Some mom and dads often wonder what activities might be suitable for their new child. So we've decided to improve our content for Montessori toys and activities. We hope that this post will be a helpful resource for you over the coming months.
So let's start today with Montessori toys for babies aged 3 to 6 months.
What is your child working to develop at this age?
The most important question we often think about when choosing a new Montessori toy or activity is "What is my child working to develop right now?"
Montessori activities are independent. So we look at the child to see what they are working on mastering at each age and offering toys and materials to help them. This is approach is different from the usual standards where parents like you decide what your child should learn and then instruct them.
The ages given here are then guidelines only as each child is developing on their own timeline, in their own unique way, at their own pace.
A young baby from 3 to 6 months is developing:
1. Language
Babies are interested in their parents daily life. We can tell them what we are doing, we can communicate with them by repeating the sounds they make, and when we smile they also try to mimic our actions.
2. Fine-Motor Movements
Your baby needs a lot of time and child-safe space for free movement. You can place your little one on a mat for them to stretch, reach for their feet. Placing them next to a horizontal mirror or under a baby gym is a great way to make them exercise.
Make sure they can move freely with little obstructions. Take off their socks, diapers and make sure they can move freely in their clothing.
3. Hand-Eye Coordination
At this age your baby should be reaching for objects to grasp in their palms. This is the basis of building their hand-eye coordination. Around 3 months, a baby's palmar grasp reflex is noticeable— they will involuntarily grasp any object that you place in their palms.
Your baby also explores these objects with their mouth. With time, their palmar grasp gets stronger and they start learning to manipulate objects with their hands. At this stage introduce them to wooden teethers but also keep the baby gym. When you hang items from a play gym and place your baby under, they will kick at these items with their feet.
4. Ear Playing and Aural Development
At 16 weeks and later, your baby actively responds to sounds in their environment. Introduce them to lightweight rattles and bells. Avoid electronic toys that are battery run. Rattles help develops your baby's gross motor movements as well.
The Montessori Toy Collection at 3-6 months
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Wooden Baby Gyms
The wooden baby gym is made of natural beech that has been sanded smooth with no chemicals.
It comes with six wooden ring hangers. Baby gyms encourage early motor skills while providing something for your baby to grasp, kick, and manipulate. Its aesthetically pleasing colors blend in with the most items in your baby's nursery decor.
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 9 months
Price: $53.90
Shop this baby gym on Etsy -
Wooden Sensory Teethers
These sensory teethers made from well-sanded linden wood and are the perfect size for your baby's little hands. The wood rings make a gentle rattle-like sound for their little ears.
Each teething toy has no chemical coating, making them a safe for every baby. Our sensory baby toys make great baby showers or birthday gifts.
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 12 months
Price: from $7.90 per teether
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Playroom Mirrors
A mirror is an essential component of a Montessori baby environment. You can use a playroom mirror to help your baby explore and develop concentration. A mirror gives your baby a fresh look at his/her environment. It also encourages babies to focus on their movements and, eventually, to coordinate them.
Mirrors are popular with babies, and a long, low mirror is a must-have in a Montessori baby environment. Even outside of the Montessori community, it is common knowledge that babies adore mirrors. However, you should not place a playroom mirror next to a baby's floor bed because it is overstimulating.
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 12 months
Shop Playroom mirrors
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Teething toys
Natural teething toys, baby rattles, and beautiful clutching toys make wonderful first toys for babies who are just starting to explore their senses.
Our natural wooden teether toys with unique designs are chemical-free and ideal for teething. You can also use them for sensory and water play. They're the perfect tactile graspers for your baby's little hands.
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 6 months
Price: $7.90
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Wooden Rattle With Metal Bells
Please keep in mind that this wooden bell shaker is not suitable for mouthing children. You can introduce them to your baby before they start mouthing toys. It's always important to keep an eye on them while they play.
This Montessori-inspired bell shaker is suitable for babies as young as two months. Your baby will be fascinated by the sound as they discover how their movements can influence the pleasing sound of the bells.
Developmentally appropriate age: 2 to 3 months
Price: $4.90
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Musical Roly Poly Dolls
They are made from linden wood. Our Musical roly-poly toy has a pleasant ringing sound that provides hours of fun and concentration to babies.
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 6 months
Price: $8.90
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Sensory Baby Rattles
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 6 months
Price: $4.90 -
Wooden Bell Toy
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 6 months
Price: $5.90
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Rolling Bell Baby Toy
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 6 months
Price: $11.90
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Wooden Rocking Horse Toy
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 months +
Price: $6.90
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High-contrast Geometric Images
Studies have shown that exposure to high-contrast images is beneficial to a baby's cognitive development. Babies use their eyes as their primary source of information about how the world works until around the fifth month. When your baby's eyes begin to coordinate, they will be drawn to images with high contrast.
Start with simple images places about 12 inches away from your baby's face. Hold the images steady, and don't switch them until your baby looks away, which indicates that they're losing interest.
When they lose interest in an image, move on to another. As your baby's eyesight improves, you should progress to more complex images.
You can encourage visual tracking by slowly moving an image back and forth horizontally to develop the skill of tracking a moving object with their eyes.
This is a necessary skill later in life for reading, writing, and hand-eye coordination.
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Sensory Bags
Babies enjoy sensory play, but they can be messy. Sensory bags are a great bargain because they allow your baby to explore without the mess that open containers can cause. Here's how to do it:
Pour tactile materials such as hair gel, pumpkin seeds, shaving cream, or marbles in a resealable plastic bag. Use a strong tape to reinforce the seal, then use painter's or washi tape to secure the bag's edges to the floor or a table where your baby can play.
Your baby absorbs new information about the world through their fingers, eyes, ears, and possibly even their mouth as they squish the bag and move its contents around.
Developmentally appropriate age: 3 to 6 months
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Wooden Musical Balls
Developmentally appropriate age: 3-6 months
Price: $9.90
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Colorful Wooden Rattles
Developmentally appropriate age: 3- 6 months
Price: $7.90
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Painted Rattles
Developmentally appropriate age: 3- 6 months
Price: $5.90