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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to let my child sleep on the floor?

56 replies

Onion4 · 10/10/2023 22:14

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!

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 11/10/2023 09:11

I have a 17 yo who has gone through various phases on the carpet, on a rug or duvet, on a beanbag - all on floor. We've had 4 different beds and about 6 mattresses to try and make her comfortable and so many different types of duvet, rugs, heavy blankets, just a sheet or nothing....

Sometimes she sleeps ok. Sometimes she sleeps very badly. (She does have ADHD which doesn't help).

But our view, once we got used to it about that age, was that if she was comfortable and actually slept, it didn't matter HOW she slept, just that SHE was comfortable enough and actually slept.

Nowadays, she has a very low to the floor bed in a nook with a low ceiling, a very soft mattress and lots of pillows making a nest.

PerceptionIsReality · 11/10/2023 09:29

All my kids have gone though this at some point - and to a lesser extent still do as teens/pre-teens. They also loved "sleepovers" in each others rooms when they would ALL sleep on the floor of one bedroom. They all have large beanbags still for this reason - makes me slightly happier than the floor if they do fancy a change!

Kazzybingbong · 11/10/2023 10:07

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 daughter spends half her life in our dog’s crate with him 🤣 luckily, we home educate her 🤣

Wonderwhyibother · 11/10/2023 10:15

@CyberCritical you can get human dog beds, if you google you'll find loads of links. Added a screen shot from amazon so you can see.

Aibu to let my child sleep on the floor?
Sennelier1 · 11/10/2023 10:22

I would put a yoga mat next to his bed and leave him to it 😊

Londonscallingme · 11/10/2023 10:25

Just leave him, he obviously likes it there. If he becomes uncomfortable or cold he will either get back into bed or shout for you. In my experience, kids don't suffer in silence!

ChocolateIsntTheSameAnymore · 11/10/2023 10:26

I used to do this.
Leave him as long as he's warm and comfortable hes fine

underneaththeash · 11/10/2023 10:28

I’m fairly sure one of my children did this too for a bit. Then stoped. I wouldn’t worry about it.

Hooplahooping · 11/10/2023 10:31

Mine kept creeping out of his bed and sleeping with the dog for a solid year 4-5.

I let him, although we had to have a morning shower before school…

GingerIsBest · 11/10/2023 11:08

I'd have taken the floor over the ridiculous flimsy mattress thing my DS insisted on sleeping on for months. He had a perfectly good, proper mattress, but wanted to sleep on a sleeper couch thing that was 50000 years old. I'm absolutely certain the floor would have been better for him.

I'd let him get on with it frankly.

fuschia1981 · 11/10/2023 11:19

100% wouldn't stress over this. He may just find it more comfortable.

DH is 40 and has done this on and off for years. Personally I couldn't think of anything worse but he says it's good for his back 🤷‍♀️

wereonthemarket · 11/10/2023 11:21

I'd probably put a mat down on the floor where he is sleeping. And I'd just let him sleep there if he wants to.

waterlego · 11/10/2023 11:22

Both of mine went through a phase of doing this. I put them back in bed the first few times but eventually just checked they were warm enough and then left them to it. They’re almost adults now and seemingly unscathed.

OneTC · 11/10/2023 11:30

I only started regularly sleeping in a bed when I was 20 and moved in with my OH.

PestilencialCrisis · 11/10/2023 11:36

My 3yo also does this

Zola1 · 11/10/2023 11:37

Mine still sometimes sleeps on the floor and she's 13. It's fine they've got a bed they're just choosing not to use it.

Hankunamatata · 11/10/2023 11:38

All mine did this. We put them back into bed before we went to bed then left them to it.

Abbyant · 11/10/2023 11:39

My sons 18 months and does the same just falls asleep on the floor and I do think it’s because of the sleep mats in nursery, as long as he’s not waking up with a stiff neck or anything I’d leave him he’s safe.

watchingsmurfs · 11/10/2023 11:41

My son went through a period of this at the same age. I’d always find him asleep on the floor when I headed up to bed. He said he just liked it!

Whattodo112222 · 11/10/2023 11:42

My 5 year old ends up on her mini trampoline most nights, i think she likes the cosy feeling.. I've given up trying to put her back in her bed. I figured if she's uncomfortable she'll move.

JumbledE · 11/10/2023 11:52

My DS did this when he was around 2.5 for about 6 months. We ended up putting a thick blanket on the floor where we knew he'd end up and covered him over when we went to bed! I'd forgotten he did this until I saw your post! He's 5 now and definitely wouldn't do it anymore 😆 one day you'll look back at this and laugh I'm sure x

TenderDandelions · 11/10/2023 11:55

The amount of my friend's kids I've seen sleeping in weird positions, I'd just let him sleep if he's comfortable and back to the floor when you've put him back in bed anyway.

My favourite picture of a friend's kid is them sleeping with their front half on the floor and bottom half on the bed! Fast asleep he was - that kind of position I would move them back in to bed (after having taken a photo!) as it could give them neck pain, but unless they're cold, or likely to end up hurting themselves, I'd probably leave them be.

HRTeenageMum · 11/10/2023 11:56

Both my daughters did this around the same age, one for about 18 months. We gave up trying to put her to bed and tucked her in on the floor. She was perfectly happy there, and slept really well. Then one morning, s randomly as it started, she was back in her own bed asleep.

wineandmaltesershappyme · 11/10/2023 11:57

Mine did it occasionally, i put a thick soft blanket down for her so she wasn't on rougher carpet then left her to it.

VeridicalVagabond · 11/10/2023 12:00

My daughter has been a floor sleeper since she was a toddler.

She's 15 now and has had a Japanese style futon mattress rather than a proper bed since she was about 9. She much prefers it.