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DEthis might be controversial, but cribs aren’t always the safest or best option for every baby.
if you’re curious why we chose a floor bed instead — read this before deciding 🤍
i’ve gotten so many questions about our floor bed setup, so i wanted to put everything in one place. this has worked beautifully for our family, but it’s not for everyone — and that’s okay. i’m sharing our experience so you can decide what’s best for your baby.
our experience 🤍
we did a similar setup with my now 4-year-old. he was extremely active — crawling, climbing, and walking by 9 months — and we were more concerned about crib climbing than anything else. we used a crib mattress in a playpen with a soft rug and toys. he’d play, crawl into bed, and fall asleep on his own. he was formula-fed and we never coslept.
with my youngest, we knew we wanted to do this again. he’s exclusively breastfed, won’t take a bottle, and coslept about 90% of his infant life until 6 months. once he started crawling, we slowly introduced the floor bed — starting with naps and short independent play.
he’s much less independent than my first and wants me close. one huge benefit while ebf has been being able to lay with him comfortably for feeds and comfort (i’ve taken some of my best naps in here 😅). i feed him to sleep, and he sleeps here for naps and evenings from about 8pm–midnight (sometimes longer). even those few hours give me time to reset.
frequently asked questions 👇
• mattress: firm, breathable twin (not memory foam)
• crib mattress: yes — we used one with our first
• playpen size: 71.5 x 79.5
• play mat size: 71 x 59
• mold concerns: we prop the mattress weekly, keep airflow, monitor humidity, and use an air purifier — mold is very unlikely with proper care
why a floor bed over a crib?
there are risks with cribs, cosleeping, and floor beds — risk exists everywhere. for us, floor beds remove falls from height while allowing freedom of movement, exploration, and development at a natural pace. they also encourage independence in a gentle way.
as someone who’s tried it all, this has been our favorite 🤍
comment “LINK” and i’ll send everything we use for this setup
#momlife #montessorimom
@deanna.hauk
