Infant Shelf Setups By Age
Infant Shelf Setups By Age
An infant shelf can be a valuable part of a baby’s prepared environment, especially within the infant movement area. It offers a simple, accessible display of developmentally appropriate toys that invite exploration and allow your child to begin making early choices about what captures their attention in the moment.
Of course, parenting is full of busy seasons, and little ones change quickly as they grow. The ideas below offer inspiration for what you might include on a Montessori shelf for a baby at different months. Keep in mind that every child develops at their own pace and will be drawn to different materials over time. Remember the core Montessori principle to follow the child, starting with a small, intentional selection, and expanding and adjusting based on what your child shows interest in. You may be surprised by how clearly they communicate their preferences through what they reach for and return to again and again!
Jump to:
0-3 months
As a newborn and early infant, your baby is still adjusting to life on the outside. They won't need too much stimulation, as life is already fairly stimulating to them. For more information on what to do with your newborn, read our blog here.
However, for the few minutes a day they practice being on their tummy, you can set up their infant shelf to be a place they can recognize and give them resources to look at. You can include the following:
- Tummy support - This is the KiwiCo rainbow pillow from their Panda Crate. It's thinner than a Boppy and easier for propping up newborns. This can give them some extra comfort during tummy time to look at things on the infant shelf.
- High contrast board book - Although they cannot read, it gives them something to look at and provides familiarity to books as they get older.
- Crinkly toy / book - Around 2-3 months old, your baby may be fascinated by crinkly sounds. A crinkly critter from Itzy Ritzy or a crinkly book can support that interest
- High contrast display - Cards or this display from Target can give baby something to focus on while they raise their head during tummy time.
- High contrast books - While they're too young to read or look through books, they can be a nice additional thing to look at. Bonus points if you read them at bedtime!
3-6 months
From 3 months onward, babies will focus more on their gross and fine motor development. This means they will practice rolling, reaching, grasping, and scratching. The following toys and materials can help with that development:
- Oball - Easy for child to grab with both or one hand.
- Teether/ring - Simple to grab and practice holding for longer periods of time, bonus if child is already teething and practices bringing it to their mouth.
- Grasping toy- The Haba Magica toy allows the child to practice grasping and holding something bulky.
- Spinning drum - Helps develop a child's arm and wrist strength as they spin it, as well as learn cause and effect.
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Cage rattle - This Lovevery rattle is appropriately sized for a child to hold onto easily. The small balls inside the rattle provide and opportunity to practice tracking as they move around the rattle.
6-9 months
- Scarves in a box - Pulling out scarves or silks from a wooden box (or a regular tissue box) helps babies refine their grasping skills, as well as object permanence.
- Coin box - Allows babies to practice grasping small objects and object permanence.
- Shape Sorting Puzzles - Helps babies understand different shapes and refine fine motor skills as they place them on their appropriate pegs on the puzzle.
- Object Permanence Box - Practice object permanence.
- Xylophone - Practice making music.
- Sensory Blocks - Lets babies explore tactile touch with ribbons or crinkly paper.
- Wooden book - Babies can practice grasping this little wooden book from Lovevery and turning the pages to see different animals.
Were these suggestions helpful? Leave a comment below telling us what you're incorporating on your shelves at home, or if there's an age group you need recommendations for.
