06/04/2026
this 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 had so many questions about this floor bed setup, so i wanted to lay everything out in one place for anyone considering something similar.
first, i want to say this setup has been so great for our family, but that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone, and that’s okay. i’m sharing our real experience so you can decide what works best for your baby.
our experience 🤍
we did a similar setup with my now 4-year-old when he was a baby. he was extremely active — crawling, climbing, and even walking at 9 months. we were more concerned about him climbing out of a crib than anything else. we took the crib mattress out, placed it in a playpen we already owned, added a soft rug and toys and it was incredible. he would play, then crawl into bed and fall asleep on his own. he was formula-fed and we never coslept, not even once.
fast forward to my youngest (this setup). we knew we wanted to do this again. he’s been 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 playtime.
he’s much less independent than my first and cries if i’m out of sight. one big pro of this setup while ebf is 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 just those few hours give me time to reset and recharge.
i want to be completely honest because transparency matters — this setup may not be right for everyone, and that’s okay.
frequently asked questions 👇
what mattress do you use?
a breathable, firm twin-size mattress (not memory foam).
can you use a crib mattress?
yes — that’s what we used with our first and it worked great.
playpen size:
71.5 x 79.5
play mat size:
71 x 59
what about mold?
we prop the mattress weekly to air it out, keep the area clean, monitor humidity levels, and use an air purifier. these are extra precautions — mold is very unlikely with proper airflow.
why a floor bed over a crib?
as our understanding of child development expands, i think it’s worth questioning traditional sleep setups. there are risks with cribs, cosleeping, and floor beds — there’s risk with everything. in my opinion, floor beds minimize risk by removing falls from height while allowing babies to move freely, explore, and develop at their own pace. they also encourage independence and self-soothing in a very natural way.
as someone who has tried every method, this has been our favorite 🤍 thank you for the best setup! All links in my bio! 🫶🏼
