11 Best Montessori Toys for Baby’s First Year
Want to support your baby’s development without cluttering your home with noisy, flashy toys? Montessori toys focus on simplicity, purpose, and hands-on learning—perfect for a baby’s early growth.
Montessori toys are simple, natural tools that help babies explore with their hands and senses. They’re designed to match developmental stages and support real skills, not just entertainment.
These 11 toys are all baby-safe, development-friendly, and thoughtfully designed. Plus, they grow with your child throughout their first year.
1. Wooden Grasping Toy
A must-have for early hand control.
This small, smooth toy helps babies learn how to grip, transfer objects, and explore with their fingers.
Ideal for ages 2–4 months when babies are discovering their hands. Look for toys made of untreated wood and safe finishes. Round shapes with ridges or flexible loops give more sensory feedback.
2. Black and White Contrast Cards
Perfect for newborn vision development.
These high-contrast images stimulate baby’s early vision and help focus the eyes.
Place them near your baby during tummy time or diaper changes. At birth, babies can only see strong contrasts like black and white—this supports early visual tracking.
3. Interlocking Discs
A Montessori classic for learning coordination.
Interlocking discs encourage rolling, transferring between hands, and early crawling motivation.
Great from around 3 months onward. When babies start batting objects or reaching across midline, these discs help strengthen both sides of the body.
4. Wooden Rattle
Gentle sounds, real movement.
Montessori rattles are simple, with just enough noise to grab attention without overstimulation.
Babies around 3–6 months love rattles. Shaking, chewing, and tracking the sound supports auditory development and cause-effect learning.
5. Object Permanence Box
Teach babies that things don’t vanish forever.
This toy helps babies understand that objects still exist even when out of sight.
Usually introduced around 7–8 months. Watch your baby drop a ball into the box and get excited when it reappears. It’s more than a game—it’s real learning.
6. Wooden Stacking Rings
Promotes hand-eye coordination and problem-solving.
Babies learn to stack by size and balance, improving both motor skills and focus.
At first, they’ll just mouth the rings. But by 9–12 months, stacking becomes a favorite task. Choose versions with soft edges and non-toxic paint.
7. Rolling Drum
For crawling practice and sound play.
This toy rolls slowly and makes soft noise, encouraging babies to chase it while crawling.
Babies 6–10 months old love this. The sound adds extra motivation to move and explore.
8. Shape Sorter Box
A true thinking challenge for late infancy.
Matching shapes to holes helps babies learn problem-solving, shapes, and dexterity.
From 10–12 months, babies can start testing shapes, rotating pieces, and celebrating every “click” of success.
9. Sensory Balls
Tactile exploration and grip strength in one.
These textured balls support sensory feedback, coordination, and object control.
Use them for rolling, squeezing, and introducing different feels (bumpy, soft, rubbery). They’re great for playtime on different surfaces too.
10. Peg and Cup Toy
Simple, quiet, and deeply satisfying.
Babies love fitting wooden pegs into matching cups—perfect for practicing precision.
It’s calming and helps with early logic, color recognition, and hand control. A perfect tabletop toy for solo play.
11. Pull-Up Bar with Mirror
Supports standing and self-awareness.
A mirror plus a stable bar lets babies pull up, see themselves, and practice balance.
Install around 8–12 months when babies are starting to stand. The reflection keeps them curious, and the bar gives a safe grip.
Why Choose Craftsliving for Montessori Toys?
We’re more than just a supplier—we’re the factory behind many of the best Montessori toys on the market. At Craftsliving, we specialize in:
- High-quality wooden baby toys
- Custom design & branding options
- Flexible wholesale partnerships
- Safe, non-toxic materials
- Smart, development-friendly designs
Our prices are competitive, and our production is reliable. Whether you’re a retailer, educator, or parent looking for trusted products, Craftsliving can deliver exactly what you need. Contact us for custom orders, bulk pricing, or exclusive toy ideas.
Conclusion
The best Montessori toys for babies are simple, purposeful, and support every milestone. Choose natural, safe materials—and partner with trusted makers like Craftsliving for quality that lasts.
