7 key elements to create a Montessori nursery

“The child has a different relation to his environment from ours…the child absorbs it. The things he sees are not just remembered; they form part of his soul.” —Maria Montessori

A Montessori-inspired nursery should be simple, organized, and aesthetically soothing. Your baby will eventually become conscious of the space you’ve created, and when they do, it will feel familiar and safe. 

A central goal in the Montessori philosophy is independence. Once your baby’s on the move, you’ll need to check to make sure outlets and corners are covered and that nothing can easily topple over. Consider bolting large furniture like bookcases and dressers to the wall. While safety is standard, your parenting style and your baby’s needs will inform your choices about their environment. Every family is unique and you know best what will work in your nursery. Take those things and leave the rest ❤️

If you want to create a Montessori-inspired nursery, here are its key elements:

A floor bed

Putting your baby on a mattress on the floor to sleep may seem counterintuitive, but a floor bed allows them to visually explore without bars in the way. Being at floor level also teaches your baby about safety boundaries (some parents use a rug or bolsters around the floor bed to reinforce this). 

Floor beds support your baby’s developing independence, too. As they get older, your baby will have the freedom to go to sleep when they are tired and get up when they are awake, teaching them to tune into their body’s sleep signals.

Low shelves

Your baby maps their environment with their eyes even before they’re mobile. Once they’re older and able to explore, a few thoughtfully selected playthings and books on low shelves empower your baby to choose what they are interested in without getting overwhelmed. Our Montessori Play Shelf is designed to make this easier for you and more fun for your little one. Continue making your baby’s perspective central to the design of the nursery by hanging photographs and artwork where your baby can easily see them. 

Topponcino

This simple Montessori pillow provides emotional and physical support in the first few months of your baby’s life. It’s easy to move and maintains its smell, texture, and temperature. Topponcinos provide consistency and head support as your baby transitions from being held by one person to another. Prepare a topponcino by sleeping with it yourself so your baby will be surrounded by your scent no matter where they are ❤️

A mobile

Babies learn to control their eye movements when they are only four weeks old, so a mobile is a perfect first Plaything. Mobiles support visual tracking, visual discrimination, and concentration. They also strengthen eye and neck muscles as your baby follows the mobile’s movement, and arm and core muscles when they eventually begin reaching for it. Use mobiles in your baby’s movement area; their bed should be saved for rest and sleep.

As your baby gets older, they learn to visually track and physically move toward the mobile in a coordinated effort. Mobiles are often the first indication of this kind of combined cognitive and gross motor development; they lay the groundwork for working toward a goal. 

Natural materials

The softness of cotton, the warmth of wool, and the texture of wood all give your baby rich sensory stimulation. Natural materials offer tangible information about the world, especially when you use them together, like the weight of rock versus felt or the temperature of metal versus wood. Natural materials (as long as you take care of them) are safer for your baby to touch and mouth. Using wool, wood, and cotton in the nursery can also help regulate emotion, which contributes to a sense of calm. Simple, natural playthings teach your baby about cause and effect: banging a wooden block on the floor makes a noise, while dropping a felt ball doesn’t.

Mirror

Many Montessori-inspired nurseries designate a space for movement and play, and a mirror is a perfect centerpiece. Your baby can see their own reflection and observe their environment from different angles. As they get older, they will be able to study their body as they move, making connections between what they can feel and what they can see. Be sure the mirror is made of plexiglass and securely fastened to the wall ❤️ 

The Lovevery Play Gym

Designed by experts to nurture your baby’s cognitive, gross and fine motor, and sensory skills, the Lovevery Play Gym is a portable movement space; you can bring it wherever you need to be. Its five distinct zones focus on different developmental skills. The high-contrast black and white cards in the Learn to Focus Zone, for example, visually stimulate your baby and strengthen the connection between their eyes and brain. Lay your baby on their back in the Making Sounds Zone and hang the batting ring above them. The sounds the ring and mat make when your baby kicks and moves build their understanding of cause and effect.  

Learn more about how you can bring the Montessori method into your home with Lovevery.