Parents often (and rightly) note that the phrase “sleeping like a baby” was definitely invented by someone without kids, who never had to put them to bed. Sometimes, bedtime feels like such an exhausting quest that it could be considered an Olympic discipline. Montessori sleep principles can come to the rescue and help. Let’s take a look at how to use them.
Montessori Sleep Training: How Is It Different from Other Methods?
Essentially, the Montessori sleeping approach is based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy, which emphasizes independence, freedom within limits, and a carefully prepared environment. Montessori sleep training begins with creating a cozy space and a predictable, consistent routine. It is also important to take into account the child’s individual traits, needs, and emotional states.
The main things Montessori sleep training avoids:
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Leaving a child to “cry it out.” When a child seeks attention through fussing or crying, the most unkind response is to deprive them of it. Yes, they may cry until they’re exhausted and fall asleep, but that is not independence – it’s the child’s first experience of despair.
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Sitting nearby but refusing to hold the child even when they cry.
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Expecting a child to sleep a fixed number of hours as prescribed by norms. For example, 1- to 2-year-olds are recommended to sleep 10–13 hours a day, but some children feel well-rested after just 9.
Instead, Montessori sleep training starts with observing the child’s state. When they become irritable, sluggish, and visibly tired – that is the perfect time to go to bed.
The child mustn't end up in bed unexpectedly. The key is to place them in bed, drowsy but still awake. If you wait until they fall asleep in your arms or next to you, and then move them to the crib, the child may wake up startled by the change in surroundings. That is why the next principle is predictability and a sense of security. Both the space and the sequence of the routine should be consistent.
Under these conditions, the child’s own state becomes the foundation. They learn to listen to their body’s signals and recognize when they need rest. This fosters the ability to eventually fall asleep independently.
Key Principles of Montessori Sleeping
The Montessori approach to sleep is based on several key principles:
The child can learn to manage their own sleep
By following the approaches described above, you can help your little one listen to themselves, notice the signals of their body, and understand when they need rest.
Consistent and predictable routine
Montessori sleep training does not require following a strict schedule by the clock. However, this approach encourages maintaining rituals. These help the child understand what comes next.
For example, every evening before bed:
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The child does light exercise, or you go for a short walk together.
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Then comes dinner and pleasant family conversations.
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A warm bath helps them relax.
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After the bath, the child puts on their favorite pajamas.
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Time for a light snack and a calm game.
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Then, a lullaby or a bedtime story is read aloud
Lights are dimmed, a nightlight is switched on, and curtains are drawn so outside light doesn’t interfere with sleep. The child gets warm hugs before bed and drifts off peacefully. When this sequence is repeated every day, the child gets used to the routine, and falling asleep becomes easier.
In preschool years, you can add visualized elements to the routine. For example, buy a clock with a plain white cardboard face and divide it into colored segments. This way, the child understands: when the hand is on purple – it’s playtime; when on green – it’s time for the bath, brushing teeth, and preparing the bed; when on orange – it’s time to change into pajamas.
Another option for visualizing an evening routine for preschoolers: write out the routine on a large sheet of paper and add toy windows next to each point. After completing a step, the child closes that window. When all the windows are shut – it’s bedtime.
These predictable rituals signal to the child’s brain that it’s time for rest, whether it’s a Montessori-style nap or a full night’s sleep.
Montessori sleeping arrangements
Montessori sleep principles are based on teaching children to fall asleep independently. One of Maria Montessori’s recommendations is to use a floor bed. This is essentially a mattress placed on a sturdy, low frame. Sometimes the frame has small legs. The main idea is that it should be a format where the child can climb into their bed and get out of it on their own, without adult help. We have written separately about the structural and functional features of such beds in the article “Montessori Bed.”
Installing such a sleeping space is already an effective Montessori sleep training tool, for several reasons:
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The child has freedom of movement. This reduces anxiety, since they don’t feel helpless. Instead, freedom helps them feel more capable and gives them a sense of control.
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The child can lie down when they feel tired and get up when they’re rested. This fosters autonomy and helps them learn to listen to their body’s signals more quickly.
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The bed has no rails, but since it is low to the ground, the child cannot get injured even if they roll off the mattress.
Free movement in the room requires making the bedroom extra safe: install protectors on outlets and windows, remove electrical devices from accessible areas, use child-friendly furniture without sharp corners, or add soft covers to protruding parts of the furniture.
Montessori Sleeping Healthy Habits
Healthy Montessori sleeping habits that can help your child fall asleep more easily:
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Use blackout curtains.
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If falling asleep is difficult, try playing white noise: sounds of rain, birdsong, etc.
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Leave a nightlight with adjustable brightness in the room.
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Place a spill-proof cup of water near the bed.
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Allow your child to “put their toys to bed” as well—this role reversal can be very helpful.
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Offer them their favorite toy or blanket to take into bed. Such elements bring comfort and a sense of security.
These simple tricks can make the bedtime routine much easier.
Montessori Nap Time
Daytime rest is just as important as nighttime sleep. During Montessori sleeping, kids are encouraged to rest when their body needs it, rather than sticking to a rigid schedule. This way, nap time becomes associated with pleasant relaxation and coziness.
It’s best to put toddlers down in the same bed they use at night. Older children sometimes refuse to nap altogether, so you can offer an alternative to at least get some rest: for example, napping in the parents’ bed or relaxing in a quiet play corner of their room.
Conclusion
No matter how many tips, methods, or techniques you try, setbacks will happen. A child may suddenly refuse to sleep in their room or stop falling asleep independently, even if they did so before. That’s why patience and calm persistence are essential. By continuing with the child-centered approach described above, you will gradually help your little one build lifelong healthy sleep habits, and everything will fall into place.
