Comments on: Oh, Baby! Preparing a Montessori Environment for the Littlest Ones

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:35:20 +0000

Hi, Ruth! Sorry, I don’t have much advice for that. To be honest with you, I did not put my kids on a mattress on the floor – they slept in a crib. I felt it was safer.

I’m guessing that you should control the environment as much as possible – remove toys and other distractions and keep the room pretty dark. Otherwise, she will probably get used to it. There’s always a transition period when making a change like that.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:31:05 +0000

Thanks for your post! My husband and I have just set up a Montessori nursery for our 7 month old daughter. While we love how quickly her skills are advancing, she seems to be up half the night playing and is now cranky. Last night she was awake from 10-1 and would not stay in her bed as she was trying to learn to crawl. Have any advice?

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:59:46 +0000

So glad you “discovered” Montessori, Lyndsey! I love Michael Olaf – request a catalog if you don’t have one, because there’s a lot of great text besides the wonderful items.

Thanks for stopping by!

By: Lyndsey

Lyndsey — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:31:24 +0000

I have only recently “discovered” Montessori from birth-3. My husband had worked in a Montessori school as a Mathematics assistant, so while I was familiar with Montessori, I had no idea that it could start so young.

I’m feeling so inspired at the moment, and I particularly appreciate your link to Michael Olaf!

By: Adrianne Braun

Adrianne Braun — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:56:00 +0000

Great post! I am AMS Infant/Toddler Certified and happened upon your blog while doing some personal research on infant floor beds. In my classroom environments, I have often placed shelving around 1,2, or 3 sides of the floor bed(s) to define the space. Shelves can open into the bed area (for older infants- crawling at the very least) or open out into the room. The shelves could hold “rest-time appropriate” materials like security objects and books.
The horizontal full-length mirror hung at a low level is a wonderful part of a non-mobile infant’s activity area. It does not necessarily need to have the attached bar. Coupled with a floor mat, mobile, and accessible work materials (rattle, clutching objects), it can provide an infant with endless opportunities for fine and gross motor activity, along with the ability to actually *see* her/himself in motion. A tip on hanging mobiles: find a long (15″ +) swing-arm mount for a hanging plant (available at any home and garden store), and mount it to the wall above the infant’s rest or work area at about adult waist height. You are then able to change mobiles easily, and the hanger can also rest flush against the wall when not in use. Mobiles should be hung in front of the infant’s head, toward the chest (not directly overhead). The placement gives the child an incentive to develop eye and muscle control leading to head movement.
On decorating an infant’s room, be mindful to hang artwork at the child’s level. The bottom of the frame will often be a few inches from the floor.

I can certainly say that I will be following your blog from now on:)

By: Meredith

Meredith — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:33:00 +0000

Ooh, I wish I had a baby on the way with which to prepare a Montessori environment. Wish I had done it with all my kiddos, but I guess, better late than never! Cheers!

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:27:00 +0000

So glad to help, Jen! I wish I had chosen that kind of bedding for my kids. Luckily they don’t suffer from allergies.

By: jenmack

jenmack — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:38:00 +0000

Very timely for me Lori! Like Bridget, we've been Montessori'ish all along without naming it Montessori. But, the toy situation is one that needs improvement! I've been excited for a while to incorporate some of the more natural and less is more organic options to our home.

I am very appreciative for the link to the natural cotton bedding. Everywhere I've looked is MUCH more expensive. I bookmarked their site immediately to discuss with dh tonight!!!

Thanks for a great post!

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:30:00 +0000

So glad you liked it! I think that many parents do instinctively follow Montessori-like principles, but of course many do not.

In my experience, I think my kids were more receptive to Montessori ideas when they got a little older because we started so young.

By: Bridget

Bridget — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:47:00 +0000

Lovely post! I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my instincts led me to much the same baby rearing style as Montessori advocates even though I wasn’t familiar with Montessori ideas when my children were babies.