In Montessori we use a low bed or a floor bed which is a mattress on the floor, on a carpet, or on a base which is only slightly higher than the floor. Eventually baby moves to this bed as they transition to independent sleeping. The sleep area is should be in the darkest, quietest part of the room.
If your little one is getting proper sleep in a bed with the parents, great. If not, there are steps you can take to help the process along. Sleep training is a touchy subject in the Montessori community. Montessori was not pro-sleep training, however it can absolutely be done in a gentle, Montessori-aligned way.
This restful period (from 12:30 to 2:30 PM) also prevents the child from becoming overly worn-out. When a child is exhausted they can become moody and difficult even (or especially) at nighttime when bedtime comes around. The naptime process is also a lesson in practical life.
Montessori promotes independence so while they do not have a rule against co-sleeping, it is suggested that the child have their own room. However, Montessori believes it is important for the parent to recognize when the child wants to be in the company of adults.
While some recommend ages as young as five to ten months when children begin to sit up and independently support their own bodies, many others suggest transitioning your child from a cot or crib to a Montessori floor bed sometime between the ages of one and three years old.
A Montessori floor bed enables freedom of movement, encourages independence, provides autonomy to toddlers and children, and facilitates access to the room and its various elements!
In Montessori we use a low bed or a floor bed which is a mattress on the floor, on a carpet, or on a base which is only slightly higher than the floor. Eventually baby moves to this bed as they transition to independent sleeping. The sleep area is should be in the darkest, quietest part of the room.
Cribs are confining and don't allow the child the freedom to fully explore their environment. The idea behind a Montessori floor bed is in line with the general principles of the Montessori Method: a child should have freedom of movement, and should be able to move independently around his (carefully childproofed!)
A Montessori bed is simply a bed or mattress on the floor. A floor bed is used because it allows the child independence and ownership over their environment. Parents typically transition their child to a floor bed between 5-10 months of age, although some begin as early as 2 months.
The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends room-sharing but discourages bed-sharing. Although these experts do not recommend bed-sharing, they acknowledge that many caregivers still choose to sleep on the same surface as an infant.
In my Montessori training, we learned that babies should ideally not use a pacifier. So if you haven't started using one, then this is something to consider. A pacifier can be used to give the parent some quiet, when the child is actually trying to communicate their needs.
Most will explain the Hour Rule to mean one hour in the crib. If your child falls asleep prior to that hour ending, then you get your child up the moment they wake. If they don't sleep at all for the full hour, you get them up at the hour. This is about the extent to the Hour Rule for most.
The 2-3-4 nap schedule is for babies who are on two naps a day. The first wake window would be 2 hours, the second would be 3 hours and the last wake window for bed is 4 hours.
3-4 Months
By 3 to 4 months, infants are forming a nighttime sleep cycle. They're more sociable, don't usually suffer from separation anxiety, and start snoozing better. However, most 3- and 4-month-olds aren't developmentally ready to self-soothe, so sleep training may be difficult.
This means that instead of using traditional methods such as "cry it out" or other forms of sleep training that may involve leaving a child to cry alone, the Montessori approach encourages parents to support their child as they learn to fall asleep on their own.
Experts recommend beginning sleep training when babies are 4 to 6 months old. This age range is the sweet spot, since babies are old enough to physically make it for six to eight hours overnight without needing to eat but aren't quite at the point where the comforting you provide has become a sleep association.
The toys that are in the bedroom need to be safe, age and developmentally appropriate, perhaps even minimal in nature as to not overwhelm the child and so the child, along with the parents can maintain a level of order.
Montessori parenting can be defined as a relaxed parenting approach in which the toddlers are given ample freedom to play, work, study and learn. They are not punished for bending the rules and are respected for being themselves.
Some critics say that Montessori's emphasis on allowing students to explore their environments for themselves and work on their own projects discourages social interaction. Some go so far as to say it hurts children's social development. But a Montessori environment doesn't isolate students.
Most of us in the Montessori world have been cautioned not to praise children. Too much praise can lead to patterns of codependency and inadvertently teach children that their self-worth should be based on the perceptions of others.
Why are there no plastic toys in Montessori? Montessori favours toys made from natural materials like wood, metal, cotton and glass for a few reasons. Unlike plastic, these materials inspire a connection to nature and the real world, while the different textures offer a sensory experience and encourage exploration.
Many experts recommend the 2-3-4 approach for babies needing two daytime snoozes. It works by gradually increasing the time between naps throughout the day: two hours of staying awake before the first nap, three hours between the first and second naps, and four hours before bedtime.
After following a set bedtime routine, place your drowsy infant in their crib while they're still awake then leave the room. If they cry, wait for a period of time—Ferber suggests three minutes the first night—before returning to the room to briefly comfort them.
Daycare teachers use swaddling and rocking techniques.
For instance, a childcare provider may gently stroke a baby's cheek or forehead. They may also wrap the baby snugly in a blanket, which can help them feel secure and relaxed. Some babies also love being rocked, so this may be part of the nap time routine as well.