What the Heck is a Montessori Bed and Why Should I Get One?

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If you have a toddler, chances are high that you've heard of Montessori beds. They're rapidly rising in popularity, but many of us don't fully understand the allure or reasoning behind buying one. On the surface, they look simple — basically a mattress on the floor — but it turns out that they're a lot more than that.

Montessori beds are beds that use the ideas developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, called the Montessori Method. She believed that you should give your toddler freedom when it comes to their movements and environment. Although she didn’t create or patent a bed, Montessori beds are designed with that principle in mind: They provide a safe place for your child to hang out, play, and sleep.

By keeping the bed so low to the ground, you're allowing your child to be a part of their environment in a way that higher, traditional beds just can't accomplish. Some parents choose to use a Montessori-style bed from pretty early on — basically, as soon as a baby begins to crawl. But more parents choose this style around the time when babies are transitioning to a toddler bed. It is extremely important to note that Montessori beds do not align with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations for the first 12 months of baby's life, which is why I only suggest their use after your baby has transitioned out of their crib.

Montessori beds are now all over the market, but how do you choose the best one for your little one? Or maybe gifting to a grandchild who is just entering Montessori School? Don't worry — we're here to help.

The Best Montessori Beds

• Best Overall: Busywood Wooden Floor Bed

• Most Utility: Harper and Bright House Bed

• Best for Twins: Merax Double Twin Bed

• No Assembly Required: West Elm Tent Bed

• Latch-Free Style: Merax Queen

What to Consider

You want to consider three main things when buying a Montessori bed.

→ Base

Here’s the thing: Not all Montessori beds have bases. Some are super simple structures that simply surround a mattress placed on the floor, like this one from Busywood. For some parents, this style strays away too much from traditional beds — but there are plenty of Montessori beds on the market with good, sturdy bases that can vary widely. Some bases are more elevated than others, but with a Montessori bed, the goal is to be as close to the ground as possible. Therefore, it’s important to look for a base that’s close enough to the ground that your toddler can toddle right onto it.

→ Rails

To enclose or not to enclose? This is a big debate amongst the Montessori set, but you're the only one who can determine which option is suitable for your kid. Some beds have rails or guards around the majority of the bed, while others, such as the Harper and Bright, are wide open. There are benefits and drawbacks to both: With a railed bed, your kid might feel more contained, and they may like that if you're transitioning from a traditional crib. If you want your child to be unencumbered by such things (or if they're prone to launching themselves off the rails like my kids), a rail-free option is your best bet.

→ Size

You can get Montessori beds in several sizes, from toddler to king. A toddler bed is great for wee littles, but it is limiting. On the other end of the spectrum, a queen or bed is fun, but that's a lot of real estate in a nursery. If they're not going to keep that bed — or at least the mattress — for several years, it may not make sense to invest in a large one. However, these beds are beautiful, so there's no reason to stop using them when your child gets a little older. Generally, twin size is the go-to, but hey ... go for the bigger bed if you want to (or if you like to snuggle in with them on occasion).

How We Chose

I spoke with parents who currently use Montessori beds to find out which ones they're using and why they're the favorite. There's a large community of Montessori parents on social media and in my own community. I researched the brands and their practices and compared materials to one another to determine which of the Montessori beds are the very best. I made sure to include a variety of styles and materials, as well as different price points.

Check out my favorite Montessori beds below.

Wooden Floor Bed Playpen with Extended Rail

Busywood put the work in when they designed this bed. It's as much a playpen as it is a bed for sleeping, thanks to the taller sides. Given all the extra use, this bed is quite the steal and has all of the options. It's a mostly contained (baby gate), slatted Montessori bed that comes in a ton of sizes ranging from crib to king-sized and multiple water-based finishes. Plus, parents say that it's simple to assemble. Made of sustainable alder wood, this bed is built to last with the environment in mind.

If you're looking for a Montessori bed but don't want to spend a fortune — and if you really want something with a custom look – this is the bed for you. Your toddler will have a hard time getting in and out of this bed when the gate is closed, which is a big concern for many parents. Those high sides also give kids coming out of the crib a sense of security and safety they wouldn't get with a standard bed.

More: The Best Sensory Toys for Your Little One

Platform Bed with Fence and Door

The dark finish on this montessori bed is stunning. It has a much more elegant feel than some of the lighter beds, which parents may want to lean into. It's made of solid pine slats with a plywood base that keeps the mattress just a few inches off the floor. Those few inches can be great if the toddler's bedroom is on a lower level with a cold floor.

At under $175, it's a real steal for a bed that your child could ostensibly be using for a great many years. It's also fully-closeable with an easy-to-operate latch on the outside.

Twin Floor Bed with Rails

So you want a floor bed that's fully enclosed but isn't fully on the floor (I live in New York City, land of roaches — trust me, I get it.) You can get this fully-slatted bed with gate and latch in twin, full, or queen size.

It's still super low to the ground, but there's enough space to get a Swiffer beneath it for cleaning. Also, if you're in an area where the floor gets cold enough to leech through a mattress, this gives a gap that allows warm air to flow beneath it, keeping your child more comfortable. You'll find this very important in basement bedrooms or in rooms above the concrete foundation.

The build is easy, and so is cleaning it, but making this bed can be a bit harder than if at least one side was open.

Twin Floor Bed for Kids

Short on hanging storage in your kid's room? One way to solve it is to incorporate hanging space with their Montessori bed. Not only does this free up (or make) closet space, but it also helps kids see what they have, providing object permanence for their clothing so they might not wear the same shirt every day. It also encourages them to hang up their own clothing (start 'em young, as they say).

The bed is gorgeous on its own, but I think it is somehow even more charming when it is full of your child's things. It becomes a personal space for them that they carve out for themselves.

Montessori Floor Bed

The imagination, which is such an important part of Montessori learning, will be delighted by this bed. It's not just a floor bed that has a base — it's a whole environment for a child. It's a house, it's a place to sit and wonder, and yes, it has storage.

People who love this bed told me that their child feels a special connection to the bed. It's their safe haven, and many of them choose to call it "my night house" or something similar.

The build is a bit trickier than some others on this list, but it's not so hard that putting it together will put a strain on your relationship with your partner as some flat-pack furniture builds.

It's only available in twin size, which may be a dealbreaker for some families, but I think that the utility of the bed makes up for the lack of sizes.

Two Twin Montessori Platform Bed Frame

I spoke to one dad who bought this Montessori bed for his twins, but apparently, the twins sleep on one side, and their giant Alaskan malamute frequently takes the other side. As someone who had an Akita who rarely left my son's side, I get this. Maybe your twins or children will use both sides — and at the very least, they have the option with this bed.

Each mattress is enclosed on three sides, so there's a lot of safety and cozy built right in. Having the bottom open allows for the children to get in and out easily, and it makes making the bed a much simpler process as well. According to owners, it's an easy build you can do in under an hour, and while it's almost 100 pounds, it isn't hard to move around if you need to.

Tent Bed

I'm about to type the three magic words of furniture: "white glove delivery." You don't need to worry about putting this gorgeous Montessori bed and tent together. West Elm will do it for you. All you need to do is buy a mattress and pick out some sweet bedding. Perhaps with an explorer theme?

It's made of Greenguard gold-certified, kiln-dried poplar, and the tent is sturdy and machine-washable canvas. It does come off and on fully, so if your kid likes playing with the tent on but isn't sure about sleeping with it, you can easily take it off.

Queen Size Wood Floor Bed Frame with Fence and Door

My son moved into a queen bed from his crib, and he's never looked back. He has always been one to stretch out. If you have your own starfish of a child, you might want to consider a queen-sized bed like this one yourself.

Made from a mix of pine and ply, the Merax is light enough to move around but heavy enough to stay put. The gate is latch-free, which is less common than you might think. It makes for a good combination of security and freedom.

Parents who like this bed note that the finish on it makes it supremely easy to clean, even with substances like crayons and dried lollies.

Twin House Bed Frame

This is an open-concept, house-style bed (very popular in Montessori-land) with a slatted base. It's twin-size, comes in either knotty pine or smooth poplar, and stands 6 feet tall. Parents can decorate the top with twinkle lights or faux vines as the kids get a little older and more independent.

It comes flat-packed, but because of the simplicity of the design, it's a cinch to put together. Made in Ozark, Missouri, this company uses local wood and ethical labor to create its furniture.

Malibu Platform Bed Frame

If you're looking to buy one bed for your kid to use from age 1 to age whenever-they-leave-your-house, this is it. Avocado doesn't just make spectacular mattresses and pillows (though they do, and my daughter adores hers) — they also make extremely high-quality bed frames like this one.

It sits just a few inches off the ground, and it's made with 100% sustainably sourced maple or walnut wood. It comes in twin, full, queen, and even king or California king sizes if you'd like a football-field-sized bed for your little one.

Cushy Upholstered Platform Corner Bed

Luxury is the first thing that comes to mind when you see this bed, but immediately after that, you can see how this cushioned platform bed would be a great, safe space to land. The walls and base have dense cushions covered in eco-friendly, easy-to-clean fabrics. This is a bed that cradles your child. And, if your child is anything like I was or like my child was, they're not going to hurt themselves if they start George of the Jungle-ing it around their room.

When your child is a bit older, this becomes a chic daybed/sofa combination. It makes for a great place to hang out, play Xbox, read graphic novels, and make fun of their parents.

It may only come in twin size, but in classic Pottery Barn style, it comes in a ton of fabrics, each one more gorgeous than the last. Yes, this is an investment, but it's a good one.

Coble Twin Solid Wood Floor Bed

There's something soothing and magical about having a little tent over your bed. It's whimsy that's comfortable. With this solid wood twin Montessori bed from Harper Orchard, your little one can take the camping indoors. The tent itself is removable and machine-washable, with a peekaboo entrance with a safe, roll-up door.

Parents who have this bed love that it was a cinch to put together, and they note that the fabric can really take a beating. Oxyclean, spot cleaner, and heavy-duty wash cycles are a must when one has kids.

Wood House L-Shape Bed

Have more than one kid you need to fit into a bedroom, but you need to conserve space while still letting them have their own bed? This is the solution for Montessori fans. It's a bi-level, L-shaped bed with a house motif made with a mix of pine, plywood, and MDF.

I love that there's a real line of demarcation between one bed and the other but that they still have a similar feel to a joined Montessori bed. It's also not too toddlerish, so kids could have this bed all through elementary school without complaint. I can see them being strung up with fairy lights or LED strips, decorated with festive holiday fripperies or sports memorabilia.

House Montessori Bed for Kids

Not all Montessori beds are on the floor. Some of them are just very low, like this model. The benefit of this one is that it's a full-size Montessori bed with storage, and the roof is removable, leaving a regular, four-poster low bed with storage.

It's an entirely pine frame with ply drawers, and it has a larger weight limit than other beds at 400 pounds. This bed is wonderful for toddlers and elementary students, but it can and will last all the way through the teen years, thanks to the innovative design.

Kids Wood Tent Bed Set

If you're looking for a higher-end Montessori bed, look no further. The folks at Crate and Kids have designed what I can only think as the schmanciest of Montessori beds. It's made of beech, oak, and poplar with manufactured slats. The canvas is easy to clean, and the roll-up panel gives it a real camping vibe.

This bed is a whole look. Build it out with a washable rug in a great, botanic pattern, some fun pillows, a great piece of framed art or two, and some blackout curtains, and you have a whole room designed.

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