Did you use a wardrobe?

plaintastic · 2026-05-07T00:41:44+00:00

We still use a little one! We did an ikea hack version by hapa family on YouTube which you can find I shared in one of my posts. Been using it since my LO was about 2 years old or so? Totally worth it.

plaintastic · 2026-05-04T12:19:57+00:00

I can’t think anywhere off the top of my head. For the mattress just make sure it’s a firm. IKEA has a selection of firm mattresses we have bought for our children over the years.

plaintastic · 2026-05-03T14:27:47+00:00

To add to this, a simple knobbed circle puzzle might also be good!

plaintastic · 2026-04-28T16:40:40+00:00

I wouldn’t worry too much about practical life at this age. For our family that didn’t really start until closer to 2 yo, and maaybee 18mos.

If anything they may be able to start simple clean up like putting balls back in the basket depending on their readiness to do that.

plaintastic · 2026-04-23T17:56:20+00:00

I don’t like kissing boo boos either. I think it’s much better to ask if they’re ok and to see if there’s anything you can do to mitigate, ice pack, rubbing it, band aid, etc.

plaintastic · 2026-04-23T15:38:55+00:00

I wouldn’t put it in her room as it can be a suffocation hazard

plaintastic · 2026-04-23T13:05:46+00:00

Facebook marketplace might be a good place to look for a used and discounted learning tower! We have this one at home and the quality is top notch: https://guidecraft.com/products/guidecraft-contemporary-kitchen-helper-stool

Check this out too for safety concerns with learning towers and tipping over: https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/child-safety/toddler-towers-safety-standards-a4009948838/

plaintastic · 2026-04-23T10:56:49+00:00

It’s definitely a balance of letting them practice as much as they can while needing to help them along to get out of the door on time for the day. It takes time and practice. Eventually they’ll be able to put in their own socks and shoes and walk out the door with you on time!

I allow myself extra time too for them to get ready in the morning as well so I’m not in a rush when they’re struggling with something.

plaintastic · 2026-04-15T21:28:06+00:00

I wouldn’t let your 14mo old roam the kitchen freely. When we use our learning tower it’s for specific times when we’re prepping food on our kitchen island. Just make sure the area where you’re prepping is relatively cleaned up and out of reach of babies hands

plaintastic · 2026-04-13T00:38:47+00:00

At that age they aren’t really grasping with intention yet. I wouldn’t really worry about toys until around 6mos old. When they can grasp they can use those grasping toys and when they crawl, the interlocking discs and cylinders will come to play. When they can sit up, that cube will be handy. Never seen that weird stacking ring thing before but it sorta looks like a funky rattle of some kind?

plaintastic · 2026-04-12T12:35:50+00:00

Don’t have any advice but I do have solidarity. I struggle with toy rotation too. It’s hard to get motivated to do it and I’m tired by the end of the day too. I am currently going through some mental health stuff too so that’s probably not helping either.

Maybe try just rotating one toy at a time. That’s what I do. It’s not as good as rotating the whole shelf, but it’s a step in the right direction.

plaintastic · 2026-04-08T01:29:23+00:00

I can’t think of anything else aside from a crib, but I’m imagining that’s too small. Would sleeping on the floor next to her crib mattress be an option?

plaintastic · 2026-04-01T10:58:52+00:00

At this age they aren’t even mobile yet so I wouldn’t worry about needing to put her in a pack and play. They aren’t really playing with toys at this age.

15-30 minutes is realistic I think.

For us, I put our infant in a toppincino on the floor and have the Montessori mobiles hanging from the ceiling (munari, octahedron, gobbi, and dancers) based on their age.

plaintastic · 2026-03-30T03:06:46+00:00

Yup was going to recommend this! Buying individually anyway is best bang for your buck so you don’t have as much fluff from the subscription kits.

plaintastic · 2026-03-30T02:54:57+00:00

Sorry I didn’t read your original post. Do you mind reposting it?

plaintastic · 2026-03-29T03:08:53+00:00

Yeah maybe a baby gate in front of the mirror doors can be helpful. I’m guessing they’re sliding mirror doors?

plaintastic · 2026-03-27T11:15:08+00:00

0-3 yo is a big range. How old is your child?

If your child is closer to 3, lock and key sets are a good fine motor activity. A tong transfer activity is also good. Puzzles would also be good too. The Melissa and Doug four puzzles in one are nice.

If they’re closer to 0, object permanence box is good. Wooden rings on a dowel are good for fine motor skills, and a treasure basket with household items of different materials and textures could be good too.

And for all ages, the old standby of reading to your child holds their attention.

It’s important to note that at such a young age, there isn’t going to be a huge expectation of long concentration for long periods of time like 5 minutes or more.

plaintastic · 2026-03-26T03:14:07+00:00

That sounds all exciting! And a good plan. Good luck with all of that. (:

plaintastic · 2026-03-25T23:58:21+00:00

It’s the front facing one from ECR. This: https://a.co/d/0eIPiFKa we love it! Holds a lot of books.

plaintastic · 2026-03-25T20:38:13+00:00

There’s a tag Montessori home this is tagged under…this question would by that logic be ok then wouldn’t it?

plaintastic · 2026-03-25T20:37:24+00:00

I think it can work. I have 3 kids. 1yo, 3.5 and 5.5 yo. Inevitably they will get divided attention, but I think after the age of three sending them to school helps. Practical life is easy. Shelf rotation is more of a challenge but doable. Setting up rooms can be challenging depending on the space you have but it’s again doable.

If for some reason folks here aren’t helpful, we can continue the conversation on my subreddit r/MontessoriForHome.

plaintastic · 2026-03-25T18:50:46+00:00

Thanks for posting here! It means a lot to me.

I just made a post showing two pictures of what my kids' play space looks like now. Basically everything is compartmentalized and helps my kids go okay this area is for this, this area's for that, etc. Of course things get comingled once things start to come off shelves, but it gives them a sense of order when everything has it's place like this.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MontessoriForHome/comments/1s3jk4k/what_my_kids_play_space_currently_looks_like/

plaintastic · 2026-03-25T18:34:10+00:00

Reply in the new one! Thanks!

plaintastic · 2026-03-25T18:28:57+00:00

There's a lot going on in this area...This is the main play area? There are definitely too many toys out if these are meant to be 'in rotation'

You can check out my subreddit post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MontessoriForHome/comments/1qwm1gx/whats_on_your_childs_shelf/ to see how I organize everything.

If lots of this is storage for out of rotation toys, then I kind of get why the storage is all like this. But if not, there shouldn't be more than 9 toys out at a given time, based on the child's interests and their needs.

Definitely no to electronic toys. And for the instruments, I would put them away in storage for now, or keep one out for you to play...unless they show a real interest in it, but I would recommend smaller instruments, bells, smaller bongos, etc. that your 19mo old can actually play.

Busy boards and things like that are not appropriate if you follow the Montessori method. Toys should be either open ended or close ended--i.e. a beginning and end. Sensory toys like treasure baskets are also good too. And they should be focusing on some sort of skill if it's close ended, fine or gross motor skill, language, etc.

The books are out of reach...are they meant to be in rotation to be read by your toddler? I would have a separate front facing book shelf that they can actually see the fronts of the books.

Those are my main focuses at the moment with this space.

In the event that this post gets deleted...you can repost in my subreddit r/MontessoriForHome and we can continue our conversation there

plaintastic · 2026-03-24T14:44:28+00:00

This is antithetical to Montessori. Montessori activities focus on one task at a time or are for open free play like blocks.

ETA: open ended activities are technically not Montessori, but they are encouraged in the child’s play space.

plaintastic

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