Montessori Movement Area for Newborns: How to Set up with these 3 Essentials
A Montessori-prepared environment can begin with newborn babies. Take these three essential elements to create a Montessori Movement area for newborn babies or in my case, twins. In their movement area, they will have freedom of movement and an opportunity to interact with the new world around them. Here are the three essentials for a Montessori movement area for twins or any baby. Additionally, there are explanations on how to prepare and use the space.
What does a Montessori movement area look like for newborn twins?
A Montessori movement area is a welcoming and peaceful place for a baby to work and play during their first few months of life until they are mobile and cruising around. This dedicated space allows for free movement and can be set up in either a Montessori nursery or a living space (we chose a living space for ours).
The three essential components of a newborn movement area are a floor space, sometimes with a designated movement mat, a low mirror, and Montessori visual mobiles. We had a mobile holder to hang our mobiles from, but I have seen movement areas where the mobiles are hung with a large string from a hook in the ceiling.
Open shelving can also be a component of a movement area. This would be a low shelf, with a few small grasping toys. You may also include some small black-and-white images (like these cards).
What are Montessori mobiles?
Montessori mobiles are beautifully created (or purchased) materials that your baby will work with for the first few months of life. They support hand-eye coordination and offer a stimulating visual expereince. Montessori mobiles are a great way to support the early developmental stages of your baby.
Check out this blog post for details about all of the Montessori baby mobiles. The first high-contrast black and white mobile is the Munari baby mobile. Try this fun DIY project as a nesting opportunity! See the video tutorial here or the written out blog post here.
The next mobile after the Munari baby mobile is the Octahedron Mobile, get all the details on how to make this beautiful tri-colored mobile to display in your movement area here!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
How to Prepare a Montessori Movement area for Twins
Our movement area for our twins has continued to evolve and change as they rapidly change. This bothered me at first because I wanted everything to be set up and prepared for when we arrived home from the hospital, but the truth is, I have moved our space around dozens of times. In all of the rearranging, the essentials are the same: floor space, a mirror, and a way to hang mobiles for the babies to work with. Low shelves could be another addition to this area.Â
Where do I set up a Montessori movement area in my home?
Consider where you anticipate spending most of your time. Initially, I wanted it in our Montessori nursery, but I knew I probably wasn’t going to sit in that room all day. Instead, we started with it up in our loft area, which was close to my bedroom. This was a great place for those early days postpartum because I tried to make things convenient and accessible as I was healing. When I was ready to spend more time in our main living space I then moved the movement area into our living room.Â
Having the movement area in the living room gave us easy access to use this space frequently throughout the day by having it in a central location in our home. Spending time doing tummy time fit into our daily routine and gave so many opportunities to develop motor skills and the skills to prepare them for independent play one day soon!
I’ve moved things around multiple times, but the essentials have remained present in all of these spaces. These adjustments are part of the process of preparing the environment. You need to observe how it is working for you and your baby and make adjustments as needed, keeping the Montessori principles in mind.
How much will it cost?
Creating a Montessori movement area can be done in a very cost-effective way. I invested in a mirror that would have longevity for our family, but that wouldn’t be necessary! A cheap mirror from Walmart would do the trick. I try to save money everywhere I can, so I created DIY mobiles (more about that in another post!) And the floor space is included in your rent or mortgage! Keep it simple by laying down a blanket or low pile rug.Â
Things to consider when setting up your movement area for your twins or baby
With twins, I knew I would need a little bit more space for our babies to move freely. It is a good idea to have a space that is well-lit with natural light. Also, keep it somewhere in the home where they won’t feel isolated. They must have a good view of the room so they can start connecting the different areas in your home; in Montessori, we refer to this as their “point of reference”. You can place the mirror on the wall. Lay down a quilt or blanket on the floor. If you have hard floors, a mat like this may be nice. We had carpet so I got away with just using a quilt or blanket.
Your Montessori movement area will be a comfortable place for your little one to work on moving their body freely. This time in the movement area will support the development of their muscles as well as muscle control. The mirror will give them feedback on their own movements. Their absorbent mind will take in all of the impressions of the baby mobile and things around them in their environment.
How do I use Montessori mobiles?
Montessori mobiles are intended to be used while your baby or babies are alert and awake. This is contrary to the culture’s view on mobiles which are traditionally placed above the crib. A Montessori movement area with mobiles is separate from a Montessori sleep space. Mobiles need to be able to move freely. They move beautifully with the natural airflow of the room. It is not necessary to spin them or turn them for your baby, my husband loved to do this for the twins. I would remind him that they are not capable of tracking objects at such a fast pace, they are only a few weeks old! Consider your baby’s ability to track moving objects, for quite a few weeks they will just be working on developing the ability to focus on one thing.
Get more details on all of the Montessori visual and tactile mobiles here!Â
Considerations when hanging Montessori mobiles
Initially, after birth, babies can only see objects about 12 inches in front of their faces. Hang mobiles accordingly.
Consider how will you hang your mobiles. You can use a mobile hanger like this, or hang them from the ceiling.
Choosing a room with natural light will help some of the mobiles to be more engaging as the light will reflect beautifully on the surface of the mobiles.
What is the purpose of the mirror?
The mirror is my favorite aspect of our movement area. It allows the baby or babies to see themselves and become aware of their movements. With twins, this is especially fun because they will look at each other, smile and giggle. The mirror encourages tummy time as well. Our boys really enjoyed tummy time and often preferred it to being on their backs. The mirror provides the baby with a point of reference in the home, offering added comfort and a greater sense of security, as well as various points of interest.Â
What are the benefits of a Montessori Movement Area?
The greatest benefit I have seen from our movement area is how it supports the development of our twins! Babies grow at an astonishing rate, changing every day. They need the time and space to explore their bodies freely, without restrictions such as swings, bouncy seats, etc. Some “containers” such as car seats are required for the safety of your baby, but so many “baby containers” are obstacles to a baby’s natural motor development. Floor time is so important for your developing baby; and cheaper!!
Encouragement as you prepare your Montessori Movement Area for a Newborn or Twins
Just remember that Montessori looks different in every home! When changing something or setting up a new area I like to think about it through the lens of what the current needs of my children are. If we keep their needs and abilities at the forefront of our preparations we will be able to create a beautiful space that supports and meets those needs! I’d love to see your Montessori movement areas! Feel free to post a picture in the comments or tag me on Instagram @themontessoritwinmama
If you are looking for more parenting resources, check out this blog post with book recommendations for Montessori parents!
This is perfect for my baby! Thank you for sharing, very helpful 😊
I am so glad it was helpful!