What is the point of bed frames?

[Squelchsquerch]

I'm wondering, why is it customary to sleep on an elevated bed, rather than just a simple mattress on the floor?

I need to get my toddler his first bed, but then I'd need a rail to stop him rolling out. He might as well just be in a cot then. Has anyone just done away with a bed frame all together and just had a mattress on the floor? To me there are the pros of saving money and reducing risk of injury if falling out. Tell me, am I missing something?

My DD2 slept on a mattress on the floor for about five years, from 12 - 17 (her bed broke and I was too poor to be able to replace it). She had two mattresses piled one on top of the other, so maybe that helped? But she didn't have any damp/health problems as a result.

Humas used to sleep on rush floors all the time (medieval and before).

Hullabaloo31 its called proprioception, knowing where your body is, something that develops around 2-3. It's why adults don't fall out of bead, though illness can affect that (& alcohol!) . Even asleep your brain 'knows' where you arms and legs etc are.

Exactly. They don't need bed rails, they'll generally get there pretty fast. Options include getting a low bed or putting something squishy on the floor 'til they do.

I'm wondering, why is it customary to sleep on an elevated bed, rather than just a simple mattress on the floor?

Try getting up from a mattress on the floor when you're old and creaky :D

@cakeandteajustforme you might want to make sure the hanging/choking hazards aren't adorned all over it like that one on the picture.

Are Futons slightly raised?

I would love a Futon.

Apart from the fact it looks a bit studenty, Having slept on a mattress on the floor, it's not that nice really, being in a. Properly elevated bed feels better.

I think if you can't afford a bed, fair enough, it won't do him much harm, but if you can, I'd buy him a bed.

I don't think I could get out of bed in the morning if it was just a mattress on the floor!! As well as all the other good reasons about air circulation and storage, it's at sitting height so it's easy to get in and out of!

Historically, you needed a space under your bed to keep the potty so you didn't have to go to the end of the garden to go for a wee in the night
Now of course you need a space for the monsters to sleep

I was going to suggest the pool noodle under a fitted sheet too.
Can also put some cushions down so they have a soft landing, but really, they don't tend to hurt themselves when they fall out anyway - being asleep they are relaxed and just land without hurting themselves.
Some dc don't fall out, anyway.

@TrinitySquirrel already answered that point at 14.57. Should've used a different stock photo