By Leonora Shell of Essential Montessori
When we started our journey as parents together we knew we had two goals:
- To create a minimalist, Montessori at home environment because of our budget and lack of space.
- To foster a loving, calm and supportive environment for ourselves and our new baby.
That first month of bringing home your little one is full of so much new. New world to them, new life situation for you. And truly not very much sleep in between. A good friend told me that during this time your baby is "like a package" meaning you place them in one place and they stay there... they make sound and have lots of needs... but they're not going to roll over or crawl away. So your role as a new parent is to prepare their environment, here are some of those new things we can help you with; things we make, things our friends make and what was helpful for us. The caveat is that this list is minimal and what worked for us. Something else might work for you and your family, and that's ok, too!
Month 1: For the baby
- High-contrast mobiles
- Soft, textured blankets or cloths
- Rattles with gentle sounds
Our 0-3 Month bundle is perfect for getting you started. The black and white cards serve as an easy high-contrast mobile. We taped several above the changing table, by the couch, tucked one in my bag, anywhere we were it was easy to pull out a black and white card and they were mesmerized. To be one month old again.
Crinkle papers are soft and textured and make soft sounds as well! We love gifting these alongside our own handmade Montessori materials. They make such a great gift to a new family just starting off.
Birth to 3 Months
During the first few months of life, a baby's needs are primarily centered around basic physical needs such as eating, sleeping, and being held. However, even at this young age, Montessori materials can be used to support the development of the senses and promote early exploration.
One of the most important Montessori materials for newborns is a Montessori mobile. Mobiles designed for this age are simple and made up of high-contrast images and black-and-white patterns to stimulate a baby's developing visual system. These mobiles should be hung low above the baby but out of reach, so they can focus on the patterns and images.
Another Montessori material that can be used for this age is a grasping toy or material. Grasping materials can be hung low on a mobile or placed in a baby's hand to promote hand-eye coordination and the development of the grasping reflex. All of these are available in our 0-3 month bundle -- as parents striving for minimalism in our home it was important for us to make it simpler for new parents and caregivers to get what they needed without extra steps!
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Montessori From Birth: Series Introduction
Montessori From Birth: Month 2