sowingseasons

Too funny. I feel that may be the case but I do like the idea of it. Thank you all