Mom Embraces Son’s Unique Box Bed Idea

Quick Smiles:

• Susie Allison supported her son’s unusual wish to sleep in a cardboard box, leading to years of cozy box-sleeping adventures.
• Matt, now 9, still sleeps in a box filled with blankets and stuffed animals, with his family’s enthusiastic help finding new boxes when needed.
• Allison’s story inspires other parents to pause and consider saying yes to harmless childhood requests, celebrating autonomy and creativity.

When Susie Allison agreed to let her 4-year-old son Matt sleep in a cardboard box, she had no idea it would turn into a heartwarming years-long tradition. What began as a quirky one-night sleepover evolved, with Matt continuously upgrading to bigger boxes as he grew.

“I never expected that four and a half years later, Matt would still be sleeping in this box,” Allison shares. “But I have to tell you, I get it. It is cozy in there. It is warm. It is quiet. It is dark. It’s like the perfect sanctuary.”

Matt’s box has become so legendary that Allison, an early childhood educator known as @BusyToddler, made it a highlight for her social media followers. Thanks to family connections, they’ve always had a new box ready when the old one wears out, and Matt built a nest with his beloved blankets and pillows inside.

As Matt grew, the family supported his request for bigger boxes, eventually leading to a new low loft bed for the next stage. His siblings, Sam and Kate, have never teased him and champion everyone embracing their own path.

Allison says her biggest parenting takeaway is the transformative power of pausing before saying no to unusual requests. “I just look for those moments when my kids toss softball underhand requests that make no difference to me,” she explains. “I can end up looking like such a hero for saying yes when really I didn’t do anything extravagant or extraordinary. I just paused and said yes to something that I had no reason to say no to.”

Matt’s story has resonated with Allison’s online community, offering inspiration for other parents to let their children explore unique choices that foster confidence and independence. For Matt, sleeping in a cardboard box is more than a fun tale—it’s a symbol of respect and autonomy in his family.

“I always say he ends up sleeping in this comfortable nest of decision-making and autonomy and independence,” Allison says. “And how beautiful is that reminder every night as he goes to bed that his thoughts matter?”

Let’s all remember to say “yes” to imagination and create more cozy moments that children will cherish for years.

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