Our DD is going to be turning 4 in August and we finally got her out of her crib and turned it into a toddler bed (I posted on here before about her still sleeping in her crib at 3.5 yo, if anyone cares to read it). We had gone on vacation for 2 weeks in Feb and she had no other choice but to sleep in a big girl bed, and she did great - so we converted the crib when we got back. More and more now though, she does not want to sleep in it - she would rather sleep on the floor! She curls up half-way in her bean bag chair in her room with her pillow and blankets. At nap time and bed time, she will ask me if she can sleep in her bean bag chair or if she needs to sleep in her bed. Usually I will let her sleep on the floor for naps but will tuck her into bed at night - then eventually she will still decide to get out of bed and get herself set up with her pillow and blankets on the floor. I don't really care either way, since she is sleeping soundly through the night, still takes a daily nap, and isn't coming into our bed in the middle of the night or getting us up wicked early in the morning. But I don't know why she prefers the floor to her bed and she can't seem to give me an answer if I ask her. She's never fallen out or said she is afraid of falling out. The toddler bed still has the crib mattress and eventually we will convert it again to a full-size bed with a regular mattress and box spring - I am wondering if she will find that more comfortable. Any ideas why she might be doing this? Have any of you had kids with quirky sleep habits like this?
When we first moved my son to a toddler bed--he slept on the floor--by choice--EVERY NIGHT.
It was like his whole room was a giant crib...blankets, pillows all over the place. I'd pick him up asleep & place him in the bed and 5 minutes later--he was back on the floor.
My mother used to say he was "sleeping on the floor--LIKE A DOG!" LOL Gee, mom, it's not like he doesn't have the option! haha
At 14 months, the teachers at daycare had her sleep on a pad on the floor in the main room where it was noisy, otherwise she would wake up the others in the crib room. She was always tricky to get to nap. So she decided that she would only sleep on the floor at home, too. We took out her crib and put a twin mattress on the floor. It worked fine. Eventually, when she asked for it, we added the bed!
Sounds like a toddler thing. Kids have ways of showing that they're in control. In this case it isn't hurting anything for her to sleep on the floor. Let it go, she'll sleep in the bed when she's ready. Don't feel obligated to put her back into a toddler bed with a crib mattress, let her know that she is a big girl and this is her bed if she chooses to sleep in it.
If it was something that was a big deal (that she was rebelling over), the it would be worth stepping in and insisting that she do as she is told.
Best wishes!
YES. My now 7 year old used to climb out of her crib at 9 months old and go sleep in the toy box (it didn't have a lid!)... The first few times I freaked because she was so small and kind of blended in with the toys and stuffed animals, but I quickly learned where to look. (Yes, she was climbing at 9 months, I had her in a toddler bed by 10 months!!) You've heard the term 'let sleeping dogs lay'.... yeah, that's how it was with her. Wherever she ended up, that's where she slept. Couldn't keep that child contained to save my life!
My 4 yr old has always seemed to prefer the floor since he was in a toddler bed at about 2. He got a really high big boy twin size bed and he sleeps in it most of the time, every once in a while he gets out, pulls his pillow and blanket into our room and sleeps on the floor there... it doesn't bother me... I think maybe it is comforting. I wouldn't make a big deal, just tuck her into her bed when you can and she will sleep in it more as she gets older.
Thank god it's not just my kid!
My three year old sleeps on the floor on one of those foam fold out couches they make for toddlers. She never stays in her bed, always moves to the floor. And she doesn't want her pillow or her blanket! But she sleeps all night long, so I figure whatever works!
My son does this - just moved him a month ago! He's just over 3. I think it's just habit. I agree- if she's comfy there, let her sleep on the floor! : )
My husband prefers the floor! (Not because he is in trouble) he says it helps his back and he has all the space he wants. Our daughter doesn't mind it either. Im opposite. Hate even laying on the floor! Maybe it is the same for her? She gets all of her blankets and pillows and its just comfy! If shes sleepin all nite I say go for it!
She's sleeping, so that's great. When my daughter asks me things like that, I just give her my opinion. As in... sure you can sleep on the floor, but I think your bed would be more comfortable. You'd probably be more refreshed in the morning if you slept in your bed.
I find normally she'll come around to what I'm saying, but it's her decision.
We had the same thing - a crib that converted into a toddler bed. My son was never really comfortable with his mattress so we bought him a big boy bed with a twin mattress when he was about 2 ½ . He still didn’t sleep well at night so I bought him a memory foam mattress topper and he has slept great ever since. He is now 5.
Apparently he takes after me because I LOVE my memory foam mattress. Before I was married I had a feather bed. My son, like me, just prefers the softer feel then the hardness of sleeping directly on the mattress.
However if my son did what your DD is doing, I wouldn’t worry about it. Sounds like she is sleeping great which is all that matters right? =-)
My niece went through a phase when she was 8 or 9 where she slept on the floor because she didn't want to have to make her bed in the morning. At first she would sleep on top of her sheets and cover up with a blanket, but she got tired of straightening her sheets in the morning so she just moved to the floor. I know this isn't totally related to your situation--just thought I'd share a funny story.
I would just let her sleep on the floor until she tires of it. If it was uncomfortable for her, she wouldn't be sleeping down there. Kids don't wake up sore the way adults do, so it's not hurting her in any way. Just make sure you write it down in her baby book so she can have a laugh about it when she's older!
