Preparing for a Montessori Baby

Hey friends 👋

My name is Jenna, I’m 6 months into my first pregnancy, and my husband and I are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our daughter in September!

As a first-time mom I’ve spent hours on the internet, learning about all things pregnancy, postpartum, and otherwise baby related.

I’ve agonized over my baby registry from the moment I found out I was pregnant! This post is the culmination of all of that time, energy, and quite a few tears 😂

Photo by Baby Natur on Unsplash

But first!

Let me put your mind at ease.

Truly, babies only need a few things, namely: food, a safe place to sleep and play, clothes and diapers, a safe (and appropriately installed) car seat, and YOU!

These things can be anything you choose, follow any parenting style you want, and be as cheap or as expensive as you can afford.

You could buy all name brand items, or you could purchase (almost) everything off Facebook marketplace. At the end of the day, YOU are the most important thing your baby needs: parents who will love and nurture her, who can adequately care for themselves, and be present with her.

So, really quick, take a DEEP breath and remind yourself that your baby is going to be just fine! Take this anxiety you’re feeling as a sign that your baby is already so loved and cared for ❤️

Let’s lower our expectations and make sure we’re setting ourselves up for success by curating our baby registries to what’s going to allow us to be the most present and involved parents we can be, while making sure we’re taking care of ourselves along the way.

Photo by Yuri Shirota on Unsplash

So, without further ado…

Here’s my minimalist Montessori inspired baby registry!

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Feeding

For feeding, we decided to combination feed with a heavy emphasis on breastfeeding, if I’m able. We wanted to be realistic about the fact that, because this is our first baby, we don’t know if I’ll be able (mentally or physically) to breastfeed long term.

So, just to be safe and avoid as much mom guilt as possible, we’re planning to combination feed from 6 weeks onwards, providing as much breast milk as possible and supplementing with formula as necessary.

Since we’re going to be combination feeding, we’re going to need a breast pump, storage bags, bottles, and some breast care items such as silverettes, breast pads, and nipple butter.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• MomCozy Breast Pump
• MomCozy Milk Collectors
• Storage Bags
• BabyList Bottle Box (Tester Pack)
• Silverettes

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

A Safe Place to Sleep

I’m a big proponent of room sharing until a year old (or as long as possible if a year is completely unrealistic), and since I’m planning on breastfeeding, having baby close at night is going to be crucial.

So, for sleep we decided to go with a bedside bassinet, and once she outgrows that we’ll transition our mattress to a floor bed and place her, on her own floor bed, next to ours.

Another really important aspect of sleep, for us, was making sure our daughter is safe and breathing, especially during those first 6 months when SIDS is such a concern!

Along with following “safe sleep guidelines”, we also made the decision to invest in a breathing monitor for her to wear at night.

There are so many options, at so many price ranges, the two we primarily looked into were the Owlet sleep sock and the Snuza Hero.

There are other options as well, such as the Nanit camera, but at the end of the day we decided to go with the Snuza Hero. It clips onto the front of her diaper while she’s sleeping and will click every time it feels her breathe.

If it doesn’t feel her breathe for 15 seconds it will vibrate in an attempt to wake her up and make her breathe again, if it doesn’t feel her breathe for 5 seconds after that it’ll sound an alarm so mom and dad can make sure she’s safe.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• Bassinet Bedside Sleeper
• Tri Fold Twin Mattress
• Snuza Hero SE

Photo by Carrie Allen www.carrieallen.com on Unsplash

A Safe Place to Play

I love the Montessori approach to creating safe areas for baby to explore freely on the floor, so we’re planning on investing in a playpen (since we aren’t fancy enough to have an entire playroom), with a low shelf for toys, and a cushioned play mat.

Here she’ll have the opportunity to freely explore and play while we can supervise her. She’ll also have plenty of opportunities to explore the rest of the house, especially as she becomes more mobile, which is where baby proofing is going to be immensely important!

A playpen is also going to be important for us, so she can get some floor time while keeping our pets away.

I think pets are a great opportunity for children to learn all sorts of life lessons, but I also believe it’s important to protect our very little babies from curious (or jealous) pets, until they’re old enough to protect themselves.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• Playpen Baby Gate
• Cube Shelf
• Cushioned Mat
• Various Baby Proofing Items

Photo by The Nix Company on Unsplash

Clothes and Diapers

I didn’t actually put very many baby clothes on my registry because I was fortunate enough to find a woman selling a ton of baby clothes 0–12 months on Facebook Marketplace for only $150.

Baby clothes are super expensive, and really only get worn for a few weeks before you’re moving onto the next size, so I never recommend purchasing baby clothes new, if you can avoid it.

That said, we will most definitely be purchasing cute little outfits for holidays, and I’m positive we’ll be gifted baby clothes, even if we aren’t asking for any.

As for diapers, we’re planning on primarily cloth diapering once she’s out of newborn diapers. I absolutely LOVE cloth diapers and am so excited to try them out!

We will keep a box or two in her current size of disposables, just in case, and when we go out or travel, we probably won’t cloth diaper (because we won’t have a readily accessible washer and dryer).

For more on our cloth diapering journey, I recommend this post → A First Time Mom’s Guide to Cloth Diaper Prep

Some helpful, but not necessarily essential, items for diaper changes include a diaper pail, changing table/pad, a diaper caddy, and if your home has multiple floors, it might be worth investing in a portable changing table.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• Pampers Swaddlers Newborn
• Nora’s Nursery Diaper Covers
• Alva Baby Hemp Liners
• Flour Sack Towels
• Changing Pad
• Changing Pad Dresser Topper
• Portable Changing Table
• Diaper Caddy

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

A Safe (and Appropriately Installed) Car Seat

I’m a huge fan of buying second hand, generally before I purchase anything off Amazon I’ll check to see if I can get it off Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp instead.

That said: I would never, NEVER recommend purchasing a car seat used (even gently used)!

Could you get a good deal? Yes. But the risk of getting a car seat that’s been in an accident, or otherwise damaged, is too high for something SO IMPORTANT!

When it really comes down to it, you want to know that your baby’s car seat is the absolute safest place for them to be in a wreck. That peace of mind is worth spending a little extra for a new car seat.

It’s also super important that our car seats are installed correctly!

So, if you aren’t confident in your ability to install your car seat, go down to your local fire station and they’ll teach you how to properly install your car seat before baby arrives 😊

We decided to go with a Graco Travel System, because it had wonderful reviews, and we loved the “Click Connect System” for taking baby from the car when we’re out and about.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• Graco Verb Travel System

Photo by Ömürden Cengiz on Unsplash

What Babies DON’T Need

While there are only a few things babies truly need, there are PLENTY of items babies don’t need, and a few that could actually be harmful to our babies despite their popularity.

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Babies don’t NEED toys

I know, you wouldn’t think so with how many baby toys you can find in stores and on Amazon! But it’s true, newborn babies are just experiencing this world for the first time, which is unbelievably stimulating!

They’re discovering sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell for the very first time!

Even just watching your face, and hearing your voice, is enough to keep them engaged for hours!

In a few short weeks your baby will be discovering she has hands, and FEET! Imagine the delight and endless hours of fun to be had exploring her own body!

Soon her eyesight will improve, and she’ll be able to take in more of her surroundings! Her grip will improve, and she’ll be able to reach for the things she sees around her!

Then it’s off to the races, because baby’s worming, scooting, and crawling EVERYWHERE!

SO MUCH TO EXPLORE!

The world is her oyster and she’s ready to dig in!

No, that’s not to say toys are evil, or can’t be amazing resources for our children. OF COURSE NOT! It is to say though, that we don’t need to feel so much guilt and pressure as first-time parents to purchase “x” trendy new baby toy/entertainment system. Simply being with your child is enough!

That said, many parents (including me) WANT to purchase toys for our babies on the way. So, here’s my approach:

1. Keep it simple, minimal, and open ended
2. Keep it developmentally appropriate
3. Keep it affordable and sustainable (used if possible)
4. Find ways to make it last

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Keep it simple, minimal, and open-ended

Babies are exploring EVERYTHING for the very first time! So, it’s super easy for them to become overstimulated. This is why the very best toys for babies are simple, minimal, and open ended.

They provide a tactile experience for baby to explore, but they aren’t flashy, noisy, or startling. When baby has had enough, or is becoming overstimulated, they’re easy to put down and explore something else.

Some simple, minimal, and open-ended toys I recommend, and will be purchasing for my daughter, are rattles, teething rings, balls, and interlocking discs.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• 5 Piece Wooden Baby Toys

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

Keep it developmentally appropriate

Babies grow so quickly in their first year of life! Milestone after milestone they just keep chugging along.

So, it’s important that we make sure our babies have developmentally appropriate toys to 1) keep them actively engaged and take advantage of their “absorbent minds” as Dr. Montessori put it, and 2) ensure they’re not bored with toys that are too “old” or too “young” for their developmental capabilities.

Many of the toys marketed for babies today are simply too advanced for such young infants, add on the flashing lights and loud noises, and you have a recipe for a toy your child will have no interest in.

Don’t waste your money on toys that your child won’t enjoy; invest in toys that will meet your child where they’re at and grow with them as they reach new developmental heights!

Photo by Rajesh Rajput on Unsplash

Here’s my approach:

It took a bit of time and research, but I looked into each of the developmental milestones my daughter will be reaching over the course of her first 2 years, then I paired those milestones with toys I felt would challenge her (but not overwhelm her) as she approaches each of those milestones.

Here’s are the milestones the CDC says children should reach and at what age → CDC’s Developmental Milestones

For the first few months, babies are primarily developing and exploring their sense of sight, so I looked for toys that worked with visual tracking, were high in contrast (babies can only see in black and white when they’re born), and that I felt would grow with my daughter.

Since she’s going to spend most of her waking time being held or doing tummy time, I thought high contrast cards, or a blanket would be a great option!

I also loved the idea of socks with rattles for when she’s just discovering her hands and feet, and baby crinkle paper so she can explore sound, texture, cause and effect, etc.

Mirrors are also great for babies this age because they can only see about a foot in front of them (the distance from your chest to your face).

Here’s what we have on our registry:

• Black and White Contrast Baby Toys
• Tummy Time Crinkle Toys with Mirror

For more about developmentally appropriate, and Montessori inspired, baby toys from 0–24 months — check out this blog post!

Photo by Darya Tryfanava on Unsplash

Keep it affordable and sustainable

As I mentioned before, I love Facebook marketplace!

If there’s something you’re searching for, chances are someone near you has purchased the same thing (or at least something similar).

I like to keep an Amazon Wishlist of everything I plan on purchasing, and before I click “add to cart”, I’ll do a quick search on Facebook to see if I can get the same thing cheaper (and only slightly used).

This has saved us a ton of money preparing for a baby, and because babies grow out of things so quickly, most of the things you can find secondhand have hardly been touched!

And when I’m ready to get rid of something I’ll generally post it up on Facebook marketplace for a few weeks before donating it or throwing it away.

Another great way to keep your baby’s toys affordable and sustainable is by shopping at thrift stores. There are some great finds, from parents who simply wanted to clear out their kid’s old toys, that generally only need a good clean before they’re ready to be reused again!

Not only are you saving the planet, you’re also saving money on the things you were already planning on purchasing!

Does this mean you can’t buy anything new? No. I’ve bought/received plenty of baby items, new off Amazon, when I couldn’t find (or didn’t feel like looking) for a good deal near me.

Like I said before, the most important thing for your baby is YOU! So, make sure you’re prioritizing your mental health, don’t hold yourself to unattainable standards.

If you’re anything like me, you often have more important things to worry about than saving a few bucks on a baby toy. Drop the mom guilt and give yourself a break, you’re doing great!

Photo by Susan Holt Simpson on Unsplash

Find ways to make it last

Like I mentioned before, babies grow so unbelievably fast! Which makes it difficult to find items that will last.

If we don’t want to be purchasing new items every few months, it’s crucial that we get creative with the items we are purchasing.

Here’s my approach:

When I find a toy I think my daughter will enjoy, generally something open ended and developmentally challenging, I’ll look around to see if I can’t find that item in a pack with other items she might be able to use later on.

For example: I knew I wanted to purchase a variety of balls for my daughter to explore textures, cause and effect, and practice holding things. I was able to find this pretty easily, but in doing a bit more digging I was able to find a set of baby toys, including balls, for babies who are a bit older (toys like stacking rings and blocks).

This way I can pick and choose which toys to introduce when, and have some on hand as she grows!

In true Montessori fashion I plan to do a toy rotation, so it’ll be easy for me to add these into the rotation as they become more developmentally appropriate.

Later, I can find ways to repurpose the toys she’s already grown out of, and we’ll have all the toys we need for our next baby.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• 3 in 1 Soft Baby Toy Set

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Don’t Forget About Books!

Another fantastic item that many parents don’t necessarily consider when looking for baby toys is books!

The vast majority of my registry is cloth baby books, board books, and picture books! One thing I’ve known since long before I got pregnant was that I wanted to nurture a love of reading in my kids.

By far, the best way to do this is by having books on hand that you read to your child and that they can eventually read themselves.

It’s also important for our children to see us reading on our own, for fun. This will encourage them to read on their own, for fun, even before they can technically read (because young children love to mimic).

As a Christian family, it’s important to us that we introduce scripture into our daughter’s life, as early as possible.

So, in addition to reading her picture books, we’ll also be establishing the habit of reading scripture daily, from birth (actually even earlier — my husband and I have been reading scripture aloud, every night, since her ears were developed enough to hear voices).

We’re also planning on teaching our daughter Spanish from birth. So, we’ve included quite a few Spanish and bilingual books on our registry.

Along with books, I love the Montessori inspired front facing bookshelves for children, because they allow children to see the covers of the books instead of the spines (this is far more effective in encouraging children to actually pick up the book).

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• Cloth Baby Books
• Various Board and Picture Books
• The Beginner’s Bible
• My First English-Espańol Learning Library
• Various Spanish and Bilingual Children’s Books
• Front Facing Bookshelf

Photo by Jimmy Conover on Unsplash

Babies Don’t Need Bouncers, Walkers, and Entertainment Centers

There have been quite a few studies done that show the negative impacts bouncers, walkers, and entertainment centers have on infants.

Not only are these items not helpful to our children’s development, but many of them can (and do) actually hurt our children!

If you want to learn more about why these items are harmful for children, I recommend checking out this post → The Downsides of Popular Baby Gear: What You Need to Know

While I’m not a fan of bouncers, walkers, and entertainment centers, I am a huge fan of baby wraps and baby carriers!

I’m a firm believer that you cannot spoil a baby by holding them too much, and it’s important for baby’s development for them to see you going about your everyday life!

So, in lue of bouncers, walkers, and entertainment centers, we’re investing in baby wraps for around the house, and a baby carrier for when we’re out and about.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• Baby Wrap
• Baby Carrier

Photo by hui sang on Unsplash

There’s A Lot Babies Don’t Need

Seriously! Most items marketing toward new parents are COMPLETELY unnecessary! More than I can list in this post without making it a novel 😂

If you want to learn more about what babies DON’T need and why, check out this post → Debunking the Baby Registry: What Not to Buy

For the sake of this post, here’s what I don’t recommend putting on your baby registry:

• Battery Operated Baby Toys
• Baby Dishes, Utensils, and Sippy Cups
• Baby Rice Cereals
• Baby Holding Devices (including cribs)
• Baby Learning Apps or Shows

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

What Does Dr. Montessori Have to Say About It?

In one of my favorite Montessori parenting books, “Montessori from the Start” by Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen it states:

“Children under three years of age have a different means from adults for sustaining their attention, and thereby developing their minds. They are not capable of reason, abstract thinking, or imagination, so they cannot make conscious choices for their attention, based on intelligence. However, they have a unique ability to absorb the qualities of their environment, just by being exposed to them. This “absorbent mind,” as Montessori called it, is the base of the universal adaptation of human beings. Because the infant observes every aspect of her environment, we need to be very careful about what we include in it. Certainly, we want to build this environment on universal principles of beauty, simplicity, and order. Soothing as contrasted to strident colors and simple rather than complex patterns on the child’s bedroom walls, for example, provide a beneficial backdrop. With less background distraction, objects specifically placed in the room, more easily draw the attention and encourage focus and exploration.”

This is what I try to keep in mind with every decision I make regarding the environment I’m creating for my daughter.

Whatever I provide is going to establish her foundational understanding of the world. Placing too many items in a child’s environment, or items that are distracting and overstimulating, can create chronic stress in our children and result in a consistently elevated baseline of stress throughout their life.

Another of my favorite parenting books, “Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids” by Kim John Payne talks about the importance of simplifying and protecting our children’s environments. Chaotic environments very often lead to anxiety and behavioral issues (and can even result in many of the behavioral disorders we see today).

For more on my favorite parenting books that I recommend reading during pregnancy, check out this post → Expecting My First: Parenting Books I’m Reading and Recommending

Photo by reihane haririzade on Unsplash

A Few Items I Didn’t Mention

There are so many baby items out there, and no list on the internet is going to have every single item you’ll need, and none of the items you don’t.

So, as parents, it’s our job to do our own research and create an environment for our children that fosters childhood development and enables us to take care of ourselves so we can better care for our little ones!

A few items on my registry not listed above include an infant bathtub that grows with baby; a baby hygiene kit with a thermometer, electric file, baby nail clippers, tweezers, and more.

A video baby monitor that doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi, as well as a camera stand so I can attach it to her bassinet; a 3 in 1 highchair that can be converted into a booster seat, and a toddler table and chair.

Montessori wasn’t an advocate for highchairs, she recommended a weaning table, but it was important to us that we eat at the table, as a family. So, we compromised with a highchair that could be converted into a booster chair when she’s able to support herself while sitting.

Two diaper bags (a backpack style for our primary, and a smaller bag to be kept in the car in case of emergencies; hooks for the stroller so I can have more utility, and free up my hands, when we’re out and about.

Muslin swaddling blankets and burp cloth. We don’t plan to swaddle but swaddling blankets are a great size for cleaning up messes, using as a burp cloth, laying down when changing a diaper, etc.

A drying rack for bottles; a boppy pillow for nursing, as well as covers for the boppy pillow; and a 3-tiered cart for postpartum care items.

Here’s what’s on our registry:

• Baby to Toddler Bath
• Baby Health Care and Grooming Kit
• Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Video Baby Monitor
• Baby Monitor Crib Clip Mount
• HONEY JOY 8 in 1 Baby Highchair
• Diaper Bag Backpack
• Diaper Bag for the car
• Hooks for the Stroller
• Burp Cloths
• Muslin Swaddling Blankets
• Bottle Drying Rack
• Boppy Pillow
• Boppy Pillow Covers
• 3-Tiered Cart for Postpartum Items

Photo by Minnie Zhou on Unsplash

Thanks For Your Support!

As a first-time mom, I’m figuring all this out as I go, so I created this blog to document my journey into all things motherhood, Montessori, minimalism, and more.

To follow along my journey from this point forward, go ahead and check out my most recent blog posts by clicking here, or by checking out my profile here.

To follow along my journey from the very beginning check out my blog posts from the start! I recommend starting here, or clicking on my profile and scrolling to my very first posts 😊

Or feel free to jump around and read whatever speaks to you. I post 2–3 times a week so there’s PLENTY to binge when you have the time!

Never Miss an Update!

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Another great way to stay updated on the blog is to make sure you’re following me on Pinterest @therealmontessorimama, that’s where I post blog post updates and exclusive content just for my followers!

If you’re interested in real, candid, unfiltered stories about navigating motherhood, Montessori, and minimalism, I definitely think you’ll enjoy this blog post next! → Expecting My First: Parenting Books I’m Reading and Recommending