Open Floor Bed Sleep Learning
Have you ever considered transitioning your baby or toddler to an open floor bed/ mattress? Are you afraid of constant long-lasting night wakings and your child hopping in and out of their floor bed/ mattress constantly?
I totally understand your fear, but what would you say if I told you that you can help your child learn to sleep independently on their floor bed and understand their new sleep boundaries without any CRY-IT-OUT?
What Age can this be done?
You can transition your child from a crib/ infant mini crib to a floor bed or mattress at any point in there. There is no specific time that works “ the best”. Any time after four months is a good age to start with.
What do you need to know?
Before you dive into this concept of sleep learning, make sure you and your whole family are ready for this approach. Sleep learning is NOT an overnight fix- neither is any harsher sleep training. Sleep learning is a gentle and gradual process while respecting your child's age and developmental capacity.
It does roughly take any infant or toddler 10 to 14 days to fully and successfully transition to a floor bed and to sleep THROUGH the night.
Preparation~ Sleep Environment Check-List
Please be aware of that young toddlers and small infants do not know any safety boundaries. They can not separate what is safe and what is dangerous, even at the age of 2.5 or 3 years old. Please treat their whole room as “ one crib.
You want to make sure your child is absolutely safe if they get out of their floor bed!
If you leave their room door open, please do an environmental check in your hallways and other rooms as well so that your child can enter and walk through at night.
Things to consider
Have a night light on
YOU NEED TO mount all the furniture against the wall.
Your child's room needs to be picked up before bedtime.
Your child's room needs to be flutter-free before all bedtimes.
Hide and secure all cords!
Secure furniture in hallways and cords in case your child leaves the room.
Have water next to their bedside (in a sippy cup)
Have a flashlight ready for them in case they need light (older than 2y)
Use a comforter such as a lovey (especially for velcro babies~ if you feel comfortable with it)
Use a baby monitor to communicate with your toddler and to keep an eye on them at all times.
Sleep Sack or Blanket?
AAP recommends a sleep sack until your child is 2 years old. Unfortunately, there have been incidents with young toddlers who got wrapped in a blanket and suffocated. However, I always ask my parents if “they” feel comfortable and trust their child's ability to rescue themselves. If the answer is quick and sure “ NO”, your child is most likely not ready.
Personally, I use a sleep sack with my children until they turn 2 years old. Young children and toddlers are not always fully oriented at night, and I don’t want to risk anything. Babies and toddlers can safely walk, crawl and get by in their sleep sacks.
Expectations
Sleep learning is a beautiful process. You will be able to observe and watch your child gain confidence in themselves and their independent sleep skills. However, I want you to be aware of the fact that sleep learning means you actively work through emotional ups and downs, no matter the time of day/ or night. You want to create a emotional secure attachment to their sleep space which means, at times they might get frustrated with certain changes you have to make. Sleep learning is a journey!
Technique and approach
We, at independent sleepers work with a lovely and beautiful sleep-learning approach called “ The Magical Pillow”. With lots of imagination and love, we will create a comfortable sleep environment and a new association with sleep.
This technique allows parents to be right next to their child's floor bed/mattress and slowly and gradually remove their parental presence over time. Over the time span of 10 to 14 days, your child has lots of time to get used to their new sleep routine while feeling, hearing, and experiencing their parent's presence and guidance.
Will my child cry?
This is a number one concern for all parents, and my very true answer is, yes. Yes, because you are holding and creating new boundaries and rules around their new sleep space. With that being said, your child is never left alone to cry it out, but they will have their own emotions and feelings about their process. I always tell my parents I work with, that it is their right to be frustrated and angry for a little bit, but it is on us parents how we guide and coach them through. Learning how to stay in their bed and not play in the middle of the night is a new boundary, but with guidance, they will learn it quickly~ just as fast as learning how to swim, ride a bike, or walk.
Want to learn more?
If you are considering to work with me or my team, we would love to meet you! Before you make your final decision of this open floor concept is right for you, we always want to get to know all our new potential families with a free 15 minute call.
I am so excited to meet you and start a new potential sleep journey with you.
Founder and Head Sleep Coach
Selina Truax
