I’m not a purist when it comes to anything. One of the greatest things I learned in my 20s is that you can take what serves you without subscribing to an entire ideology.
There are multiple aspects of the Montessori approach that don’t appeal to me (like 3 period lessons, demonstrating without talking, and an emphasis on close-ended materials).
What resonates with me most about the Montessori approach? Respecting the child and setting up the environment to allow them more autonomy. (You’ll sense that common theme within this list.)
Let me show you how these 7 items make my life easier:
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you.
Don’t want to scroll? Here’s a quick list with links and discount codes:
- Montessori & Me Self-Care Station (CALM10 for 10% off)
- Guidecraft Rotating Bookshelf (CALM10 for 10% off)
- Elk & Friends Ceramic Plates
- Piccalio Folding Tower
- Lightweight Folding Stool
- Tovla Jr. Kid-Safe Knives
- Aneechi Kids Sanctuary Floor Bed (ACM100 for $100 off)
1. Mirror/Self-Care Station
If your toddler acts like you wiping their face is the end of the world or screams at the mere thought of brushing their teeth, this is so worth a try.
Young children are less lightly to resist self-care tasks when they feel like active participants. A station like this sets everyone up for success. Don’t get me wrong — it’s not a magic solution, but definitely a helpful tool.
The small shelf makes it easy for kids to grab their own toothbrush/comb/washcloth, and the mirror enables kids to easily see what’s going on as we assist them.
When my son needs to wipe his face, I ask him if he can find the crumbs or messy spots on his face and “make them disappear”. That’s much more fun for him than just hearing “go wipe your face, kid.”
My favorite part about this Montessori self-care station is that you don’t even have to drill into your wall to mount it — it comes with adhesive velcro strips that allow you to easily adjust the height as your child grows! (Or you can choose to use the included hardware.)
🔗 self-care station from Montessori & Me (use code CALM10 for 10% off)
2. Rotating Bookshelf
You’ve probably seen Montessori bookshelves before. They’re front facing so kids can see the covers, which makes it a lot easier to find what they’re looking for. Makes sense, right?
The downside of those bookshelves is that they don’t boast as much storage as a traditional bookshelf.
However, my kid tends to make more of a mess with traditional bookshelves since he ends up taking a lot of books out just to find the one he’s looking for.
This rotating bookshelf is the best of both worlds. You get more visibility and accessibility than a traditional bookshelf, but it can also handle a lot more books in a small space.
🔗 rotating bookshelf from Guidecraft (use code CALM10 for 10% off)
3. Ceramic Plates with Non-Skid Silicone Ring
I give my child breakable plates on purpose.
Yes, you heard me right.
The idea is that, when a child uses breakable tableware, they learn the natural consequences of their actions. They learn to be more gentle, careful, and respectful.
The nice thing is that these Elk & Friends plate do come with a removable silicone ring for a little extra grip. It doesn’t provide suction, but it does keep the plates from easily sliding around on the table or tray.
I’ll be honest: in my son’s 3+ years of using these plates, he has broken 2 (one on purpose, one on accident). Both times, he learned valuable lessons that didn’t require lecturing or artificial consequences.
For what it’s worth, I didn’t bother introducing breakable dishes until my son was about 18 months old (past the age of frequent flinging and dropping). Like I said, I’m not a purist.
I love that these are both dishwasher and microwave safe! While fully silicone plates are usually also dishwasher and microwave safe, they hold onto smells and tastes really easily. If I wouldn’t want to eat off of it, why would I expect my child to?
🔗 ceramic plates from Elk & Friends
4. Foldable Kitchen Tower
Thanks to my social media side gig, I’ve had the opportunity to try out a few different kitchen towers. Right now, this one is my favorite thanks to the folding aspect.
Even though we moved into a house that’s larger than our previous apartment, our new kitchen is a bit smaller and there’s no room to leave a tower out all the time. Being able to fold this one up and hide it in our pantry is such a plus.
(Although I kind of wish we had room to leave it out all the time because it’s so pretty. 😍)
It’s much sturdier than using a kitchen chair, and Piccalio sells optional panels that you can attach to the back to help keep younger toddlers more secure!
🔗 foldable kitchen helper tower from Piccalio
5. Lightweight Folding Stool
I know — this isn’t an aesthetic item. But I don’t care because it’s so practical!
It folds flat so you can store it just about anywhere, and it’s lightweight enough for a toddler or preschooler to move around the house.
Ours generally lives in the bathroom and travels between the toilet and the sink, but it’s also great for little tasks like reaching light switches. (Basically, it means I don’t have to get up and help with every little thing.)
Pro tip: pack one in your luggage when you travel!
6. Kid-Safe Knife Set
Toddler-friendly knives that actually cut? Yes, please.
I love introducing toddlers to cutting in the kitchen because it can keep them pretty busy. You can only dump a teaspoon of vanilla into a bowl once, but you can keep chopping a pepper for a good few minutes. 😆
🔗 kid-safe plastic knives from Tovla Jr.
7. Montessori Floor Bed
If you can fully baby-proof a room, a floor bed can be a great option starting from infancy. But when my son was an infant, we lived in a studio apartment with a cat and a bunch of unanchored bookshelves. Floor bed would’ve been a no-go.
In our case, the floor bed was a practical alternative to a conventional toddler bed once my son was able to have his own room.
We don’t co-sleep all night, but either my husband or I lie down next to our 4 year old while he falls asleep. Then when he’s asleep, we just roll out and go on our way.
🔗 Sanctuary floor bed from Aneechi Kids
Theoretically, you can follow Montessori principles without ever spending a penny. But some items in our home have proven to be so valuable that I can’t help but share about them.
Have you tried any of these items in your home?
A Calm Mom 
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