The 19 Best Montessori Toys for Babies and Toddlers
The Montessori trend has become increasingly popular in recent years, as parents strive to provide their babies with fun and educational toys that help kids reach their full potential.
These types of toys are often made with natural materials, simple designs, and lacking in the bells, whistles, and battery-powered screens that define many modern-day toys.
The Montessori method has gained so much attention there are now Montessori classrooms that focus on encouraging kids to master the creative learning process and apply it not only in school but in life.
In this Montessori toy guide, we’ll explore the best Montessori toys for babies according to age and discuss why they might be a great addition to your child’s playroom.
I use affiliate links in some blog posts. If you click through and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for your support.
What are Montessori Toys?
A Montessori toy is an educational toy designed to promote hands-on learning and independence in babies as they become more independent and aware of the world around them.
Named after award-winning Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator who developed a child-centered educational approach, Montessori toys are designed to help babies develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities.
They also aim to foster a love for learning alongside creativity and imagination. A Montessori toy can actively engage a baby and stimulate his or her mind rather than be passive entertainment like alternative toys.
What are the Best Montessori Toys by Age Group?
Remember, every child develops at their own pace, so it’s important to choose toys that fit your child’s individual interests and developmental level.
These are some of the favorite Montessori toys according to age in 2023:
0+ Month Montessori Toys
The following toys are best for ages 0-6 months.
Mobiles
Montessori-inspired mobiles can help newborns develop visual tracking skills and focus.
Look for mobiles with simple designs, such as black and white patterns or hanging objects made of natural materials.
Grasping Toys
A grasping toy is made of wood, silicone, or cloth and can help a baby practice hand-eye coordination and grip strength.
As a baby learns to grasp and manipulate the toy, they are not only entertained but also developing cognitively.
A grasping toy may come in various shapes and sizes, from simple rings to more complex interlocking puzzles.
Grasping toys are often small and lightweight making them ideal to put in the diaper bag for entertainment on the go.
Sensory Balls
Sensory balls are textured balls with different colors that can help infants develop their sense of touch and vision.
They can also be used for tummy time play.
We had a hanging Montessori sensory ball for my daughter and she would just stare at it as an infant. Gradually she started to bat at it and then later started to kick it.
It is amazing to see the ways a baby toy can remain the same yet change as the little one develops.
Soft Books
Cloth or board books featuring simple illustrations can help a baby develop his or her visual recognition skills and familiarity with books.
Look for books with high-contrast images or books that are based on familiar objects and experiences.
These are easy to keep in a diaper bag on the go and can occupy a baby in the car seat as well.
6+ Month Montessori Toys
The following toys are best for ages 6-12 months.
Object Permanence Box
An object permanence box is a toy that has a hole in the top where little ones can drop a ball or other object into the box.
The object then disappears into the box, teaching the child about object permanence – that objects still exist even when they can’t be seen.
Wooden Blocks
Simple wooden blocks are a fun Montessori toy for 6 to 12 month olds (and beyond).
They can be stacked, knocked down, and explored, helping little ones develop their fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities.
Nesting Dolls
Nesting dolls, or dolls that fit inside each other, can help develop a child’s understanding of the concept of “in” and “out.”
They also promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination in babies.
A nesting doll kit saves space making it the perfect addition to the diaper bag.
Shape Sorters
A shaper sorter is a toy that has different shaped holes that match specific shapes.
Some shape sorters will have a mirror underneath which can make it fun as children reach and explore the reflection while working to get the right shape in the right spot.
Babies can practice grasping the shapes and fitting them into the corresponding holes, improving their fine motor skills and shape recognition.
12+ Month Montessori Toys
The following toys are best for ages 12-18 months.
Puzzles
Simple wooden or cardboard puzzles with shapes or animals can help mature a child’s hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.
Choose puzzles with only a few pieces, to begin with, and gradually increase the difficulty level as the child develops their skills.
When choosing which puzzles to buy or play with, consider letting your toddler participate to spark curiosity and excitement.
Art Supplies
Offer your child age-appropriate art supplies, such as crayons and paper, to encourage self-expression.
Let them explore and experiment on their own.
This can also help Monti kids with color recognition and teach them to be creative in their own way.
Large Blocks or Construction Sets
Large blocks or construction sets can promote creativity and imagination while helping to develop fine motor skills.
Large blocks and construction sets make a wonderful addition to any playroom. As toddlers learn to grasp the blocks and construct towers or houses, they simultaneously develop cognitively.
Push and Pull Toys
Push and pull toys, such as wooden wagons or animals on wheels, can help a baby develop their gross motor skills and coordination.
A push and pull toy is also an excellent tool to teach cause-and-effect relationships.
18+ Month Montessori Toys
The following toys are best for little ones 18 months of age and up.
Dressing Frames
Dressing frames are boards with a collection of items such as buttons, snaps, and zippers attached that help little ones learn how to dress themselves independently.
Dressing frames are excellent at putting little hands to work as toddlers learn important life skills through exploration and discovery.
Play Kitchen or Play Food
Play kitchens and play food can be a great activity for encouraging imaginative play and creativity while emulating real world activities.
Children can practice language development and social skills through roleplaying and pretend cooking.
Play kitchens can be fun for the whole family to participate in.
Balance Board
Wooden balance boards can help develop a child’s core strength, balance, and coordination.
They can also be used for imaginative play or as a reading nook.
Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are containers filled with materials that engage a child’s senses, such as sand, rice, or water.
A toddler can practice pouring, scooping, and manipulating the materials while exploring different textures and colors.
The nice part about sensory bins is that they are super easy to make with items you already have in your home making them budget-friendly!
Montessori Toys for All Ages
Although many of the toys mentioned above can be used for a variety of ages, here are a few more ideas that can be used through multiple developmental stages.
Play Silks
Play silks are versatile and can be used for a variety of imaginative play scenarios, from dress-up to building forts.
They make a wonderful addition to a Montessori-inspired playroom as they can also be incorporated into activities that promote sensory development, like sensory bins or tactile exploration.
Musical Instruments
One of the essential components of the Montessori educational philosophy is a rich sensory experience.
Music plays a vital role in developing Monti kids sensory skills as it stimulates the senses of hearing, sight, touch, and movement.
Simple musical instruments like xylophones, shakers or maracas can introduce a toddler to the joys of music-making and promote fine motor skills.
Musical instrument sets can quickly become favorite toys for kids and provide lasting memories. Make it extra enjoyable by involving the whole family!
Vertical Stacker
A stacker toy is a Montessori toy consisting of discs or rings that can be stacked on top of each other.
Even if a baby is too young to stack the discs, the rings can still help promote focus and concentration.
As babies grow and begin to be able to stack the rings skills like concentration and hand-eye coordination emerge.
Montessori Mirror
Montessori mirrors are designed to be placed on the floor or a low surface, so that little ones can easily view their own reflection.
The mirrors are often shatterproof and made of child-friendly materials.
Montessori mirrors are used to encourage self-awareness, exploration, self-esteem, and independence in young children.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best Montessori toys for your child can be a fun and rewarding process.
By selecting toys that are developmentally appropriate and foster independence and exploration, you can help your child develop important skills and a love for learning.
Whether you’re looking for a toy for infants, toddlers, or older children, there are plenty of Montessori options to choose from.
With the right educational toys and a Montessori-inspired approach to play, you can help your child develop a lifelong love of learning and exploration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Montessori toys so expensive?
Montessori toys tend to be handmade and put together with high-quality, natural, sustainable materials like wood, cotton, and wool.
They are also designed with a lower carbon footprint and strive to be durable, safe, and non-toxic which often requires additional production costs.
Crafting, sanding, and finishing are usually involved in the production process which can be labor-intensive and time-consuming.
With all of this in mind, it can be understandable why a Montessori toy for babies may come with higher price points than other types of toys that are mass-produced with synthetic materials.
Nonetheless, there are still affordable Montessori-inspired toys available that are more budget-friendly.
Why are there no plastic toys in Montessori?
The Montessori method advocates the use of natural and sustainable materials in toys and learning materials, rather than plastic or synthetic materials.
This is because Montessori education focuses on nurturing a child’s natural curiosity and connection to the environment, and a plastic toy may not provide the sensory play and connections to the natural world around them that a Montessori toy aims to provide.
The Montessori approach also values simplicity and beauty in design, and natural materials can often provide a more aesthetically pleasing and calming environment.
There is a common misconception of mandatory wooden toys in the Montessori method when in fact other materials are commonly used. Montessori simply avoids plastic-like substances.
Finally, Montessori education emphasizes practical life skills, and using natural materials in toys and learning materials can prepare babies for real-life experiences and interactions with their environment.
What is the difference between a Montessori toy and a regular toy?
A Montessori toy is specifically designed to promote child-led learning and development, following the principles of the Montessori method.
The key differences between a Montessori toy and a regular toy include natural materials, open-ended design, promoting independence, and fostering more than one skill at a time in children.
While there may be some similarities between a Montessori toy and a regular toy, a Montessori style toy is generally more focused on child development and exploration of the environment, rather than solely being geared toward battery-operated entertainment.
