Aibu to let my child sleep on the floor?

Onion4 · 2023-10-10T21:14:03+00:00

My 3 year old has suddenly taken to doing this most nights and I don't know what to do... He has a bed but he keeps getting out throughout the night and sleeping on the floor instead (always in the same spot). I'll go in and he's just face down on the carpet snoring away. I put him back in bed, when I check next he's back on the floor. DH thinks we can't leave him there, I think if he's obviously comfy and wants to be there then we should maybe just let him? He can always climb back into bed if he wants. Is this normal? I didn't expect my kid to prefer the carpet to a bed!

Girasoli · 10/10/2023 22:18

Snap, my 3 year old is the same. I tend to scoop him back into his bed but half the time he ends up back on the floor again.

I think he does it because he is used to the sleep mats at nursery, he always sleeps well at nursery.

It's meant to be good for your back too.

mynameiscalypso · 10/10/2023 22:19

My brother did this for ages as a child. My parents just let him get on with it. He can still fall asleep anywhere and he's 35 now!

KatyN · 10/10/2023 22:19

Mine go through phases of sleeping the other way round or on the floor.
As long as they sleep, leave them to it.

Theunamedcat · 10/10/2023 22:20

My dd was like this even now she can sleep on the floor she is 23

malmi · 10/10/2023 22:20

Make sure the carpet is clean and/or put a mat down. Plenty of countries where sleeping on mats on the floor is the norm.

IslaWinds · 10/10/2023 22:21

We put mattress on the floor for one of ours that was afraid of falling out of bed in their sleep. Have to asked him why he prefers floor to bed?

ChickHenLittle · 10/10/2023 22:22

Sounds fine if he's happily sleeping there. I would put him back in bed if I found him on the floor while checking on him, but otherwise it sounds like he's comfortable enough. Maybe just put a mat or blanket on the floor where he usually ends up?

CyberCritical · 10/10/2023 22:27

DD has always loved sleeping on the floor, even more if we make her a den or a nest of cushions. She's 9yo now and spent about half of the summer holidays 'camping' in a den in the corner of her bedroom. She used to use the bottom of the built in cupboard in her room as a den but is too big for it now.

She has very very seriously asked for a dog bed before and would I thin actually love it but I just can't quite bring myself to buy it. I think I have the fear that she'll tell a teacher or someone that she sleeps in a dog bed and we'll get reported as weird/horrible/negligent but she really likes the look of the big rectangular pad ones.

Pickingmyselfup · 10/10/2023 22:27

My kids sleep on the floor and they are 6 and 8. It's mainly the older one who does it and has done for years. He is happy and asleep so I pick my battles.

I remember being a child and sometimes sleeping on the floor or the wrong way round in bed, it's just something different. As an adult I sleep in a bed the way it's designed but it's pretty boring isn't it!

Mariposista · 10/10/2023 22:41

As long as he is in his room and safe where he is, and is getting enough sleep, I'd leave him to it.
If he is camping on the floor outside your room for example ir in the hall like a dog, that's a no.

Lesina · 10/10/2023 22:45

My grandson had a ‘ catch him bear’ one of the giant teddy bears that Costco sell. We put it on the floor beside his bed in case he fell out.
Most mornings he was asleep on catch him bear, we suspect by choice. Children know where they want to sleep :)

Alltheyearround · 10/10/2023 22:48

CyberCritical · 10/10/2023 22:27

DD has always loved sleeping on the floor, even more if we make her a den or a nest of cushions. She's 9yo now and spent about half of the summer holidays 'camping' in a den in the corner of her bedroom. She used to use the bottom of the built in cupboard in her room as a den but is too big for it now.

She has very very seriously asked for a dog bed before and would I thin actually love it but I just can't quite bring myself to buy it. I think I have the fear that she'll tell a teacher or someone that she sleeps in a dog bed and we'll get reported as weird/horrible/negligent but she really likes the look of the big rectangular pad ones.

My mum did actually have a dog bed for my Dnephew when he was a toddler.

He used to be looked after by her whilst Dsis wa working, and he loved snuggling up in it for afternoon naps!

Mind you, he's a bit big for it now, as a strapping 6' university engineering student. I don't think even a wolfhound size bed would do now.

If social services did visit they would quickly see that a 'real' bed was ready for DD if she wanted it. They can usually tell quite quickly if there is neglect.

Some kids sleep on the floor or sofa but not out of choice : (

Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie · 10/10/2023 22:49

My kids do this periodically. Pick your battles!

WhiskerPatrol · 10/10/2023 22:49

Let him get on with it. DS17 brought a friend home from boarding school for the weekend who did this even though we had a bed for him! I was mortified but he insisted he was happy on the floor...

Notjustamum10 · 10/10/2023 22:52

My DD has done this in and off since he was 3 or 4, sometimes building a nest of teddies, sometimes rolling in a duvet on the carpet, for 6 weeks actually slept under his bed! He is now 8 and is in bed, properly, at the moment. As long as he sleeps well I don’t mind!

SconeCreamJam · 10/10/2023 22:56

Two of mine are asleep on the floor in a spectacular den they built right now. Refused pillows even.

Tacocatgoatcheesepizza · 10/10/2023 23:05

DS is 12 and started sleeping on the floor a few months ago. I thought it was a fad but he swears it’s more comfortable for him. I did insist he sleeps on an exercise mat rather than literally the carpet which so what he wanted to do.

When I first met dh he was early 30’s and slept on the floor!! I said he would need to buy mattress at least if he wanted me to stay over.

AdoraBell · 10/10/2023 23:08

As he’s choosing this, possibly subconsciously, leave him to it as long as the floor isn’t freezing cold or dirty.

WeWereInParis · 10/10/2023 23:08

We still sometimes find my 4 year old on the floor. Once I found her face down asleep, lying head first through the doorway of her bedroom and out into the landing. Gave me the absolute fright of my life!
Generally we put her back in bed, but that's because she never looks comfortable. On the very rare occasions she's pulled the duvet off too and is tucked under it with a pillow, we've left her.

BogRollBOGOF · 11/10/2023 07:05

I had a few years of playing "where are they sleeping tonight?" which involved a lovely bedtime routine then checking on them when I went to bed to see where they'd zonked out. The room had to be entered very carefully lest I stumble over a randomly placed slepping body, but they'd often swap beds, sleep under them, make dens or nests or just generally look like they'd drunkenly passed out.

3-5 was the main age for it, but they're still pretty fond of box/ blanket dens many years later.

scrivette · 11/10/2023 07:14

My DC have all gone through phases of sleeping on the floor. As long as they have a bed available to use it wouldn't be seen as a problem. DC2 would also love a dog bed and is always asking for one.

Beargrumps22 · 11/10/2023 08:47

Before i met DH i preferred the floor in the end made a sort of acceptable to others den. took legs off the divan and then made a huge sort of den with duet pillows etc i was so safe and warm in there with my dog.
given to choice now i lie on the floor and so does husband. we have just agreed that as its only us rarely have visitors we are getting rid of our 3 piece suite and having bean bags odd visitors can have a deckchair!

fattytum · 11/10/2023 08:50

normal and a non issue

MidnightOnceMore · 11/10/2023 08:55

Your child has a safe bed available and is not at risk of injury. What could you do to stop this anyway?

VeronicaBeccabunga · 11/10/2023 09:06

I know this is going to sound weird, but do they sleep the same way round as their bed is positioned? Or in a different direction?
As a kid I was very sensitive to the alignment of my bed, at home it was pretty much north-south, and used to worry myself into a state about having to try to sleep in a bed that was the 'wrong' way round.
Spent more than one holiday falling out of bed, or waking up laying across it with my legs dangling off.
I have met a couple of other people who were like this, although I have outgrown it, and I have seen the suggesting of aligning a restless baby's crib N-S too.