Montessori toys by age: a practical guide from 0 to 24 months
Published content: January 28, 2026
If you are reading this you have probably heard about Montessori toys and how they can help your baby develop in a more natural, independent and respectful way. But as soon as you start searching you find hundreds of options, a lot of products labelled as “Montessori” that are not and one constant question: what is really appropriate for my baby’s age?The Montessori approach is not about filling a room with expensive wooden objects, but about offering simple, safe and well‑designed materials that allow your child to explore by himself, repeat, make mistakes and try again. IMAGEN_C That is why choosing toys by stage is so important: what makes sense at 3 months does not work at 15, and the other way round.In this guide I use a very clear structure by age ranges: 0–6 months, 6–12 months and 12–24 months. For each stage we will see what your baby is learning, which skills are worth supporting (vision, grasp, hand‑eye coordination, balance, language…) and which types of Montessori toys make more sense at that moment. The idea is that you can check your baby’s age and leave with a concrete, actionable list of ideas.Safety is another key point. Quality Montessori materials are usually made of wood or natural fabrics, with non‑toxic paints and shapes designed for very small hands. Throughout the article I will remind you what to check every time: smooth edges, pieces that cannot come off, a size that prevents choking and easy cleaning, which is often forgotten but critical in everyday life.Besides theory you will find very practical tips: how many toys to offer at once to avoid overstimulation, how to present them so they attract attention without overwhelming, how often to rotate them and how to observe your baby to know if a material is already too easy or still too challenging. It is not about following a strict programme, but about learning to read their signals and adapt the environment.Finally, remember that Montessori toys work very well for small homes and busy families: they tend to be compact, versatile and allow the child to play for a long time with little adult intervention. If you choose wisely, a single material can support several stages and different ways of playing, which makes the investment much more meaningful.
Montessori toys 0–6 months: first stimuli and discovery
IMAGEN_L From 0 to 6 months your baby is discovering his own body and the world through the senses. He will see strong contrasts more clearly, listen with curiosity to gentle sounds and start opening and closing his hands on purpose. At this stage Montessori toys are not about making him do impressive things, but about offering clear and calm stimuli that he can look at, track with his eyes and gradually grasp and release without frustration.This is a phase where less is more: a few well‑chosen materials in a peaceful environment help much more than a cot full of noisy objects and flashing lights. The main goal is for the baby to feel safe, accompanied and to have chances to explore freely without being overwhelmed.
Montessori mobiles and high‑contrast cards
In the very first months Montessori mobiles hanging above the resting area or a play mat are a fantastic tool. They do not spin aggressively or make loud noises: they are usually simple geometric figures or elements that move gently with the air, so the baby can focus on shape, colour and movement at his own pace. Combining them with high‑contrast cards (black and white or with one strong colour) placed at eye level stimulates vision without overload.To work well they should be placed at the right distance (not too close and not so far that they lose interest) and you should avoid changing the mobile every day. Repetition helps the baby’s brain identify patterns, anticipate what he is going to see and feel more secure. A couple of well‑chosen mobiles can be used for several months without filling the house with objects.
Light rattles and rings for grasping
As your baby starts opening and closing his hands, light rattles and wooden or soft silicone rings become very useful. The Montessori idea is that he can hold the toy without too much effort, move it slightly and discover that his movement produces a different sound or tactile sensation. This strengthens hand muscles, improves hand‑eye coordination and reinforces the cause‑and‑effect relationship.It is best to offer only one or two objects at a time, on a firm mat where the baby can move freely. If you see frustration because he cannot grab it yet, you can bring it a bit closer to his hand or support his arm, but avoid doing everything for him. That small amount of challenge, without reaching tears, is exactly what gives the toy its educational value.
Montessori toys 6–12 months: movement, curiosity and coordination
IMAGEN_R Between 6 and 12 months many babies start rolling confidently, sitting, crawling and even pulling up to stand. Their world becomes three‑dimensional: they no longer just look at objects, they move towards them, hit them, pass them from one hand to the other and drop them to see what happens. At this stage Montessori toys focus on offering safe chances to practise these new movements without limiting their curiosity.This is also when concentration can last a few minutes: you may see your baby insisting on putting an object into a container, repeating the same movement over and over or chasing a ball that slowly rolls on the floor. Materials that propose simple, repeatable actions fit particularly well in this age range.
Treasure baskets and real‑life objects
IMAGEN_R A Montessori classic for this age are treasure baskets: a stable container with several safe everyday objects (wooden spoons, large rings, soft brushes, fabrics with different textures…). They are not “toys” in the usual sense, but real elements that allow the baby to explore sizes, weights, sounds and temperatures. Handling them slowly supports fine motor skills and sensory thinking.The key is to check safety carefully (no small pieces, sharp edges or fragile materials) and offer the basket when the baby is rested, sitting or on the floor, letting him explore without constant interruption. You can swap a few objects from time to time to renew interest, but without turning it into a constant stream of novelties.
Balls, rolling toys and pull‑along materials
IMAGEN_L When the baby starts crawling or moving by dragging himself, soft balls, textured balls or rolling toys that move slowly are perfect allies. By pushing them slightly and seeing them go away, the child feels motivated to follow them, practising balance and strengthening muscles in arms, legs and trunk. Pull‑along toys with a short string are also very interesting once he can sit or stand with support.Choose balls large enough not to fit in the mouth and avoid very long strings. A clear, obstacle‑free floor allows play to flow without having to stop him every few seconds. Again, the goal is not just to “burn energy” but to give his movements meaning and the chance to be repeated.
Montessori toys 12–24 months: independence, language and challenge
Between one and two years many children start walking, climbing small obstacles, pointing, saying their first words and showing a huge desire to “do it myself”. This mix of emerging independence and need for safety is the perfect ground for Montessori toys that propose small challenges: fitting, stacking, opening and closing, sorting by colour or size, turning on and off, and so on.At this stage interest in imitating adult life also grows: sweeping, wiping, “cooking”, carrying things from one place to another. Combining real materials adapted to their size with Montessori‑inspired toys helps channel that energy into games that build skills useful in everyday life.
Stacking rings, shape sorters and advanced permanence boxes
IMAGEN_R The classic stacking ring tower, shape sorters and more complex object permanence boxes (with drawers or multiple openings) are very representative of this stage. They invite the child to try, fail and correct: does this piece fit here, what happens if I turn the ring, why does one shape fit and another does not? These materials support basic logic, coordination and frustration tolerance in a playful context.For them to work as true Montessori toys it is best to offer only a few at a time and let the child experiment without constant correction. You can demonstrate once how to use them and then observe: little by little he will discover his own strategies. Valuing effort and persistence more than a perfect result is consistent with the Montessori philosophy and with healthy emotional development.
Practical life toys and real mini tools
IMAGEN_L So‑called “practical life” is one of the pillars of Montessori from around one year onwards. Small brooms, dustpans, cloths, light jugs for pouring water, spoons for transferring beans from one bowl to another or simple workbenches allow the child to take part in daily tasks in a realistic and safe way. Rather than “toys”, they are adapted tools that make him feel capable and useful.It is a good idea to start with very short, well‑prepared activities: a small amount of water, a few beans, a surface that is easy to clean. In this way the child can make mistakes without the environment becoming chaotic. Repeated practice with these materials improves coordination, balance, fine pincer grip and, above all, the self‑esteem that comes from collaborating in what he sees adults doing every day.