Montessori Baby Essentials for the First 6 Months
Whether this is your first or fourth baby, there are a few beautiful Montessori baby essentials that are great to have if you are looking to begin implementing the Montessori philosophy in your home from birth. This blog post is your 1-stop-shop to get all of the links and resources for each of these beautiful Montessori baby essentials.
Topponcino
A Topponcino is both a holding and feeding support pillow. Think of it as a taco shell for your baby. When you have family members or friends visiting, and they want to hold your new baby, it can be startling for a newborn to take in all of the differnet sounds and smells around them. The Topponcino helps to provide that security and comfort of your scent when others are holding your baby.
My husband and I slept with our Topponcinos (yes, two of them becuase we had twins!) for a month or so leading up to my delivery. Once our twins were born, we used these as a holding pillow, a tummy time pillow, and a connection point in their movement area. We would place the Topponcino on top of our Movement area blanket, to help keep consistency and familiarity for our babies.
Topponcino
Build comfort and connection with your baby with a cotton Topponcino. Perfect for tummy time or when nursing or holding your baby.
Montessori Movement Area and Mobiles
Benefits of a Movement Area with Mobiles
Babies don’t need much except your love and care. However, a Montessori movement area is top of my list for Montessori baby essentials. Babies risk becoming container babies. Meaning they are moved from one container to another. Car seat to bouncer, bouncer to swing, swing to car seat. Our babies need freedom of movement. They need to expereince what it feels like to kick their legs and move their arms without restriction.
A Montessori movement area provides the perfect developmentally appropriate space for a baby. It is complete with a comfortable mat, a low mirror, and Montessori baby mobiles. This is the perfect place for your baby to move freely and explore their body. The mirror helps them to get feedback and make connections of their movements.
Munari Baby Mobile
The Munari mobile is the first mobile used with babies. We use this mobile for at least the first six weeks of life, longer if your baby is showing strong interest in it! Check out the full DIY tutorial here.
Octahedron Baby Mobile
This colorful octahedron mobile was my boys’ favorite! This mobile is used after the Munari mobile and can start being used around 5-6 weeks of age. Get the full DIY instructions and free template printables here!
Visual and Tactile Mobiles
There are more visual mobiles for your baby to work with as well as some engaging tactile mobiles you can offer once your baby is reaching and grasping for objects. Get all of the details and ideas for more Montesssori baby mobiles here.
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Diapering, Dressing, Feeding and Self Care
Diapering
Here are some of our diapering essentials! We especially loved the Calendula Cream and Kaolin Clay Powder as a combo approach for diaper rash.
- Changing pad and cover
- Diaper Caddy
- Diaper Bag
- Calendula Cream and Kaolin Clay Powder (use these together for a great natural diaper cream!)
- Are you considering cloth diapers? Check out our routine and system here!
Dressing
Consider loose and non-restrictive clothing that allows for ease of movement.
Feeding
Feeding should be a comfortable expereince for both you and your baby. Have a chair with a side table and lamp with some water and maybe a book. Keep a burp cloth handy as well!
- Nursing Pillow
- Muslin Burp Cloths
- Nursing Multi-Use Cover
- Baby-Led Weaning Baby Essentials (Starting at 6 months of age)
Self Care
Self-care is very simple with newborn babies. Here are a few things that will be great to have on hand.
Sleeping
Sleep in the first six months of life is very personal and you will likely keep your baby in your bedroom with you for most if not all of that time. If you are curious about how we used a Montessori floor bed from shortly after birth, check out this blog post.
Montessori Baby Toys and Materials
You don’t need many baby toys for the first six months. However, there are some that I think are Montessori baby essentials, like natural tethers, grasping toys, and the spinning drum. Here are my top infant toys for 0-6 months old.
- Black and white high-contrast cards
- Grasping ring
- Grasping natural teether ball
- Interlocking disks
- Skwish Rattle
- Wooden ball teether
- Spinning Drum
