In a Montessori-inspired home, toys are tools, not clutter. We start with everyday objects — a wooden spoon to bang, a low shelf the child can reach, an empty spice jar to open, close, and smell — and then layer in a handful of beautiful, durable toys that match each new skill.

We also prioritize American-made goods in our shop and at home. That’s a surprisingly tight filter (so few toys are manufactured here!), and you’ll see us bend the rule only when the alternative feels right for our family. We always point that out so you can decide for yours.

6 – 9 Months

Grasping • Two-hand Transfers • Mouthing • First Scents

Your baby is learning to reach, hold, and explore with their mouth. Encourage open-ended play by handing over a clean wooden spoon, crinkly fabric scraps, or an empty (washed) spice jar with a perforated lid so they can shake and smell gentle spices like cinnamon. Thick beeswax crayons or washable markers taped together in a “bundle” make an easy first mark-making experience once baby can sit with support.

Baby Rattle – Baldwin Toys
A smooth maple handle and gentle click-clack rings make this rattle — see it here — perfect for new fingers. Unfinished wood means it’s safe when everything still heads straight to the mouth.

Stacking Cups – Green Toys
Six recycled-plastic cups invite banging, nesting, chewing, and, once baby can sit, pouring water in the tub. We don’t stock them, but we recommend Green Toys because the whole line is molded in California from curb-side milk jugs.

Lavender-Filled Cashmere Birdie – fly little bird
Up-cycled cashmere birdie stuffed with organic cotton and dried lavender introduces a calming scent and a pillowy texture during tummy time or car rides.

9 – 12 Months

Cause & Effect • Object Permanence • Crawling / Cruising

Now baby loves to make something happen: drop a block and hear it land, lift a cloth and see your face. Offer saucepans with lids, nesting stainless bowls, or a cardboard box with a ball to “post” and retrieve. A low mirror encourages pulling up, cruising, and waving at that fascinating friend in the glass.

Play Silks
If you have silk scarves in a drawer, you already own the best open-ended toy — peek-a-boo, pull-through-the-laundry-basket slits, or wave them while crawling. If not, we like Sarah’s Silks rainbow cloths. The silk itself is imported, but the company is family-run in California and dyes with non-toxic colors.

Wooden Shape Puzzle – Glad Folk
Chunky walnut shapes drop into a maple base. Tape family photos under each cut-out so baby lifts the circle and “finds” Mom. A warm, personal peek-a-boo that also refines the pincer grasp.

Shape Sorter – Green Toys
This recycled-plastic sorter twists open when frustration peaks, making it perfect for early dump-and-fill play before true matching clicks into place.

12 – 18 Months

Stacking • First Words • Early Pretend Play

Toddlers begin to build up, name objects, and mimic daily routines. Offer a low shelf with real-life items: a small metal pitcher and enamel cup for pouring water, a set of wooden measuring spoons to clink, or a basket of clean socks to match and “fold.” These everyday tools build independence and fine-motor control.

Mix-&-Match Trucks – Luke’s Toy Factory
Made in Connecticut from a maple-sawdust composite, these chunky trucks come apart and snap back together. Officially labeled 3-and-up, but pieces are big enough that confident toddlers can explore under supervision.

Wooden Play Food Set – 2 Mama Bees
Velcro-joined pine fruits and veggies let little chefs slice the carrot, stir a pot, and serve lunch to a favorite stuffie. Pretend kitchen play nurtures language (“hot,” “cut,” “tasty”) and grip strength.

18 Months +

Big-Piece Pretend • First Engineering Play

Your not-so-baby is ready for richer stories and small-muscle challenges. Keep a low drawer of grown-up tools: a whisk for “mixing,” large nuts and bolts to twist, big safety scissors to snip scrap paper. Rotate items so the shelf stays fresh without buying more “kid-specific” gear.

Soft, food-grade dough – Oh Eco
Invites rolling, poking, and pretend baking. Add real kitchen cutters or a child-sized rolling pin for extra fine-motor fun.

Dress-Up Capes – Lovelane
A simple hero green cape and cap or a pink cape and cap turn a couch into a castle. Because the pieces are fabric, they flex from toddler to kindergartener and fold flat into a basket when play is done.

No Guilt, Just Everyday Play

No guilt here. We aren’t perfect, and you won’t be either. Grandparents will show up with surprise toys, a flea-market treasure will tug at your heart, and that’s okay. Some of our favorite play pieces are bowls from a yard sale or Hot Wheels cars older than we are. What matters most is inviting your child into everyday life—letting them pour the beans for dinner, match socks from the basket, or hand you each spice jar as you cook. It takes patience, and yes, some days it flops. But when the practice clicks and you watch a tiny hand tackle a real-world task with confidence, it’s magic. Collect good tools, accept the wildcards, and keep play rooted in real life.