The Best Montessori Toys for Babies

Incorporate this educational philosophy from day one with these Montessori-friendly toys.

By Briana Engelbrecht

Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson

Published Jan 3, 2025|Updated On Apr 8, 2025

Published Jan 3, 2025Updated On Apr 8, 2025

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In This Article

What makes a toy a Montessori toy?

They’re Made of Natural Materials

They’re Simple

They Engage One Skill at a Time

They’re Realistic and Purpose-Driven

Developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori in 1897, the Montessori method is a child-centered approach to learning that emphasizes hands-on, purposeful activities directed by the child. For many parents, the first introduction to Montessori comes through simple toys made from natural materials, usually wood. The concept goes far beyond the aesthetic, though; it encourages kids to engage in thoughtful, age-appropriate play that supports their cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. “It’s a way of seeing your child and showing up with curiosity, intention and deep respect for their development,” says Lynda Apostol, a certified Montessorian and founder of The Montessori Teacher.

Kermichelle Leo-Joseph, a Montessorian and founder of Montessori in Color, adds: “Montessori is a mindset first, and once you understand the ‘why’, [how to do it] naturally follows.” While there's no list of “official” Montessori toys, I chatted with both Apostol and Leo-Joseph about which toys support the philosophy best and how to incorporate it into your home from birth. The right environment and materials can help guide that play in meaningful ways. Here's how to set it up at home with both toys and furnishings.

Set the Montessori Stage

Incorporating Montessori in your home doesn’t actually start with the toys themselves. Instead, “It begins with meaningful choices: placing a soft mat on the floor, keeping toys and materials within your baby’s reach and offering just a few purposeful items at a time,” says Leo-Joseph. This can look like something as simple as a play mat + mirror + mobile or an all-in-one play gym to create a safe and engaging spot for your baby to explore their surroundings and move their body during tummy time.

Grasping + Grabbing Toys

“Montessori-aligned toys at this stage are simple, purposeful and designed to support one developmental skill at a time,” says Leo-Joseph. “Look for materials that encourage natural movements like grasping, reaching, kicking [and] visual tracking.” Here are a few of our favorite toys that encourage hand-eye coordination and fine motor skill development.

Sensory Toys

From crinkly noises to toys they can safely mouth, incorporate a rich sensory experience in your baby’s play with these picks.

Montessori-Friendly Books

Reading to babies is so important for many reasons—including cognitive and visual development. They tend to love simple board books with high-contrast images and pictures of real faces and objects (which also ties into that real-life, practical element of Montessori).

What makes a toy a Montessori toy?

A toy is considered Montessori-aligned if it supports the same educational philosophies as the Montessori approach, like encouraging skill-building through play. “One of the defining features of Montessori materials is that they are designed to isolate a single skill,” Apostol says. “If a toy encourages concentration, coordination, repetition and independence and aligns with what your child is developmentally working on—without relying on novelty or passive amusement—it’s likely Montessori-aligned.”

Here’s what to look for when choosing a Montessori-friendly toy for your baby:

They’re Made of Natural Materials

The Montessori philosophy places importance on natural materials that children can learn about and safely explore. Does this mean absolutely no plastic allowed? Not quite. But for the most part, traditionally Montessori-friendly toys are made from materials like wood, metal, cotton, wool or even rock.

They’re Simple

These are toys that will encourage your little one to engage in open-ended, imaginative play with no batteries required. While there's nothing inherently wrong with electronic toys, Leo-Joseph says they typically promote "passive participation [and] entertain the baby rather than engage them. This includes toys with flashing lights, loud music or buttons that do all the work for the child.”

They Engage One Skill at a Time

Toys that focus on a single skill or concept help build the foundation for more advanced learning later on. “Think: a wooden grasping rattle, a mirror at floor level, a basket of everyday objects or a simple object permanence box.” Apostol says. “These are not ‘busy toys’—they are invitations to learn.” Toys like a single-shape puzzle, for example, or a rattle with a bell on it or a pounding bench are all single-skill toys that set the stage for learning as your child grows and develops.

They’re Realistic and Purpose-Driven

Maria Montessori favored toys and books that were rooted in reality. This means if you’re choosing between a figurine that’s a cartoon-like image of a cow versus a realistic image of a cow, it’s always best to go with the one that’s based in the real world. She also observed that children love to mimic the world around them, so anything that can help your little one feel like a true part of the “grown-up” world is encouraged. Montessori also prioritizes the development of practical life skills—things like getting dressed and cleaning. Leo-Joseph recommends parents invite their children into their routine. “Narrate what you're doing, involve them in caregiving moments and treat them as an active participant in family life.” (There are a bunch more fun, realistic toys for this once your baby enters toddlerhood.)

Lastly, there’s one other thing to remember when choosing Montessori-friendly toys for your baby: less is more. Instead of stocking your little one’s playroom with tons of toys, try to limit it to only a few. The key is to not put everything out at once and instead rotate toys once in a while or as you notice your little one has mastered the skill or no longer seems interested. (Sometimes putting a toy away for a few weeks then bringing it back out can actually renew their excitement and interest, plus they may be able to play with it in a new way now that they're a bit older). When you're setting up your baby's toys, focus on toys that will go the distance and that are appropriate for whatever developmental stage your baby is in at the moment.

Fewer toys out means less overwhelm for everyone (including parents who have to pick up at the end of the day) and it enables your baby to focus more on the task at hand.

The Best Montessori Toys for Babies

Incorporate this educational philosophy from day one with these Montessori-friendly toys.

By Briana Engelbrecht

Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson

Set the Montessori Stage

Toddlekind Snuggle Quilted Cotton Play Mat

Pehr Printed Baby Play Mat

Toki Kids Standard Organic Cotton Play Mat

Skip Hop Discoverosity Montessori Activity Gym

Lovevery The Play Gym

Lalo The Play Gym

Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Double-Feature Tummy Time Mirror

Etta Loves Sensory Strip (Reversible)

Lalo Art Cards

Grasping + Grabbing Toys

Manhattan Toy Skwish Infant Rattle

Essential Montessori Interlocking Discs

Lovevery Montessori Baby Rolling Rattle

Adena Montessori Peekaboo Knob Puzzle

Lovevery Hide & Find Drop Box, Baby Toy

Elite Montessori Object Permanence Box with Tray and Ball

Lovevery Montessori Shapes, 6 pc shape puzzle

Sensory Toys

AEIOU Silicone & Wood Multi-Ring Teether

Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set

Hape Multi-stage Sensory Gift Set

Quark Thiingy Teething Ball

Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Pull & Play Baby Sensory Toy

Manhattan Toy Wimmer Grasp & See Mirror

Montessori-Friendly Books

Macmillan First 100 Board Book Box Set (3 books)

Penguin Random House Look! Look! High-Contrast Board Book

Penguin Random House Baby's Tummy Time Book Box Set: A 3-Book Box Set

Hands Can Board Book

Baby Up, Baby Down: A First Book of Opposites

Baby Faces Board Book

Edible Colors: See, Learn, Eat

Global Babies

Baby Touch and Feel: Animals

Shapes: Early Learning Board Book

Little Feminist On-the-Go

What makes a toy a Montessori toy?

They’re Made of Natural Materials

They’re Simple

They Engage One Skill at a Time

They’re Realistic and Purpose-Driven

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Toddlekind
Snuggle Quilted Cotton Play Mat

Pehr
Printed Baby Play Mat

Toki Kids
Standard Organic Cotton Play Mat

Skip Hop
Discoverosity Montessori Activity Gym

Lovevery
The Play Gym

Lalo
The Play Gym

Manhattan Toy
Wimmer-Ferguson Double-Feature Tummy Time Mirror

Etta Loves
Sensory Strip (Reversible)

Lalo
Art Cards

Manhattan Toy
Skwish Infant Rattle

Essential Montessori
Interlocking Discs

Lovevery
Montessori Baby Rolling Rattle

Adena Montessori
Peekaboo Knob Puzzle

Lovevery
Hide & Find Drop Box, Baby Toy

Elite Montessori
Object Permanence Box with Tray and Ball

Lovevery
Montessori Shapes, 6 pc shape puzzle

AEIOU
Silicone & Wood Multi-Ring Teether

Infantino
Textured Multi Ball Set

Hape
Multi-stage Sensory Gift Set

Quark
Thiingy Teething Ball

Skip Hop
Silver Lining Cloud Pull & Play Baby Sensory Toy

Manhattan Toy
Wimmer Grasp & See Mirror

Macmillan
First 100 Board Book Box Set (3 books)

Penguin Random House
Look! Look! High-Contrast Board Book

Penguin Random House
Baby's Tummy Time Book Box Set: A 3-Book Box Set

Little Feminist
On-the-Go