3 year old sleeping on the floor......is this ok?

[nalla]

Hi, my daughter is 3 (will be 4 next month) and every night she gets out of her bed and will sleep on the floor. She brings her pillow, blankets and animals with her. And sometimes she will make a little bed in her closet and sleep in there. She goes back and forth between her closet and the floor right next to her bed.
I ask her why she doesn't want to sleep in her bed, and everytime she just says because the floor is fun.
What I'm wondering is if she can get a proper nights sleep being on the floor? As far as I know she doens't wake up at night but she has been a little more crabby during the day and has needed a nap. (she stopped napping in the afternoon a year ago).
Just wondering what your thoughts are on this. Should I just let her continue to sleep on the floor and/or closet?

[blondie72]

I say if she seems content on the floor let her do it - I would even invest in a sleeping bag for her and make it really fun.   My 8 yr old will come into our room every so often and make a little bed on the floor next to our bed and is just fine.   I say if your daughter is ok with it - Then you should be too.   Does she go to daycare or anything where they take naps on the floor???  I say don't worry :o)

[tiredbuthappy]

good point blondie- at many daycares, the children nap on thin mats on the floor. i often see the children end up sleeping completely off the mat and on the floor. doesn't seem to bother any of them. if she insists on sleeping on the floor and you're concerned about comfort or her being cold, maybe buy an exercise or camping mat for her to lay on. perhaps she doesn't like the height of the bed. have you tried her mattress directly on the floor? i'd say as long as she's actually sleeping, and not disturbing you or your other children, let her do it.

[pixijal]

My son does the same thing.  If it bothers you that bad, go in after she is asleep and move her to her bed.  My 3, almost 4 year old son always prefers to sleep on the floor.  We tuck him in his bed, and check on him later, he is cuddled up on the floor w/his favorite blanket and toys.  I usually leave him there.

[nalla]

Thanks ladies!
No, she doens't go to a daycare, so she isn't getting it from that.
It doesn't really bother me, it just seems so uncomfortable. But thinking back when I was a kid I could sleep anywhere. Man my kids make me feel old sometimes! LOL!!
She just says that she likes it and she likes to pretend she is camping. so it's fine. I just wanted to make sure she could get a good nights sleep while being on the floor all night. I know I couldn't! LOL

[anxiousmomtobe?]

If she is sleeping well and you are sleeping well, I don't think it is a problem.  My babysitter's son also liked to sleep in the closet, he felt snug.  He's 10 and has been sleeping in his bed for many years.

[mommyof3cuties]

I'm so glad that i found this site because i have the same problem with my 3 year old daughter. I was worried about it but now i know what i should do and that there are other children that do it too.

[rilbrianne]

Oh yes, my 4 yr old did it too.  I used to sleep under the dining room table when I was little, just crawl under there and fall asleep.  When we went grocery shopping, I'd crawl under the cart and sleep! Talk about uncormfortable!! But I was fine.  

It is perfectly normal.  Sounds like he's making a nice little pallet for himself :)

[lottie1punch]

My 2 and a half year old has slept on the floor for a couple of months now and it is hard to see her down there when she has a big comfy bed that she could sleep in. The health visitor said it was very common and they do grow out of it and if she is sleeping all night then not to worry (easier said then done).The way i am looking at it now is that if she has a good nights sleep then she must be ok.