What Is It?
A set of five handmade toys from Pink House based on Montessori’s Assistants to Infancy training. They’re designed to help your baby with grasping, moving objects from hand to hand, and (when they’re a bit older) recognizing that two things go together, and putting them together, then taking them apart again.
We tested the three toys intended for younger babies. Anneliese is a bit small for the egg/cup and peg/cup.
My Thoughts:
I have a thing for well-made, handmade toys, simplicity, and wooden toys. And these are perfect! Really.
I know some people think that if a toy doesn’t make a bunch of noise / isn’t made of primary colors / doesn’t have 100 different fabrics and textures, it must be boring and babies won’t be interested. Not so.
These wooden grasping beads are quite easy for Anneliese to hold, and she enjoys shaking them around, putting them in her mouth, and occasionally changing them from her right hand to her left, and back again.
They’re smooth, and pleasing to touch. Anneliese approves.
She also finds the rattle very easy to grasp. It’s made of soft crocheted cotton, and the black and white design will appeal to most babies because they are attracted to sharp contrast and the edges of shapes. The bells inside this rattle make a sound that’s loud enough to please the baby, but not loud enough to ever become annoying. Very sweet. And machine-washable. And not polyester.
The interlocking disks were a little hard for Anneliese to hold when we first got them in the mail because she has to grip them with her fingers, rather than wrap her entire hand around the toy (as with the other two), but after a week or so, she had mastered holding on to them. The shapes keep her interested for many minutes at a time, as she turns the toy over and over in her hands.
Janice at Pink House told me to try rolling this toy on the floor, and it’s awesome. It rolls really slowly, which means it is perfect for when Anneliese is doing tummy time. If she nudges the toy it will roll just a little bit away from her. Then she can try to reach for it, or wiggle toward it, motivating her to make the first steps toward mobility.
Oh, and besides all that, these toys are just fun. Beautiful, well-made, fun toys. And that is that.
Buy It:
Visit Pink House on etsy to choose your favorite, or buy the whole set!
Win It: (CLOSED)
One lucky Joyful Abode reader will win a complete set of Montessori Infant toys.
Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a Navy wife and stay at home mom of two beautiful children. I cook simple, delicious, grain-free recipes, do crafts, decorate my home on a budget, and keep a happy household. I tandem breastfeed, babywear, cloth diaper, practice elimination communication, homebirth, and co-sleep, but I'm not a hippie.
I hope I’m not too late! I love these toys and I’m expecting my first in a few months… they’re exactly the type of toys we’d like around
I learned Janice is a stay at home mom.
I already follow you on twitter via @freshslow…
and I just subscribed to your feed
Merry Christmas
I learned that she is a stay-at-home mom. I subscribe via Google Reader and I follow you on twitter (@hdoublea).
I learned how the string on the ball toy was designed specifically within safety standards. I was wondering since the toy can be put in the baby’s mouth.
And I already like you on Facebook.
I already LOVE you (i mean like) on FB.
Dagmar67 at hotmail dot com
I follow you on Twitter as (@dagmarebaugh).
dagmar67 at hotmail dot com
Added Joyful Abode to my RSS reader (my yahoo).
Dagmar67 at hotmail dot com
I learned she spent 10 years as a Montessori Guide. We’d love these – our older son adores his Montessori school, and since we can’t enroll our daughter til she’s 15 months old, these toys would be fabulous for home use! Dagmar67 at hotmail dot com
follow you on twitter snowbordchick
her wooden circles roll nice and slow.
i love that all of her toys state that they are safe according to the toy safety laws…I get so nervous about what my sweet baby is putting in his mouth.
I learned that she has 5 toys and 4 are made of wood. The yarn rattle is of her own creation and it is safe to wash and dry in a washer/dryer. They look super cute!
)
I learned that the rattles are safe for the washer and dryer! I Like you on FB amber worman
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Rebecca Smith
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@LilyBearLove
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I learned that ‘The toys are not painted, stained, sealed or glued. Each toy ages beautifully with use. All of the cotton rattles are safe in the washer and dryer.’
rasmith0506 at gmail dot com
I like you on FB and just messaged you my name on Twitter. =)
I follow you on Twitter (@hernewdeal).
These have actually been on my universal Amazon wishlist for some time! I learned that Janice is out of Buda, which makes her just about local to me! I drive through Buda frequently.