Our Favorite Newborn Baby Products (Updated 2022)

Though I usually cover Montessori topics only, I also get lots of questions about favorite baby products beyond Montessori materials. Here is a roundup of my favorite products for the early days with a baby. By no means would I call these “essentials”, but they have been very useful with each of our babies and I am looking forward to bringing them back out for this next baby due in May!

K’tan carrier - This was my most used item with both D and S in the first few months. I find this carrier really easy to use and wear, and love the various wearing options it provides for your baby’s different stages. I put S in this carrier when we are out and about, and at home when I need two hands and he doesn’t want to rest in his bassinet or on the floor. He is content being close to me, and I love the snuggles!

Ergo carrier - Though I primarily use the K’tan in the newborn phase, this is our favorite carrier for hiking or longer walks. It fits both my husband and I well. It’s extremely comfortable and distributes the weight evenly across your body. We used it from birth with the newborn insert, and it got even more use in later infancy and toddlerhood.

Halo Bassinet - I found with both babies nursing through the night, it was easiest to have them sleep right next to our bed in a bedside bassinet. I liked that they could sleep right next to me, but without fear of pillows/rolling into me. The halo is great because of it’s see-through mesh sides and adjustable height. I kept each child in a bassinet in our room until they transitioned to floor beds in their own rooms around 6 months.

Ollie swaddle - We tried so many swaddles with D, but used this one from the start with S and it’s by far my favorite. It’s worth the cost because unlike others, one size fits all. It is super easy to put on, and it doesn’t ride up over their mouth. You can also secure it under their armpits so they can have free arms and hands too, while still feeling snug and swaddled. While newborns do not need to be swaddled, both D and S slept so much better at night when swaddled those first few weeks.

Topponcino - This is another item we used multiple times a day with each baby, to rest on and gaze at their mobiles from. When they lie on his back here, they are completely unrestricted in their movements. They are also free to stretch their arms and legs, suck on their fingers, and turn their head side to side. The topponcino also provided a safe way for D to hold S in her lap. S also took some short naps here!

Mobiles - Mobiles are the first Montessori material we introduce and were enjoyed by both our babies from 2 weeks on. These mobiles encourage visual tracking and focus without overstimulation. These mobiles are purely visual, but once our babies were reaching out, we attached ribbons, bells, and other tactile mobiles to this wooden play gym.

Boppy - This definitely makes nursing more comfortable, and my posture is better when using it. Though I’ll be honest, I use it much less with S because I was often nursing him on the go with a toddler running around! When supervised, I occasionally used the Boppy for an extra cushion when they were alert but fussy on their back, or for assisted tummy time. The black and white high contrast cards pictured are another favorite, as infants’ color vision is still developing.

UppaBaby stroller - This was one of our most appreciated gifts when S was born. There are so many customizations to this stroller, but our favorite was the toddler (rumble) seat with bassinet below. You can also easily pop in our UppaBaby carseat. It is perfect for outings and walks to the park and in the city, when the diaper bag is full and I need a break from wearing baby. This time around, with bigger kids, we are trying the Thule double stroller which also comes with a bassinet option.

Hatch sound machine/nightlight - We used these from infancy on with both kids. It functions as both a noise machine and a nightlight, as well as a time-to-rise toddler clock. You can adjust brightness, sound type, volume, and color from your phone, which has proved useful on many occasions!

Travel sound machine - We used this portable sound machine when we were on the go and it really helped with sleep when your baby (like ours) sleeps best with white noise. It can also play lullaby music.

Como Tomo bottles - With both babies, it was nice to have the freedom to pump and give a bottle from time to time (and for my husband to be able to feed him). These are by far my favorite bottle for new babies, as they mimic a breast in shape and feel. Both D and S preferred these bottles to any others.

Aden & Anais burpy bibs - You can never have too many burp cloths, and these are some the best. Not only are they super soft and come in fun patterns, but they can later be used as a wrap-around bib when baby starts solids! I also love Aden & Anais swaddle blankets.

Magnetic Me Footies - In terms of clothing, these are hands-down the best for quick changes. I especially love them for nighttime diaper changes. No snaps, no zippers, just magnets. Such a great invention!

Kickee Footies - These are my favorite comfy PJs - made from bamboo and oh-so-soft. The kids wore Kickee pajamas all through infancy and toddlerhood. They are nice and thin for summertime too, and come in really fun patterns and colors! They are available with footies or without, and with zippers or snaps.

Newborn Gowns - Lastly, these are my third favorite option for nighttime. Gowns make diaper changes a breeze! The brand Monica and Andy also make super-soft gowns, like the scooter one S is wearing below.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Baby Led Weaning, Montessori Style

A key element in the introduction of solid foods in a Montessori home is respect. We show the infant respect by providing them with real dishes and utensils. Infants in turn learn to respect and care for their environment early on. It is one of the first opportunities for infants to practice autonomy and feel the pride and satisfaction that comes with our trust and respect.

Weaning vs. Family Table

One of the first ways we show infants respect is by setting up a lovely place for them to eat. In our home, we have a couple of options for this. We have two Stokke Trip Trapp chairs for the children which are wonderful because they grow with them. S is still in the baby set, but he can sit right at the family table with us. D has been climbing in and out of hers since 20 months or so. We all sit at the family table for breakfast and dinner, and sometimes lunch.

We also have a Sprout Kids weaning table for the kids to sit at. A low table is great for babies becuase it makes the dropping and throwing game less exciting (dishes have less far to fall). It also allows independence once they are more mobile. It is extra special for toddlers when they can begin to set their own table and clear their dishes. Both D and S love sitting together at their small table, and I just sit on the floor next to them. We typically do morning and afternoon snack, and sometimes lunch here. You can get 10% off the Sprout table with the code MRealLife.

Purees and BLW

When we started S on solids around 6 months, we began with purees. Once he got comfortable with that, we introduced small strips of food, and then bite-sized pieces around 8 or 9 months. Though we didn’t start with traditional baby-led weaning, S has been involved in feeding himself each step of the way. When we began purees, we each held a small espresso spoon. I would dip my small spoon in the bowl and feed him, but he could practice or just play with his spoon as well. Often he would take over and hold it once it was in his mouth. Now, I can load the spoon for him, set it down in his bowl and he feeds himself. He then places it back down for me to scoop again. Soon enough he’ll be dipping, scooping, and feeding himself. (Tip: start with a thick food such as mashed avocado or chia pudding that is sticky and easy to scoop.) Since eight months though, most of his meals are finger food, in baby-led weaning style. He finds a lot of satisfaction chewing and eating what his big sis is, even without teeth! Though we practice with the small fork in the same way, he eats a lot with his hands, which is great too! Infants and toddlers will use utensils when they are ready, if they are available to them.

Real Dishes

We love our small shallow ramekins as dishes because the food can pressed up against the edges rather than falling off the plate when they reach for it with their fingers or utensil. The small spoon and cocktail forks give them practice with the same kinds of utensils we use, while fitting nicely in their small hands. The cocktail fork has sharp tines, making it easier to actually pierce food with. (Supervision necessary.) We have avoided suction plates because they don’t teach infants how to be careful with their dishes. They also often become a game of trying to “unsuction” and toss.

Placemats

We place the children’s dishes on these wonderful, outlined placemats by Khadine Deco. While these aren’t necessary, they allow for infants to know dishes have a designated place on the table. The outlines are great for D because she can set the table by herself, knowing exactly where her utensils and cup go. We have cloth and laminated versions (the latter being easier to clean and re-use frequently!) You can use code reallife10 for 10% off either version.

Glasses

We also prefer to use open glass cups for drinking because they teach children how to properly drink from a cup and allow for natural consequences when the cup is dropped. We use small duralex cups at home because they are much tougher than typical glass, so while they spill, they are unlikely to break/shatter when dropped. The three-ounce version is perfect for S, and the 5 ounce glass is great for D. Clear glass is also preferred because infants and young children can see how much is in the cup before picking it up and drinking from it.

When we first introduced the cup (the same time he started solids), I held it for him as he learned how to sip from it. Once he got used to that, I would let him practice picking it up from the table. There were plenty of spills, but I always keep a small washcloth or napkin and pitcher to refill the water. I also only fill the water cup 1/4 the way full, so it’s not a flood every time. By 10 months he could bring the water cup to his mouth, drink, and set it back down. He doesn’t get it right every time, but he’s learning more every time he tries. If he is just playing or putting food in the water, it’s a sign he’s all done and we remove the cup. He isn’t going thirsty, as he’s still getting plenty of hydration and nourishment from nursing.

Supervision

As you might imagine, using real dishes means close supervision. It is especially necessary to sit with your infant as they eat, either on the ground at their weaning table, or beside them at the family table. It is much harder for them to dishes or food if you’re right there to catch them, and the best way to prevent them from getting in a throwing habit is to stop it before it happens. If S begins to drop food (e.g. to our dog) or push his dishes around a lot, I say “Food stays on the table”, and if it happens again, “It looks like you’re all done!” and sign “all done” with my hands. I then take away the dishes. It’s often a sign that they aren’t hungry or interested in the food if they are playing rather than eating.

Now that S is used to his dishes staying on the table, I am able to walk away and get my own food or do a few dishes while he finishes up eating. I am always close by though. At 10 months, he already shows respect for his environment, in large part because he has been shown respect and trust at mealtimes. Babies are capable of so much if we give them a chance. It also means practicing patience ourselves and embracing plenty of mess along the way!

Communication

A big piece of the weaning process has been clear communication. I talk to S as we get ready for eating, and label the different foods for him. I use baby sign as I talk for words like “eat”, “more”, “water”, and “all done”. He is starting to sign “more” and “all done” now. He also very clearly understands what I’m saying, as he reaches for the water as soon as I ask him if he wants water, with my voice and signing. Including babies in the conversation from the very beginning helps them feel empowered and in control at mealtimes, and beyond. By giving S the tools to communicate back via baby sign, he can tell us when he is still hungry or is all done. This can help to prevent throwing and other difficult habits that often come from an inability to communicate their wants and needs.

On the Go

One of the beauties of using real dishes and teaching respect early on is that it is much more pleasant to take your infant or toddler to eat at restaurants. D has always done remarkably well at restaurants, and (when we are allowed to go out of our house again!), I hope S is too. Often we’ll keep a bib as well as a baby spoon and fork in the diaper bag, but just use the plates and cups that they have there. When we take long walks or go out, we typically bring our favorite straw cups. These aren’t leak-proof so they do need to remain upright, but they can’t pull the straw out which is nice. I taught S how to use this around 10 months by sucking a little smoothie up for him, so he could taste it, and know that he has to suck to get more liquid up from the straw. You can also use squeezable take & toss straw cups to better assist your infant in learning how to drink from a straw (you squeeze the cup lightly and liquid goes up the straw for them to suck.)

The Montessori Kitchen Guide

For a complete and detailed guide to Montessori weaning, challenging behaviors at the table, involving your toddler in the kitchen, and more, check out our 60-page Montessori Kitchen Guide e-Book!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Our Montessori Bedrooms Tour

In continuation of our Montessori Home Tour part I, here is part II - the kids’ bedrooms and bathroom! As all of the playing happens in our common areas, their bedrooms are really just for reading together and sleeping. Therefore we try to keep their rooms pretty minimal in terms of toys and distractions, and completely safe for exploring. They have both been sleeping on floor beds since 6 months old, and it’s worked wonderfully for our family. (Scroll to the bottom or read thorugh my previous sleep posts to learn a bit more about our sleep journey.)

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D’s Bedroom

D's room mostly stores her many stuffed animals, baby dolls, and their accessories. We keep them in baskets on her cube shelf, though they often all end up on her bed with her! Though she hardly naps these days, she has up to an hour of rest time in her room each afternoon when she “reads” her books and plays with her dolls and animals. Her Sprout floor bed (twin size) has allowed for this freedom since she was crawling, but at night, she’s (almsot) always stayed in bed and just slept. (Now that she isn’t napping, she falls asleep immediately upon lying down and sleeps at least 12 hours straight!) Before bed, we read books together in her teepee. In her closet, we keep her Sprout wardrobe with her clothes. We keep the doors to her closet closed, but she can pick out her own outfit each morning, hang up clean clothes, and put dirty clothes in her hamper. Here are links to her bedding, sheets, fox rug, tassle garland, tassle wall hanging, and animal prints.

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S’ Bedroom

S’ room is bigger and we are hoping that once he is a little older and more capable, the two can share a room. He sleeps on a crib-size floor bed my husband made for D when she was his age. At this point he usually has one morning nap on the go, a long afternoon nap here, and sleeps soundly here through the night. Both of them love to curl up in the reading nook together before bed, and D LOVES to come in here and greet him upon wakeup. The cozy floor cushion is made by Nursling, and pillows and art are from Target. Here are links to his crib sheet, woodland prints, woodland quilt, cube shelf, and floating bookshelves. If you’d like to see more of how his room was set up as a younger infant, or for more links, check out this blog post! Once he is crawling, we will remove the changing station, rocking chair, and maybe the pull-up bar, depending on how active he is!

Both kids have a Hatch sound machine/night light, cordless blackout blinds (D’s are open during her rest time), and a video monitor.

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Kids’ Bathroom

This is the bathroom where D has a little self-care area. If we had more room, I’d love for it to be at her level, but for now it works to have it at the big sink with this adjustable step stool. For teeth brushing, we take turns, so my husband or I brush and floss her teeth first, and then she gets a turn. She also likes to comb her own hair and put on some lotion after her bath. In this bathroom, we have a toilet insert, but she prefers her small potty. S is very excited to be sitting in the big tub with his sister now! Once he’s standing, we will do stand-up diaper changing in here as well.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

A note about sleep: First off, I want to preface with the fact that I am not a certified sleep coach or sleep expert, so please consult your pediatrician or a sleep consultant if you or your child are really struggling with sleep. Sleep is SO important for happy and healthy children and parents. Neither of our babies were great sleepers from the get-go. We did learn from our sleep journey with D, that we could implement healthy sleep habits at birth, which made sleep much easier the second time around, with S. You can check out a couple of great sleep books in my parenting book list.) With tips from sleep experts, we helped instill good sleep habits early on by following consistent routines (NOT rigid schedules), paying attention to wake windows, helping them gradually shift from falling asleep nursing to falling asleep on their own, and setting up cozy, conducive places for rest. With the floor bed, they never feel “trapped”, and I love that it offers the benefit of extra snuggles at their level when needed. :)

Montessori from Scratch

I often get the question, “I want to incorporate Montessori at home but how do I start?” There is so much out there about Montessori these days that it can be overwhelming to even know where to begin. My hope is that this blog post gives you a few ideas of how to incorporate Montessori at home, beyond the fancy Montessori materials.

Allow for Free Movement

Set up your home or a room(s) in your home where your baby or child is free to explore without constant supervision, saying “No!”, or fear of getting into something unsafe. Janet Lansbury calls this a “yes space”. This could be a playroom, your living room, or most of the house. I find it’s easiest to baby or child-proof the whole living area as well as the kitchen/dining area, as that’s where we spend the time as a family. Keep unsafe items out of reach or in baby-proofed cabinets, while leaving other shelves and drawers open with toys or safe household items for them to explore. If they need to climb, provide safe furniture, cushions, or climbing toys that you can redirect them to. We want our children to feel like a part of the family, so we typically avoid confined play pens and instead, allow (limited) free range.

Observe and Rotate

Giant bins of toys or sheer number of toys can be overstimulating for many babies and children. Rather than put out all your toys at once, observe what your child uses and ignores, and rotate materials accordingly. Rotating also makes old toys new again, which helps to keep your child engaged. While some materials may always stay available, such as blocks, vehicles, and/or dolls, most can be rotated in and out. Find a closet where you can store materials and toys not currently being used, and place 8-12 materials on a low shelf or bookcase for your child to explore. By observing your child with materials, you can learn a lot about their development, abilities, and interests. How often you rotate depends on your child’s interest in the materials and how often you are home, but I tend to rotate about half the materials every 2-3 weeks.

Provide Opportunities for Independence

Try to imagine you are your child's size. What would you need to be able to accomplish a task yourself? Does your child have a way to reach the sink to wash their hands? Can they pick out their own socks and shoes? Is there a mirror at their level to see themselves when they dress? Do they have access to washcloths to wipe up spills? Any small task to you is an important and meaningful task to a toddler. They feel so empowered when we give them these small opportunities for independence. For babies, think about ways they can freely move, access their own toys, or feed themselves.

Be Your Child’s Guide

There is a reason Montessori teachers are called Guides. The child is in charge of their own learning, and the adult is there to help guide and support the child. Rather than always telling your child what to do, give them a chance to work through tasks and problems themselves. Only step in when they ask for your help. When they do need help, offer prompting questions such as "Where do you think that goes?" or "What comes next?" rather than automatically doing it for them. When modeling something new, slow way down and emphasize your actions while using few words, so they are able to watch and learn from you. Guiding also means getting down to the child's level and speaking to them gently in a way they understand. It helps to remember that the way we talk to our children is the way they will talk to others.

Offer Real Tasks and Tools

While toys are wonderful (and just so beautiful!), often babies’ and toddlers’ favorite activities are regular household items and activities. Babies love kitchen utensils, brushes, keys, and cords more than anything. Toddlers love washing windows, making snack, doing dishes, and sorting laundry way more than we do. Involve them in household tasks with you, or let them try by themselves. The more “real” the task and the tools we give them, the more capable, confident, and joyful they are. We show them respect and belonging in our family when we give them glasses and dishes rather than sippy cups and plastic. They may not be as careful or complete as we are, but the effort and enthusiasm they put in is admirable and worth celebrating. Mastery comes with a lot of practice and patience.

It may also help to read my posts, What is Montessori for infants and toddlers?, Praise vs. Acknowledgment, Montessori for Grandparents and Caregivers, and Montessori on a Budget for more broad overviews. If you have an infant or toddler, you might also find the monthly Montessori Guides helpful, for Montessori materials and activity suggestions month by month.

Our Montessori Home Tour

After many questions on the topic, I decided it was finally time for a home tour! Hopefully this will help give you a visual of our home and how we set up Montessori spaces for both our infant and toddler. I have tried to include links to all of the furniture, materials, and decor I often get asked about. I am going to do the home tour in two parts: main floor and upper floor (bedrooms). This is the main floor post. As we don’t have a play room, the main floor living room is where our children work and play. Especially at their ages, I find it easier and more cozy to “coexist” here by making it accessible and welcoming for all of us. With our open floor plan, I can keep on eye on them in the living room from the kitchen. This set-up provides us a nice balance of togetherness and independence.

You’ll notice each of the children’s spaces offer opportunities for independence. Toddlers, and even babies, thrive when they are given choice, freedom of movement, and autonomy to “do it myself”. By setting up a home with accessibility and autonomy in mind, children feel confident, joyful, and respected. I hope this peek into our home gives you a few ideas too!

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Entryway

When we head outside, this is where D puts on her socks, shoes and coat. She also takes off her shoes and hangs up her coat when we come back inside. To give her a bit more autonomy, we always keep two options for socks, shoes, and a coat that she can choose from. To help her remember which shoe goes on which foot, I placed corresponding colored dots on her shoes and on the floor (e.g. pink dot on left side of floor and in left boot). To put on her coat, she does the Montessori “coat flip” trick, where she lays it out in front of her (hood towards her feet), puts her arms in the holes and flips it over her head. The beautiful weather sign is from Etsy and the step stool is IKEA. The hooks came from Target Dollar Spot last spring.

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D’s Space

This is D’s play of “work of the child’ space. Here we keep her Montessori materials which are rotated every 2-3 weeks to keep her materials inviting and exciting. (Note: I never rotate all her materials at once, but rather choose to switch out just the ones that she hasn’t used at all or has completely mastered and is bored with.) This is where we keep most of her traditional Montessori materials, as well as some of my DIYs. My husband made her shelf but you can find a similar low shelf from Sprout. The small bookshelf is IKEA, as well as her reading chair. (We rotate books every month or so.)

To the right of her chair is her small floor table from Sprout. Right now, we use it to hold her light table up. Though most of her toys get rotated in and out, the Grimms Rainbow and Peg Dolls always stay, as she is regularly using these for color matching and creative play. As for her trays, we like these simple, unfinished wood ones as well as this Beech one. You can find several of her other current shelf materials on my Amazon storefront.

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Movement Area

Next to the fireplace, we keep a basket with her movement or gross motor activities. This includes her yoga mat, yoga pretzel cards, roll and play game, silk scarf, stepping stones, and tactile mats. These are always kept here, rather than rotated. We also keep her wavee board and Pikler triangle (which my husband made) out or stored behind our armchairs. All of these activities are especially helpful when we are stuck inside or we need to redirect energy!

Open-ended Toys

In our bookshelf next to the fireplace, we keep open-ended toys in these baskets from Target. We do rotate these materials, but very infrequently. Currently, these baskets house our Way-to-Play roads, wooden vehicles, wooden town set, and Brio train set. I didn’t introduce baskets with this many toys until after her second birthday, when she was no longer interested in dumping, and was willing and able to clean up big messes. It’s best to only put out as many materials as your child can realistically clean up. Other favorite open-ended toys that enter rotation here are Magnatiles, musical instruments, and wooden blocks.

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Toy Storage

We re-purposed our coat closet to make a toy storage closet. Priorities right? ;) Thanks to being a former teacher and current blogger, we have a lot of toys and Montessori materials. This cubbie cabinet has worked out perfectly for us. I can see what’s inside each cubby, while still fitting all that I need to inside. The materials that are much too young or old for either child in a couple of plastic bins in the garage. We keep books that aren’t in rotation in our office/TV room on some built-in shelves up high (not pictured). We keep this door closed so that D doesn’t open it, and I only rotate when she’s asleep.

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S’ Space

For now it works best for us to keep D and S’ play spaces separate. Though of course they spend time in each other’s spaces, it helps to define their work and give them each a sense of ownership over their belongings. As S is working on crawling and needs a lot of space for free movement, this reversible and washable play mat has worked out really well. My husband also built his low shelf, but again, you can find a similar one from Sprout. I rotate his toys less frequently than D’s, as he enjoys many of his teethers and rattles for weeks on end. We love this acrylic mirror (attached to the wall with command tape) that allows him to see himself and his own movements. You can find several of his materials on my Amazon storefront. The others are a Tag Toys glitter drum, an Etsy puzzle ball, and Essential Montessori cylinder.

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Art/Sensory

In our dining room, we keep this IKEA Flisat table and Sundvik chair, used for art and sensory activities. We keep a few art supplies or whatever sensory material we are using in these bins that fit right into the table. Favorite sensory materials include water beads, kinetic sand, rainbow rice, dried beans, and simply water. When the tabletop is on, we use it as an art table for activities like coloring, painting, play dough, stickers, cutting, and gluing. We typically have one or two options available at this table at a time for her to choose from. I store the rest of her art supplies in a kitchen cabinet.

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Kitchen

You can read more about how we set up D’s functional kitchen in this blog post. This converted IKEA play kitchen has served us for over a year (introduced around 16 months, with water dispenser around 18 months). This is where we keep her dishes (such as these plates and cups), utensils, cooking tools, and cleaning supplies (such as this set and these washcloths). She washes her hands here as well as serves herself water. We don’t use this for dish washing as much as the kitchen helper at our sink these days.

My husband made her the kitchen helper and it is used at least twice a day. She loves to help me prepare meals or sometimes just have a snack and watch. If you are looking to purchase one, I recommend this simple one for older toddlers/children or this larger, more stable one for younger toddlers.

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Dining

Though both of our children eat family meals at our dining table in their Stokke Trip Trapp chairs, they also love their small Sprout weaning table. Although not necessary, we find benefits to having both options. Typically, D eats her breakfast and snacks at the weaning table (S joins her for breakfast these days). Lunch and dinner happen at the family table. The Stokke chairs are nice because they pull right up to the family table, the baby set comes off, and the height is adjustable to work for many years. D started climbing into the chair herself around 20 months. The weaning table is wonderful because D can set her own place and clean up after. We love her beautiful Khadine Deco placemat with outlines for setting her place.

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Bathroom

Our downstairs bathroom is pretty tiny, so there isn’t much room for self-care. We do squeeze in this small potty and step stool which she can use to get dressed or store her tissues or hairbrush. She also uses this stool to wash her hands at the sink, but needs my help turning the faucet on. (Upstairs, in our larger bathroom, we use this taller step stool so she can independently turn on sink and brush her teeth.) While we have an insert so she can sit on our toilet, she much prefers the small potty, which she feels more comfortable using all by herself. In the basket of our vanity we keep a couple of pairs of underwear, several books, and wipes. It is very rare for her to have an accident these days, but it’s always good to have a change of clothes available.

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PS. Our couches and coffee table are from Article!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Montessori at Home on a Budget

This is one of the most common questions I am asked. It’s hard for me to reply with a short answer because there are actually so many ways to implement Montessori at home on a budget! Montessori is about so much more than fancy materials and beautiful shelfies. See this blog post about a few key principles of Montessori, mostly not having to do with toys. Here are just a few of the ways to implement Montessori at home, that happen to also work on a budget:

Parenting style - This is the most important one. Montessori is an education/parenting philosophy and a way of life. The most “Montessori” thing you can do for your child is to be a gentle guide: following their interests, supporting their learning, setting appropriate limits, and showing them love and respect. This can also mean stepping back and helping only when asked or needed. Toddlers, especially, are much happier when they are allowed ample time and space to work, play, make choices, and figure things out for themselves.

D figuring out how to put on her shoes in her designated coat & shoe spot next to the front door.

Practical Life - Toddlers love to be given opportunities for independence. This is the core of a Montessori toddler and even young primary environment, and so easy, inexpensive, and fun to implement at home. Even young toddlers love to mimic the “chores” we do, so why not slow down and invite them to join in? Remember that toddlers find joy and meaning in the process, so try to let go of the final product for now; they will get there in time. Here are just a few ways your toddler can help around the house.

Outdoors - There is so much to be gained from spending time outside with kids, even babies! Starting when D could walk, I have loved having her take the lead on nature walks. It’s so sweet to see the world from her point of view. Toddlers are interested in every little thing, from the mud on the ground to the tiny weed sprouting up to the sound of the bird you didn’t even hear yourself. It’s a full sensory learning experience when you get outdoors. I am all about the phrase “there’s no such thing as bad weather; just inappropriate clothing”.

Simplify the play space - Rather than buy more toys, we recommend rotating toys in a Montessori environment. “Old” toys can be new again if they’ve been hiding in the toy storage closet for a couple of months. Toys in general are more inviting for children if they are displayed individually rather than in a large box. It is overstimulating for many young children to have too many toys out at once or in one giant toy bin. You also don’t need a fancy shelf to display your toys on. While my husband built our shelf, I’ve seen toys placed below coffee tables, on a couple low shelves of built-ins or a larger bookcase, or even re-purposing crates or shoe racks. Our shelves are in our living room, as we don’t have a play room. You can make any space work!

DIY shelf. Book display and chair from IKEA.

DIY - I find a lot of do-it-yourself ideas on Pinterest. I try to share some favorites there, so feel free to follow me there! It’s amazing the toys you can make with pom-poms, cardboard, or empty jars. Babies adore kitchen tools and toddlers love opening/closing empty containers. You can DIY beyond toys as well. I also like to make my own crochet baskets (tutorial here). My husband makes a lot of our furniture, which has been a nice money-saver for us. You can find tutorials for woodworking most anything online, such as this low shelf or Pikler climber. There are also lots of IKEA hacks, such as this one for a learning tower. Or for a weaning table, simply shorten the legs of an IKEA kids table.

DIY bed frame by my husband and floor cushion made by fellow Montessori mom, Nursling Co

Find lightly used toys and furniture online - I am part of a local moms Facebook page where parents are often posting free or inexpensive toys, furniture, and other supplies that their children are no longer using. There are also sites such as Offer Up. Even Craigslist has a toy section that is worth checking out. I’ve seen plenty of toys listed that are still in their original packaging! I’ve heard that Montessori schools/teachers occasionally post materials there if they are closing/retiring. You could also talk to mom friends about doing a toy swap, to make old toys new again for each others’ kids.

Our coat closet became our toy storage closet. I love lending toys out to mama friends!

Consignment shops, IKEA, and Target - I’ve always been pleasantly surprised when I’ve checked out local consignment stores. I have found quite a few Melissa and Doug wooden toys, small animal figurines, and other great vintage finds. It’s also a great way to find small dishes, baskets, and trays! IKEA is excellent for things like small dishes, bowls, work rugs, and of course, furniture. They even have some cute toys. Additionally, Target is your friend. I always find kids decor, art supplies, and even small cooking or practical life supplies in the Dollar Spot section and beyond.

IKEA kids kitchen turned functional kitchen. Flower arranging is a wonderful and free activity!

Montessori Discount Stores - Lastly, there are online shops such as Montessori Outlet and Alison’s Montessori, that have discounted traditional Montessori materials worth checking out. Keep in mind these materials aren’t cheap, but they are less expensive versions.

A Montessori-Inspired Holiday Gift Guide

Now that Halloween is over, it’s time to start looking forward to the holidays! I always *try* to get my holiday shopping done early to make it easier to enjoy the more festive parts of December. So, I decided to get this list out on the extra early side, for the early bird shoppers like me! If nothing else, you can at least start your lists early. :) I’ve created short gift guides for four age groups, from young babies to older toddlers. Because these gifts will likely be enjoyed for many months, I don’t get too specific with ages.

These gift ideas are more Montessori-inspired toys than classic Montessori materials. I think it’s fun to get a bit more creative when it comes to holiday gifting, especially for family and friends! If you’re looking for classic, specific-by-age Montessori materials for an infant or toddler, check out The Montessori Guide! The Montessori Guide would also make a wonderful gift for a new or expecting parent in your life. Other great non-traditional gifts include: museum or zoo memberships, music classes, photo books, or kid-magazine subscriptions such as Highlights or National Geographic. Without further ado, here is the Montessori-ish holiday gift guide!

Younger Babies

Black and White Activity Pad - This mini play mat is perfect for tummy time. The black and white contrasting pictures appeal to new babies’ eyes, and the sensory features (squeaking, crinkling, teething) appeals to babies of all ages!

Bird Felt Mobile - This is a gorgeous mobile to place above your baby’s movement area or changing station! It is so calming and bright.

Wooden Animal Rattles: These are beautiful, natural rattles/teethers that would make a perfect gift for a new baby in your life.

Rainbow Fabric Ball: A fun textured ball that is easy for a baby to hold and offers a variety of different textures and sounds!

FanFan the Fawn: This is a variation of the classic Sophie Giraffe. Babies just universally love to gnaw on these things and they are the perfect size for their little hands.

Sensory Tumbling Toys - These look really sweet for a baby who is starting to rotate on their tummy or sit up. Each one rolls around a bit, and one has a mirror, one with a soft fabric, and one has beads that rattle. These are definitely on our list for S.

Eggs in Cups - This is more of a traditional Montessori toy, and babies just love putting the egg inside of the cup. I like that this one comes in a set. This is especially fun for a new sitter!

Older Babies

Pull Toy Shape Sorter - As your baby begins to crawl and then walk, they will likely love both pulling and pushing. This fun pull toy doubles as a shape sorter too!

Ball Racing Toy - This is a fun, smaller version of the classic ball tracker, which is always a baby and toddler favorite. Such a fun one to do on repeat! Bonus: it’s double sided. This is definitely on my list for S but I am sure D will enjoy it too.

Elephant Stacking Rings - I love the bold colors of this classic stacking ring. Would be such a cute addition to your shelfie. :)

Jumbo Knob Puzzle - These large knobs and simple 3-piece design make a great beginner puzzle for babies or young toddlers. They will enjoy these friendly, familiar animals as well!

Musical Wobbler - Babies will delight in the cause and effect of this little Penguin. As they wobble and turn him around, he makes a little music. This is a great one for enticing your baby to reach a bit further or scoot towards it!

Montessori Imbucare Boxes - These are a classic Montessori material, but this is the first I’ve seen of an interchangeable lid. Such a fun idea! Imbucare boxes are a hit for babies and toddlers alike.

Wooden Vehicles - These are perfect for your new scooter or crawler. These fit perfectly in small hands and are fun to zoom and chase around the house! I think I’ll add a couple of these as stocking stuffers for S.

Younger Toddlers

Sensory Play Scoopers and Tongs - Sensory play is great for this age group, but it can be tough to find the right tools for scooping and pouring. This beautiful set is made from natural wood and provide tools for transferring all kinds of sensory materials.

Animal Sorter Truck - I like the fun variation on a shape sorter, with the added bonus of being an open-ended toy for older toddlers as well. Busy toddlers will enjoy wheeling their truck full of animals around the house!

Wooden Scooter Bike - This is another favorite among active toddlers, and a great beginner scooter bike (before graduating to a balance bike). Can be used indoors or out!

Musical Instruments Sound Puzzle - I like to include one musical toy in each list, and these puzzles provide a musical reward through each piece! I love that this puzzle provides accurate sounds of each musical instrument, making it educational too.

Hammering Toy - Toddlers love to hammer, and this one is wonderful because it can be done on repeat, over and over. Your toddler simply has to flip the board over and do it all again.

Giant Nesting/Stacking Cubes - These are great for combining fine and gross motor movements, and look so beautiful too. Toddlers love building giant towers, and this one will be as tall as them!

Wooden Balance Rocker - We have had one of these for a year, and it is a source of endless entertainment. It can be a slide, a bridge, a rocker, a balance board, or whatever else your toddler imagines.

Older Toddlers

Beginner Jigsaw Puzzles - Once your toddler moves beyond knob puzzles and can put together simple 2-piece jigsaw puzzles, this is a nice challenge . I like that each puzzle has a slightly different number of pieces and the finished animals are so sweet.

Magnification Blocks - These blocks are a great intro to science for toddlers. Not only does each block magnify (2x) any object your toddler can find, but they can be stacked and used like normal blocks too.

Sort and Stack Cylinders - I’ve been eyeing these for a while, so they are definitely on D’s Christmas list! I love that they can be nested, stacked, and sorted, and provide both closed and open-ended work.

Light Box with Geometric Solids - This is another one on D’s list. Light boxes provide endless fun with various natural and colored materials. I especially like the look of these geometric solids on the light box!

Xylophone - Xylophones are fun for babies and toddlers of all ages, but older toddlers can actually get the hang of making different sounds from different keys. This toy may make noise, but hopefully it’s a pleasant one!

Ceramic Tea Set - A tea set that is both beautiful and functional. Toddlers love to pour and serve snack, and now they can do so in style. Hopefully you’ll be invited to tea too!

Roll n Play - This is a favorite cooperative game for children of all ages. It gets toddlers moving and talking and laughing! This makes a fun first family game.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Our Montessori Mountain-Themed Nursery

Well, it took a few months, but Baby S’ nursery is finally complete! In the past few months, we’ve installed new carpet, painted the walls and trim, and painted the mountain mural. This past weekend, we cleared out what was our guest room and added all the baby furniture and decor. It reflects our family’s love for the mountains, forest, and adventure. It feels and looks so much fresher and lighter now! I think S is going to love his room as much as we do. And once he is a bit older, we hope to have both kids share this room.

Setting up a Montessori baby bedroom is a bit different than setting up a traditional nursery.

1. Floor bed instead of crib. This allows freedom of movement and independence from an early age. You can read more about the why’s of a floor bed in my previous blog post. Right now he is on a mini-crib mattress but he’s a big guy so we will probably switch D to a twin and switch over to a normal crib-size mattress and frame soon.

2. Toys, books, and artwork are minimal and at the infant’s level. This allows him to enjoy and access their environment without our assistance. As he gets older, we will keep fewer toys in here as this is meant to be a place of rest first, play second.

3. Baby-proofed. The trickiest part of setting up a Montessori nursery is making sure it’s safe once he is on the move. We use outlet covers, tuck cords behind shelves, and keep the floor clean. Once S is crawling and/or pulling up to stand, we will remove the rocking chair, table, and changing table.

At four months old, S is only sleeping in his room for nap times. At night he still sleeps in the bassinet in our bedroom, but we will probably transition him around 6 months. To get him more used to this room as his place of rest, we typically do our bedtime routine in this room, and then I carry him over to the bassinet in our room. Our bedtime routine consists of: bath, change, nurse, books, partial swaddle, songs, set him down with a kiss and an “I love you”. :)

Since about 4 months old, S has been mostly sleeping independently. By creating routines (NOT rigid schedules), paying attention to wake windows, helping him gradually shift from falling asleep nursing to falling asleep with his thumb, and setting up a cozy place for sleep, he’s able to put himself to sleep and sleep longer stretches, both for naps and nighttime sleep. Though I still wear him and hold him plenty during the day, I know he sleeps more soundly in bed and I enjoy a few moments of “me-time” or something like that. ;)

If you are interested in any of the furniture or decor, keep scrolling! Below is a list of all the nursery products with links. A lot of good finds on Etsy! Note that my husband made the floor bed frame and the pull-up bar. However, Sprout Kids makes a beautiful floor bed and Heirloom Kids makes a pull-up bar!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Nursery Links:

Mountain Mobile

Mini Crib Mattress

Woodland Quilt

Mini-crib fitted sheet

Cube shelf

Woodland artwork

Wooden play gym

Sheepskin rug

Hanging wooden teethers

Triangles Shelf

Recliner

Hatch Night Light

Cordless Blackout Blinds

Video Monitor

Montessori for Grandparents and Caregivers

One of the most frequent questions I get is how to help grandparents/nannies/caregivers better understand or follow Montessori with their children. It is tough to answer, because it really depends on the person, and the situation. I have also been lucky to have both parents and in-laws who have read my blog since day 1 and take what I write and say to heart. I know many of you reading this haven’t had the same experience, so this is for you!

In defense of grandparents and experienced nannies, it can be tough for them to parent differently. They probably did a wonderful job raising their own kids (including you) and don’t see the need to grandparent differently. They also love your babies almost as much as you. That being said, grandparents need to also respect your own parenting style and wishes for your own children. How you raise your children, and with what values, is ultimately you and your spouse’s decision only.

It’s also worth deciding what Montessori principles really matter to you, and how much time grandparents or caregivers spend with your child. As we only have occasional sitters, I don’t really worry about whether or not those babysitters know anything about Montessori. A few hours of “good jobs” and doing everything for my children isn’t going to hurt anyone. The important thing is that they are responsible, fun, and loving. Even a weekend with grandparents who don’t “do Montessori” won’t mess up what you have going on at home. However, if someone else were watching my child a few days a week, their caregiving style would matter a lot more to me, and I’d want them to understand a bit more about Montessori philosophy.

I created these “cheat sheets” as one place to introduce Montessori to grandparents, nannies, or caregivers who aren’t quite on the same page as you yet. While these cheat sheets are far from a complete guide, I hope they can open up a conversation about how you are trying to parent differently. If they are open to it, I recommend having them read some blog articles or even The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies. I also highly recommend this short video about infant/toddler Montessori programs and this other video about the Montessori philosophy in general.

There are likely certain principles or issues you care more about, so focus on those with your parents or nannies. Maybe that’s screen time, maybe it’s letting your infant learn to walk on their own, or maybe it’s the kind of words they use. Whatever it is, let some of the other things go, because we all need a little time and patience to learn, and teach, something new.

Lastly, the other common question I get is in regard to gifts from family and friends. I recommend making lists ahead of holidays. They don’t need to be super specific, but you could give some examples of the types of toys you are looking for. Other options are books and clothes. Another way to dodge noisy, light-up toys is to ask for money towards their college fund or a membership to your local children’s museum or zoo. If you do receive a gift that you don’t love, you can always pass it on, or do what I do, and keep it in the car or for “emergencies”. ;)

Montessori from Birth

A frequent question I hear is “When can I start Montessori at home?” The answer is that Montessori can be implemented anytime, as early as birth! It is never too early or too late to incorporate Montessori principles at home. Though the environment and materials are an important component of Montessori, there is much more to the philosophy than beautiful toys. Now that we are lucky enough to be back in the newborn phase with our 2-week-old baby boy, I thought I’d write a bit about what “Montessori from Birth” looks like for us.

A beautiful book I read during my Montessori training was called Understanding the Human Being, and it describes the first 6-8 weeks as the “Symbiotic Life”, or “life together”. It is a time when the newborn and mother are co-dependent, each requiring something the other gives. The newborn requires the mother’s nourishment and by breastfeeding, helps the mother’s uterus contract and body heal. Additionally, the bond formed between mother (or primary caregiver) and baby in the time spent together in the first weeks ensures a securely attached child and mutual love for each other. From this secure attachment, the baby learns to fully trust their environment and mother/primary caregiver, knowing they will be taken care of, loved, and are safe to explore independently when ready. It helps me to think about this Symbiotic Life period as it gives meaning to the wonderful, but exhausting, time with our newborn. The attachment we form sets him on the right path forward towards becoming his own capable little being, and for now I can just soak up the sweet and valuable time we have together.

Equally important to the love we show our baby is the respect we hold for them. A key component to Montessori philosophy is respect for the child, and this includes the way in which we interact and talk to children, as early as birth. Rather than try to quiet or distract a baby, we acknowledge their needs and feelings.. For me, respect means slowing down and taking the time (when possible with two littles) to nurse in a quiet spot, and giving Baby S affection and attention while he gets his nourishment. It also means talking to him about what I’m going to do before/as I do it. For example I might say “It looks like you have a wet diaper. Let’s go get a fresh one on.” and then when he gets upset during a diaper change, “I know it feels cold when I take this diaper off. I’m just wiping your bottom and now we are putting a clean diaper and clothes back on. Now you are dry and warm - that feels better, doesn’t it?” I don’t narrate every part of our day, but I try to talk to him when we are doing something together, like starting to nurse, change, or when he’s alert and looking at me. Janet Lansbury’s book Elevating Childcare elaborates on ways to speak respectfully to babies, and is a great book about respecting babies and toddlers in general.

While in these first few months Baby S spends a lot of his time on or with me nursing and sleeping, I also make sure he has plenty of time for natural movement throughout the day. I set up his primary “movement area” in our living room, where he can rest or wiggle around on his topponcino and gaze around the room. From there he can see his family, our movements, and the environment that he will call home. When he lies on his back here, he is completely unrestricted in his movements. He is free to stretch his arms and legs, suck on his fingers, and turn his head side to side. Other times I will carry him on his topponcino outside or into another room where we are spending time, so he can join us while still having that freedom of movement and ability to see what’s going on around him if he’s awake.

Though he is unswaddled and free to move in the day, we do swaddle him at night to help him sleep for slightly longer stretches. The swaddle is so useful for the first few months when babies’ startle reflexes are strong, often waking them up unintentionally. My favorite swaddle with Baby S is the Ollie swaddle, which is easy to put on/take off and keeps him safely tucked inside. He also spends time in the day in the K’tan baby carrier, when we take walks or I need two hands and he wants to be held close. For us, it’s just about finding that balance of cozy mama time, restful time, and uninhibited movement time.

As Baby S’ awake time increases, we have and will introduce a few traditional Montessori materials to encourage his concentration and capture his interest. For the first couple of months this includes mobiles, high contrast (black and white) images, mirrors, familiar faces, and the sights and sound in nature. Already he has begun to spend a few minutes each day gazing at his Munari mobile as it slowly spins with the air circulating. As babies can only see up to 12 inches in front of them, and only in black and white, this is the first mobile to encourage eye tracking, concentration, and visual development. It is beautiful to watch him watch the mobile. :)

Wooden gym and mobile from Monti Kids**

* If you are interested in Montessori materials for babies, my friend Bridget of Montessori in Motion and I launched The Montessori Guide this year, which includes month-by-month activities and links to materials to help you set up a Montessori environment for your child. You can read more about that here!

** If you are looking for a full Montessori subscription box for your baby, with materials delivered straight to your door, you can also check out Monti Kids! Use code REALLIFE for $30 off your first box.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

What is Montessori for Babies and Toddlers?

When people ask me to briefly describe Montessori and why it’s different, I usually stumble over my words. My husband says I need an “elevator pitch”, and I’ve yet to make one. If anyone has a great one, let me know! What I can do is try to describe Montessori in bullet points. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the Montessori philosophy in general, and suggestions for further reading on the topic. I hope that by describing a few of the key elements of Montessori and including some resources below, I can provide parents new to Montessori a little more insight. And please let me know what else you’d like to know in the comments section! I also always like to add that while I am obviously a big proponent of Montessori, do what works for your family, and remember that there is no perfect way, or perfect parent!

6 Key Elements of Montessori Philosophy for infants and toddlers:

Respect for the child: This is the most important element of Montessori, and parenting in general. Respect for infants and toddlers comes in many forms in a Montessori environment. It includes a beautiful and inviting space for our child to play in. It also includes making children feel like important and contributing members of our family or community. Respecting the child means speaking and interacting with our child in a gentle and loving way, and in words they can relate to. Lastly, this includes respecting each child’s individual development and pace/style of learning, whether at home or at school.

Observation: Taking the time to observe each child allows us to assess their individual needs and interests - social, emotional, and developmental. These observations give us the information we need to prepare a proper environment for each child's development, and to rotate materials and activities as they grow and their interests change. We might notice that our baby is constantly making animal sounds, especially the dog and cat. To take advantage and expand this interest, we can find materials such as wooden puzzles, books, and animal figurines of pets for our baby to explore. Observation can especially come in handy when our child is “acting out”. For example, if our toddler is throwing all their toys off their shelf, that tells us that 1. we might want to simplify their shelf or reduce the number of materials and 2. give them other opportunities to throw, such as balls into a laundry basket.

Preparation of environment: Maria Montessori said, “the greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist”. Instead of the teacher or parent at the center, Montessori describes a triangular interaction among the adult, child, and environment. The adult is the connection between the child and their environment, inviting them in. This is in part why teachers are called guides in Montessori. With a prepared environment and carefully chosen materials, the child can explore their environment (at home or school) and use their materials with minimal assistance. This kind of environment promotes curiosity, concentration, and independence early on. 

Order: In a world that is so big and often overwhelming, infants and toddlers are usually happiest when they have order and structure to their day. This includes organization of their environment and routines. In Montessori classrooms and homes, all of the children’s materials have a specific place in their environment, and there is a consistent daily schedule. The idea is that infants and children come to know what to expect and feel more secure with that knowledge. With that security, the child has the confidence to seek out independent play and take on new challenges. Of course we can’t always keep our environment perfectly organized or our days structured (nor should we), but the more we can do, the more calm and confident our child will feel.

Independence and Choice: Whenever possible, children are given a chance to do things for themselves before the adult steps in. A common quote in Montessori communities is “help me to do it by myself”. We, as adults, are there to model and guide, but not to take over our child’s work. Giving infants and toddlers time and opportunities to exert their independence promotes their self-confidence and self-reliance. You can see the delight and pride on a toddler’s face when they put their own shoes on for the first time. One simple way to give your child more independence is to give them choices rather than directions. For example, “Would you like to get in your pajamas or brush your teeth first?” rather than “It’s time to get ready for bed”.

Intrinsic Motivation: In a Montessori environment, adults try to acknowledge accomplishments rather than praise or offer rewards for doing something “good”. For example, an adult might say “You stacked those blocks really high!” or “I see you worked really hard at putting on your coat” rather than “Good job!” or “I’m so proud of you!” The idea is for children to learn how to take pride in their own accomplishments, rather than only put in effort for adult praise or external rewards. Acknowledging the effort they put into something rather than the end result also encourages children to seek out challenges more often, and to do activities because it feels good rather than because they want praise.

Further Reading:

Montessori from the Start

The Absorbent Mind

How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way

The Montessori Toddler (pre-order for March)

The Whole-Brain Child

Elevating Childcare: A Guide to Respectful Parenting

Positive Discipline: The First 3 Years

Here is a lovely peek into a Montessori classroom:

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!