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AIBU?

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Original poster

Child sleeps on a mattress on the floor

445 replies

Ovenpizzasarerank · 04/09/2026 18:58

Went for dinner and a playdate with my Ds new friend. Mum is very nice, child lovely. Ds called me upstairs to show me his friends lego building and his bed was a mattress on the floor, is this normal? Mum very bohemian, house very messy and not well looked after-I am not judging and these things don't bother me, my house needs painting and some new furniture, so I get it, but is a mattress as a bed ok?

OP posts:
Keymoment · 04/09/2026 19:14

Floor beds are very standard. B and Q and Dunelm sell them, so pretty mainstream. But a lack of sheets I do think is a bit concerning.

Original poster
Ovenpizzasarerank · 04/09/2026 19:13

ShitFacedShakespeare · 04/09/2026 19:05

Mum very bohemian, house very messy and not well looked after-I am not judging and these things don't bother me, my house needs painting and some new furniture

If you're not judging, why mention it?

What does any of that have to do with her DS sleeping on a mattress on the floor?

Show quote history

Giving a general picture. Some friends houses i go to are very minimalist, not a thing out of place, very clean, not as much character, some are messy, disorganised, crammed full of things-this was like that. It's not a judgement either way, I liked the relaxed take me as I am attitude.

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 04/09/2026 19:11

Aleveldilemma · 04/09/2026 19:08

No this isn’t right at all. Typical Mumsnet first few posts making you think YABU.

Easy to say once OP has added the very important context of no bedding etc. Plus the age. From the Op it’s fine, with the added info it’s not.

likelysuspect · 04/09/2026 19:11

The bedding may, may, be an issue.

However for those saying theres no airflow between the bottom of the mattress and the floor, thats the same as if the mattress is on a divan. Its a solid base, not slatted base (although I think some divans do have slats, not all)

All our beds are slatted bases on metal frames, I hate divans, but lots of people like them

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 04/09/2026 19:11

My son has a double bed, yet chooses to sleep on his old cot mattress on the floor. I wanna get rid of it!

Secretseverywhere · 04/09/2026 19:10

One of my children is sleeping on the floor. He has quite a nice double sleigh bed but kept randomly falling out. The mattress is currently on the slats within the frame ( for air flow), doesnt want it put back up.

ilovepixie · 04/09/2026 19:10

Maybe the child has sensory issues and doesn’t like sheets. Maybe the sheet and duvet had been removed for washing. You only saw it once and it could be a one off. If the child seems happy and well looked after I wouldn’t worry.

BeSharpHelper · 04/09/2026 19:09

Montessori innit , actually recommended, as long as it’s aired , which im sure it is.

toastofthetown · 04/09/2026 19:09

a lot of people who do floor beds either stand the mattress up to ventilate, or have slats underneath for airflow. Not saying that that’s what happens here but floor beds don’t have to equal mould

Oldtiredfedup · 04/09/2026 19:09

What do you think the problem is? Because whether it’s common or not isn’t a safeguarding issue…

My autistic child used to insist on sleeping on the floor without a mattress - he had a very expensive mattress that was very firm…but apparently not enough.

uncommon - yes. Met his needs? Yes. Safeguarding issue - no

Have you posted this in the hopes of having a good gang-hoik of the judgey pants?

Original poster
Ovenpizzasarerank · 04/09/2026 19:09

Lifejigsaw · 04/09/2026 19:03

So a bare mattress? That’s not a good sign generally of care

I just thought it didn't seem that nice, not being awful, but not that nice for him not to have a bed with duvet set. It may have been in the wash. Ds said he liked his friends bedroom but it wasn't really like a normal bedroom, not in a mean way, just the way kids say things when they sense something is different.

OP posts:
Aleveldilemma · 04/09/2026 19:08

No this isn’t right at all. Typical Mumsnet first few posts making you think YABU.

ShitFacedShakespeare · 04/09/2026 19:08

Literally no-one here knows whether she's airing the mattress every day.

She could well tip it up on its side every morning to air both the mattress and the floor.

MrsLFii · 04/09/2026 19:08

Your updates certainly aren’t great, no sheet etc, along with the general mess, it’s pretty poor parenting imo.

dozer222 · 04/09/2026 19:07

tangobravo · 04/09/2026 19:02

Absolutely fine, probably semi cosleeping (yes, even at 8)

That was my thought…

newseries · 04/09/2026 19:06

I have friends like this. They are lovely people and yet I am often aware that if they lived in a council flat and not a large home it would probably be classed as neglect.

ItsABatFaceThing · 04/09/2026 19:06

PS you will get loads of posters doing all sorts of mental gymnastics to excuse neglectful and dirty parenting btw …

Original poster
Ovenpizzasarerank · 04/09/2026 19:06

ItsABatFaceThing · 04/09/2026 19:03

No it’s pretty disgusting. Mattresses need air to circulate round them and they easily become mouldy when on the floor directly
Those posters excusing it probably live in complete chaos themselves … it’s not the norm.

but if the house is a tip in general then sounds like it’s just an extension of that? I wouldn’t be concerned if the child was clean, tidy, well looked after etc etc .. I would be concerned if there was a general air of neglect

only you know which it is.

Yes child looked after

OP posts:
DoAWheelie · 04/09/2026 19:06

It's fine, I slept that way for a couple of years as a kid when my bed frame broke and my parents couldn't afford to replace it. It's just as comfortable as one with a frame and kids don't have issues getting on/off like adults.

Katemax82 · 04/09/2026 19:06

My son had a mattress on the floor until he was about 2 because I slept with him in his room or he slept in my daughter's double bed with us both

ShitFacedShakespeare · 04/09/2026 19:05

Ovenpizzasarerank · 04/09/2026 18:58

Went for dinner and a playdate with my Ds new friend. Mum is very nice, child lovely. Ds called me upstairs to show me his friends lego building and his bed was a mattress on the floor, is this normal? Mum very bohemian, house very messy and not well looked after-I am not judging and these things don't bother me, my house needs painting and some new furniture, so I get it, but is a mattress as a bed ok?

Mum very bohemian, house very messy and not well looked after-I am not judging and these things don't bother me, my house needs painting and some new furniture

If you're not judging, why mention it?

What does any of that have to do with her DS sleeping on a mattress on the floor?

Coconutter24 · 04/09/2026 19:05

It’s not ok to keep the mattress on the floor long term. There’s no airflow between the floor and mattress so there’s a big chance of mould growth if it is not aired out often

Ultraalox · 04/09/2026 19:04

We had to switch to a floor bed when my DS kept falling out! It’s fine

arethereanyleftatall · 04/09/2026 19:04

Ovenpizzasarerank · 04/09/2026 19:02

Pillows and throw, no sheet

Show quote history

Oh crikey, I missed this bit. I think that changes it to quite dirty.

Original poster
Ovenpizzasarerank · 04/09/2026 19:04

MrsLFii · 04/09/2026 19:02

My son had just a mattress on the floor for a good few weeks recently, he bounced straight through his bed and finding a replacement that suited was harder than I thought! Presumably you know something like this wasn’t the case?
I couldn’t get particularly worked up about this.
Out of interest, if everyone said it was awful, what would you do then?

I don't think i'd do anything, I
just havent seen it before, wondered if some people do this as a low bed maybe, i'm not sure!

OP posts:
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