Montessori Baby Toys: 12 Best Picks for Your Little One
This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase a product with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. View the disclosure for more information.
It remains difficult to choose nice toys for your baby. I prefer to choose toys that offer some challenge but are still quite simple because I notice that my daughter really enjoys learning new things, and toys with too many bells and whistles are mostly too complex and overstimulating for her. That’s why I’m a big fan of Montessori-inspired baby toys. These thoughtfully designed toys have the power to unlock your child’s potential in the most natural and gentle way!
Montessori toys are all about encouraging independent exploration and hands-on learning. Unlike traditional toys that might be too much for a baby’s growing mind, Montessori-inspired toys are simple, engaging, and adjust to your child’s developmental needs. From textured blocks that help build fine motor skills to wooden toys that foster problem-solving, these toys are absolute gems.
Montessori toys grow with your baby, providing new challenges and learning opportunities as they reach new milestones.
Why Choose Montessori Baby Toys?
Why are Montessori baby toys so amazing? The Montessori method, developed by Maria Montessori, emphasizes hands-on learning and encourages children to explore and learn at their own pace. Montessori toys are often made from natural materials like wood and are designed to be simple yet engaging. They focus on developing important skills such as hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and sensory play.
The Montessori philosophy is all about creating a nurturing environment that supports a child’s natural development.
The key Montessori toy principles are:
– Promote sensory exploration
– Encourage fine motor skill development
– Stimulate concentration and focus
– Support a child’s growing independence
Rather than flashy, overstimulating toys, Montessori recommends natural materials like wood, cloth, and metal.
The goal is to provide toys that engage a child’s curiosity and allow them to learn at their own pace. It’s all about quality over quantity when it comes to Montessori toy selection.
When to Start With Montessori Toys?
After doing some research, I learned that there’s no single “perfect” age to begin Montessori. It really depends on your child’s individual needs and interests. The best way to introduce these toys is gradually.
Generally speaking, the most simple Montessori-inspired toys like balls, rattle toys, and high-contrast toys can be great for newborns and young babies. Sorting blocks, wooden ring stackers and pull toys can be great for babies as young as 6-9 months old. By 12-18 months, you can start incorporating more complex materials that challenge their problem-solving skills! Or introduce a helper tower! Helper towers are made to support the Montessori principle of respecting the child. By giving them the freedom to engage in “real work,”
12 Of The Best Montessori Baby Toys
I did my research and found 12 of the best Montessori-inspired toys for babies! Most Montessori toys are made for toddlers and older but believe me, THESE simple toys are a great way to challenge your babies’ senses! 🙂
Wooden Rattle
A classic Montessori toy with a unique design made of natural beech wood. The balls against the rattle create a gentle and soothing sound and avoid overstimulation. the wooden rattle is perfect for a newborn’s little hands. It’s great for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Plus, the smooth edges and natural materials make it safe and eco-friendly.
You can find the wooden rattle with balls here
Ball Cylinder
This simple yet intriguing toy helps babies practice crawling. It encourages gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination and is designed to encourage independent play.
You can find the ball cylinder here
Wooden Ring Stacker
This is the most natural stacker tower you will find! This wooden version is perfect for babies and toddlers and helps develop fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities.
You can find the wooden ring stacker here
Pull Toy
This multi-sensory silicone activity toy is designed to develop fine motor skills and sensory perception through activities like pulling up and down silicone ropes, and pressing and pushing buttons. Made from 100% safe, super soft silicone. With six brightly colored ropes and various buttons, it helps improve hand-eye coordination by providing different sounds and vibrations.
You can find the pull toy here
LOVEVERY Baby Gym
This Montessori play gym is amazing and I wish I had known about it when my daughter was younger! It’s ideal because it grows with your baby! You can use the play mat for tummy time with your newborn and use it with your toddler for fun games like hide-and-seek. Featuring five Montessori-inspired development zones, it helps prevent overstimulation and encourages sensory exploration, focus, and color discovery. And much much more!
You can find the LOVEVERY baby gym here
Black And White Baby Gym
A cheaper alternative is this high-contrast baby gym I bought for my daughter when she was a few weeks old! She loved this one very much. High contrast is incredibly stimulating for young babies because the bold patterns help with visual development.
You can find the black and white baby gym here
You will find more black and white toys in this post!
Spinning Rainbow Drum
This spinning toy will encourage your baby to move their hands to see different colors. The drum helps develop hand-eye coordination and strengthens arm and wrist muscles during tummy time. Your baby will have a good time with the added mirror too!
You can find the spinning rainbow drum here
Object Performance Box
The Montessori Object Permanence Box with Tray comes with three different material balls, helping your little genius understand that objects don’t just disappear. This toy is amazing for your baby’s development, practices precise hand movements, and sends important information to the brain, developing hand, wrist, and finger control. With repeated use, your child can experience the joy of achieving goals independently. It’s a fantastic tool for building confidence and refining motor skills.
You can find the object performance box here
Set of 4 Montessori Mobiles
LOVE this beautiful handmade set with baby mobiles for each baby stage there is one with interesting objects! First, the Munari Movement mobile, a black and white mobile ideal for babies from 3 weeks old, uses high contrast and light reflection. At 6 weeks, the Octagonal Motion Mobile introduces vibrant geometric shapes in yellow, red, and blue, capturing babies’ attention with gentle rotations. For 2-3 month-olds, the Gobbi Mobile features gradient-colored balls that help babies distinguish colors and shades better. By 3-4 months, the Movement Baby Dancer Mobile, with its reflective paper dancers, enhances concentration and hand control as babies create airflows to move the dancers.
Wooden Blocks
Wooden blocks are a Montessori classic. They are versatile, durable, and great for imaginative play. Your baby can stack them, knock them down, and learn about different shapes and sizes.
I love this variation on the simple wooden blocks. With the different shapes, your baby can go wild discovering different shapes. The blocks are all bigger than an egg so there are no choking hazards.
You can find the wooden blocks here
Sensory Balls
These balls come in different textures and sizes in a cute little basket. These balls are excellent for sensory play. They help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as your baby learns to grasp, squeeze, and roll them.
You can find the sensory basket here
Soft Baby Blocks
This award-winning set features blocks with high-contrast colors and soft, sensory-rich material. The set includes a mirror block, sensory tag block, pyramid, and rattle ball, offering diverse sensory experiences.
You can find the soft baby blocks here
Conclusion: Montessori Baby Toys
These educational toys focus on simplicity, functionality, and promoting independent learning. By offering Montessori products that encourage exploration, problem-solving, and sensory stimulation, you’re giving your baby the building blocks they need to develop important skills like fine motor coordination, concentration, and a love of learning.
As you navigate the latest trends and options, remember that the best Montessori approach for toys for your baby is often the most basic. Simple rattles, blocks, and shape sorters can captivate their attention and spark their curiosity. These toys allow your little one to learn at their own pace, fostering a sense of confidence and autonomy.
