I had fun preparing Montessori spaces for my children at home. Now I’m having fun preparing Montessori spaces for my granddaughter.
I take care of my 10- month-old granddaughter, Zoey, a number of afternoons each week. I wouldn’t be comfortable having a home that wasn’t Montessori-friendly, so I’ve created a progression of Montessori baby spaces in our main living area.
My husband and I have a home with the living room, dining room, and kitchen connected as part of a great room. It’s perfect for creating a Montessori-friendly baby-toddler space where Zoey can have freedom of movement throughout the entire main floor with the exception of the bathroom. When Zoey is ready, she can have access to the bathroom as well.
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Montessori Baby Space in the Main Living Area
Montessori Baby Space in Our Living Room
We started with a Montessori baby space in our living room. The baby space has evolved as Zoey has grown. At first, the baby space simply consisted of a futon and horizontal mirror with a mobile. Later, I added toys in baskets. I kept the baskets on Zoey’s futon so she could easily reach them.
Montessori Weaning Table
When Zoey started to eat solid foods, I added a weaning table to our dining-room area. That table serves as both an eating area and an activity area.
Our Current Montessori Baby-Toddler Space in the Main Living Area
Montessori Baby-Toddler Space in our Living Room
When Zoey started to crawl and pull herself to a standing position, we added gates to close off our lower and upper levels. The futon remains in its place on the floor, and it’s where Zoey continues to take her naps. I moved the horizontal mirror against the wall and added a baby-toddler shelf to the room.
Initially, I planned to use an Ikea Expedit shelf placed on its side. The shelves were discontinued, however, so I looked for alternatives. I decided to get a 2-tier 30″ white bookcase that’s actually intended for bedrooms. We assembled it without the legs. Even though it has two shelves rather than one, it isn’t too tall for a baby who can pull him- or herself to a standing position by the shelf. It’s stable enough that it can’t be pulled over.
Exploring Montessori Shelves at 8 Months
I placed Zoey’s heaviest toys and baskets on the bottom shelf. On the top shelf, I placed board books that Zoey could easily get from the top shelf without hurting herself. (There’s also a basket of board books next to the shelf.) This has worked very well, and I’m happy that Zoey won’t outgrow the shelf.
I’ve added prints of art masterpieces above Zoey’s horizontal mirror and above her weaning table. I used Command Picture Hanging Strips so I can move the frames as needed without damaging my wall or kitchen cabinet. I love French Impressionist paintings, so I used free Wikimedia Commons downloads for Pierre-Auguste Renoir prints above the horizontal mirror: Girl with Flowers, Gabrielle Renard and infant son, Jean, and Two Girls Reading.
Baby-Toddler Table in Our Kitchen-Dining Room Nook
Above Zoey’s weaning table is Still Life with Apples and Grapes by Claude Monet.
Waiting for a Snack at the Weaning Table at 8 Months
Zoey has multi-purpose bibs and art smocks for her weaning table, like the eat and play smock in the photo and a cute owl waterproof sleeved bib.
Changing Our Current Montessori Baby-Toddler Space to a Toddler Space
Now that Zoey is walking, I may soon replace the mirror with a second shelving unit identical to the first with a rug holder between them. At that time, I’ll just move the art prints up above the new shelving unit.
When Zoey is a bit older, I’ll add a vase with flowers to her weaning table. When she’s ready, I’ll have a flower-arranging activity on her shelf where she can create her own dining-area flower arrangement. The weaning table will work well as her eating area and activity table throughout her toddler years. I have a slatted chair for her to use as a toddler. (A small stool is typically used for the adult seated on the baby’s dominant side, but I’ve used the slatted chair as my chair when feeding Zoey as a baby.) If there’s a new grandbaby in the future, that baby will use the heavy first chair.
When we baby-proofed our kitchen cabinets with baby-safe latches, we left one low cupboard unlatched for Zoey’s snack items when she’s a bit older. I’ll also add a Learning Tower for a step stool and food-preparation area.
Preparing Montessori Spaces in Your Home
See “How to Create a Montessori-Friendly Home” for ideas for a number of levels. Here are some of my main home environment posts here:
- How to Prepare a Montessori Baby Room at Home (roundup post)
- How to Prepare a Montessori Toddler Environment at Home (roundup post)
- Preparing a Montessori Newborn Baby Space at Home
- How to Use Montessori Mobiles to Encourage a Newborn Baby’s Development and Delight
- Preparing a Montessori Baby Space with Shelves at Home
- Preparing a Montessori Baby Space in Your Living Room
- Preparing a Montessori Baby-Toddler Space at Home
- Preparing Montessori Toddler Spaces at Home
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 2 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 2½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 3 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 3½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 4 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 4½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 5 Year Old
- How to Prepare Themed Montessori Shelves
- How to Prepare a Montessori Home Environment for Afterschooling
- Create an Attractive Home Environment from Montessori at Home!
- How to Set Up a Montessori Homeschool Classroom
- How to Prepare Montessori Homeschool Spaces for Babies through First Graders
- How to Prepare a Montessori Space in Your Living Room for Toddlers Through Early Elementary
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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Dear Deb
I m Montessori trainer and school founder. I am here in Vietnam with the MTEC Montessori IT course. I want to share your posts with some Vietnamese parents who are eager to learn how to implement this at home. Thank you for all your great resources
I like the fine art hung where she can see it! Too many people seem to think babies should only look at pictures that are “for babies”, but babies can appreciate classic pictures, too.
Deb, this is so awesome! I’m just over here daydreaming about what it would be like to be your daughter or daughter-in-law 😉 I would love to bring any of my children to Montessori Grandma’s house!
I love it! I almost wish I had another baby just so I could start with Montessori from the beginning. Almost! Thank you so much for sharing. I LOVE the art print ideas! Art is something I really need to improve on in our Montessori home. Perhaps I’ll leave that up to my husband as he’s quite into it. 🙂
You’ve inspired me to do this for my younger daughters. I love the ideas, especially the flower arranging activity. Thank you!
I like the fine art hung where she can see it! Too many people seem to think babies should only look at pictures that are “for babies”, but babies can appreciate classic pictures, too.
I am SO excited about the idea of putting art work down low! Now I just need to figure out what to hang up!! Your granddaughter’s smile is so bright 🙂 You two are lucky to have each other!
Thanks, Dionna! I have so much fun choosing artwork for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. And I truly feel blessed to live so close to my kids, kids-in-law, and precious grandbaby. 🙂
I have to admit, I was having trouble concentrating on the text because of that cute baby in the photos. 😉
You’ve given me so many ideas for how to set up our downstairs for this newest baby-to-be! I love the flower-arranging idea as well, and the snack cabinet that’s easily accessible. I’d also like to come up with a futon idea that fits in our small living space. I think we have a little crib mattress that might work!
Thanks, Lauren! I get distracted by Zoey all the time. 😉 How exciting that you’re preparing for a new baby! I love watching your awesome family grow up. 🙂
What a special way to care for your granddaughter! It’s just beautiful!
Thanks for your sweet comment, Laura! It’s a very special time for me, and I’m so glad I can spend so much time with Zoey. 🙂
What a great environment for learning! I really like the idea of a flower arranging activity. Thanks>
Thanks, Erica! I always loved having flower arranging available as a Montessori teacher, and it was wonderful as a homeschooler, too. 🙂