8 Montessori Items For An 8 Month Old Baby [CC]

[@jessicaoutofthecloset]

Hello lovely people, all links are now in the description! ❤️

[@itsmandatori]

am i having a baby now or anytime soon? no. am i watching the whole thing anyway bc of genuine interest in montessori but mainly bc i want to see jessica's cute outfits? yes.

[@jennifers5560]

Great comment, so honest. 🙂

[@katharinedonnelly8343]

Same here!

[@caitlynblake2773]

My youngest is almost 6, and I’m not having anymore babies, and I still love this content 😂

[@xxprettylittlethings]

I have 0 interest in having kids but as a teen I discovered Montessori and I’ve been so jealous to not have had this growing up ever since. This was so fascinating to watch

[@artesiandifferent]

Yup, yup... It's giving me diaper and formula ads though...

[@IceNixie0102]

Ooooooh I desperately want to see your "not Montessori" video where you talk about Montessori things you DON"T LIKE, and things that aren't Montessori-approved that you DO LIKE. Let us all see the rebel inside!

[@sianthesheep]

I'm fascinated by the parallels between increasing accessibility and independence for small people and doing the same for people with disabilities e.g. having a seat at his height that he can get in and out of by himself is similar to having level access to buildings. Rather than the world to conform to the needs of him (like I often have to try to confirm to the able bodied world) you are making the world change to accommodate his needs. It's kind of a revolutionary idea that a lot of baby's perceived helplessness is due to us not allowing them a world that empowers them, in a way that reminds me of the medical vs social model of disability. If only Montessori was applied to people when deciding on the world they should make for those of us with disabilities!

[@Isrjisoneavalable]

Where I live the qualifications for to be a Montessori teacher also qualifies you to be a special needs teacher and with/teach children and young people with disabilities. There’s also a move to start introducing Montessori methods and philosophies into care homes and for people with dementia.

[@sianthesheep]

@@Isrjisoneavalable That's really cool!

[@SaintShion]

So true! It's intresting; I think that most able bodied people wld propably be more willing to adapt this for a baby than adults. It would be nice if everyone could understand how each other moves through the world. Leave it to these 2 to be so smart! I've never heard of the parenting style till Jessica started talking about it, I love seeing the purposeful intention in which they raise their child. Everything they do is so well thought out!

[@cecilself1614]

I don't have children, but I do have a farm, and this type of accessible infrastructure works well for animals too! If they're able to, they prefer do so much of their care for themselves. I really think a lot of what we perceive as "helplessness" in adults, babies, and animals alike is just a lack of appropriate accomodations.

[@emilyb5557]

@@Isrjisoneavalable that's interesting. I work in a Neuro-rehab centre and wonder if it would be useful in our unit 🤔 esp as many patients are relearning a lot of skills and have limitations but often changeable.

[@sydneygraham1470]

This is the only channel related to parenting I've seen so far that hasn't grossly exploited the child for views. It's great you're respecting your child's right to privacy by not showing their face.

[@Amelia7o9]

And it's all cute moments that anyone looking back at their childhood would think is just "cool, that's me as a baby/infant/ect" and while there is a bit of talk about how his general development is going it isn't super in depth to the point of TMI. Jessica and Claudia are doing an amazing job as parents and their videos really have this embodiment of the kind of gentle supporting parenting that many people are trying to achieve. They may not be perfect at it but they are doing an incredible job with what they have done with their very young child.

[@sydneygraham1470]

@@Amelia7o9 Yes! So respectful of Rupert's privacy and super informative videos, great all around

[@iham4308]

Yes! It's a breath of fresh air - my heart soars for this child.

[@filmspot3859]

4 Best Educational Gifts for Your 5 Year Old Child. Learning and Education Toys for 5 - 8 years.

[@broken_rebirth]

@@Amelia7o9 Yes, I agree. It's obvious Jessica is making this video, and others, to share their parenting journey bc we are interested in it, not bc they want to show off an adorable baby to everyone pining for a kid of their own

[@leah392]

The “if he wants to wake up and play, he can go play” at 8 months old just blew my mind for some reason. Like, no wonder the terrible twos are a thing. Poor kids that age are probably sick of relying on parents just to get out of bed in the morning!!

[@audreydoyle5268]

Uh huh. It's my belief that a lot of parents make their lives harder by not learning and following better parenting practices, like Montessori, and instead rely on outdated methods they think only work cause it "worked" on them. Therefore, at 2 years old, when children start to understand language a lot better and have a basic grasp of good and bad behaviour, their parents restrict them with preventative rules so they "don't get hurt or in trouble". So the child begins purposefully mess making, learns how to push boundaries, and deliberately falls and hurts themselves to get their parent's attention. All the terrible twos is, is a result of restrictive, anxious parenting. Most children are good and are just curious to know more, we just fail most of the time to help them learn that they are more capable than we give them the dignity to explore.

[@nekkidnora]

Man, when I hear "won't they get up and play all night" I kinda roll my eyes- I'm sure some kids do, but mostly I think they know when they're tired, if they're vaguely independent? My oldest was 5 when we had the baby, and she categorically refused to share with the baby, and was waking up when the baby cried, and we couldn't afford to move for another six months, so we had no separate room for the baby. Baby slept in our room for a bit, but even that was a lot of noise for our oldest next door. Finally, we offered to move her whole bed and dresser to her play room in the basement, next to the laundry room, where she would play while we did chores early on. She liked the idea and we did it, and despite being in the room with all of her toys, every one of them, and knowing we wouldn't hear her up on the first floor? She stayed up maybe half an hour playing, on average, and then quietly put herself to sleep when she felt tired. I just... sometimes people need to trust their kids. And if she had stayed up all night, I bet she would have learned after a few nights that actually, that's not all that pleasant. She's a smart cookie. And trusting her judgement and her intelligence has led to a massively clever, independent, trusting kid. She just started high school and I'm constantly shocked at how much she tells us about her day, and her friends, and just... trusts us.

[@fireflythinking1290]

I'm 23, grew up with kind of toxic parents, and am not planning on having a baby any time soon... Your baby videos are very soothing and heart-warming to me. You and Claudia are the parents every child deserves and it gives me hope, because it convinces me that good parents actually exist, that they learn, pay attention to their child's needs, have empathy, etc. These videos make me feel like I could be a good parent as well if I ever want to one day ^^. You two are a true inspiration ❤!!

[@westzed23]

It is so good of you to comment here. For anyone that's been raised in a toxic way, Jess and Claudia give you an example of good parenting. They show how they are bringing up Rupert; how they play and feed him, and change his nappy and clothes. They are great role models. For anyone thinking of having a baby now or later, it's good to follow their example.

[@emilyk3825]

I didn’t even know about this parenting method before them! And I started researching it and it really gave me hope that I may be able to have a young child one day. I have a disability that comes with mobility issues, so I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to be physical enough for someone who needs a parent for EVERYTHING. But this system would help my kid gain the confidence and independence to grow up in a home with a disabled parent who may not always be 100%. Genius!

[@alionahamilton3427]

Watching good parenting videos is great reparenting for me, reminds me that children deserve love and kindness including past me.

[@SaintShion]

I was thinking the samething, compared to being an accident and having to v unstable parents there is such a purposeful intention in everything Jessica and Claudia do for Rupert. The love is adorable

[@miyapapayax]

My mom didn't want children because she grew up knowing her great grandma was extremely abusive to her dad when he was growing up and was afraid she'd be like that if she had one. She prayed about how she'd respond to me and raise me when she found out she was having me. You dictate how you'll treat your children, no one else. You have that power. I'm confident that your experiences and willingness to learn and grow would never allow you to mistreat your children, especially not on purpose. I'm sure you and everyone in these comments would make wonderful parents if that opportunity ever comes to you. As long as you love them and try to do what's best for them, and yourself ♥️☺️🙏🏾

[@anabluu]

I am not saying it lightly, this was probably the only video I have ever watched that does not fill me with stress about having a baby, but it makes me calmer and excited to try all those things and see them grow.

[@KatherineSinahon]

truuuuu it even makes me want to have a child 😭

[@1234bobfox]

SAME. Growing up with forced dependancy and strict structure was so suffocating and debilitating. This calm Montessori explanations are so reassuring

[@alisonbarker3862]

Oh, that is SO wonderful. xxx

[@jessatlife]

As someone who’s six months into their first pregnancy, I couldn’t agree more. Finding information has overall been really stressful, but I’m really excited as I watch these videos. I’ve been interested in Montessori for years and had no idea there was so much information about doing it at home, much less that you could start so early!

[@bbqmeandyoustinkypinkypewp4298]

​@@jessatlife hello! How are you doing now?

[@BrennaFrederick]

As a child-free disabled person, I've loved hearing you talk about how you're using Montessori because the majority of it seems like very basic accessibility! Just things like putting shelves with belongings in reach instead of where they're "supposed" to be, taking someone's height/strength into account, eliminating shame from bathroom use, needs met without having to ask for permission or aid... it's all the basic human dignity disabled people ask for and are often denied. It's so wonderful to see this accessibility extended to children, and I love to think that children raised this way will naturally see the necessity and dignity of access for all sorts of people as they grow up. :')

[@suzysnewlife]

I'm disabled too and I'm glad you said this as I hadn't thought of it like this. Just thought of it as a lovely thing to do

[@filmspot3859]

4 Best Educational Gifts for Your 5 Year Old Child. Learning and Education Toys for 5 - 8 years.

[@cacklebarnacle15]

Where I live, most of the times a montessori kindergarten also qualifies as an integrative kindergarten. That means smaller groups of children, some of them disabled the others abled, and an additional teacher qualified in therapeutic pedagogy. The Montessori concept lends well to this, because each child learns at their own pace anyways and would be accomodated just the same. So there is no need for a big change in mindset with the grown ups. And yes, it does teach the children to be accepting of everyones unique needs and that accessibility is a right and not a luxury.

[@Katie08822]

I’m so happy to see you encouraging healthy and safe autonomy for Rupert. I had a difficult childhood because I was so particular and independent. In their well-meaning attempts to control me, my parents ended up stifling my self-reliance, and now I’m relearning as an adult to trust my own judgement and needs. Being raised with this kind of parenting would have made a world of difference!

[@foxylovelace2679]

Dude I've been thinking the same thing. My parents were basically DeeDee and Stu from Rugrats all the way down to the self help books and child psychologists. Very well meaning and loving but I wonder what problems I could have avoided with more autonomy and self determination.

[@drivitt]

I've always wondered how I would have turned out if I had this kind of freedom with my sleeping. I have always been a night owl, even as a child, and my parents were very strict about bedtimes. So many fight about it from as early as I can remember... :( And now I have this weird and strained relationship with going to bed.

[@Katie08822]

@@drivitt That’s exactly what happened to me with food. Years of being forced to clean my plate made me really adamant about only eating things I actually like, which can make healthy eating a bit of a challenge. It’s kind of ironic that by forcing us to have healthy habits as children, they made it harder for us to stick to them as adults.

[@jerrihadding2534]

Jessica, I am a godmother to a person who was raised Montessori. His mother operated a Montessori day care facility for babies from “0” to 3 years old until she retired. He is now in his 40’s. I lived with the family for a little over a year from the time he was about 9 months old and he slept on a floor bed in the dining room, which opened into the living room. I was single and frequently went out on weekends, coming home quite late. I learned that I had to keep a sharp eye out when I came home because he would frequently leave his bed in search of toys in the living room, but would simply fall asleep again somewhere on the floor before he found them! 😂🤩 It made my heart melt every time discovering him as I came in as I carefully stepped by him.

[@rayyg786]

Lol like a cat.. My daughter would sleep-crawl into the walls. When She bonked her head against the radiator it would wake us up. And her. She did not like It😬

[@rachelcookie321]

Wow, Montessori has been around for over 40 years? Like I think I knew it was invented awhile ago but I didn’t know it was that big then.

[@joannaloza1148]

Maria Montessori opened her first class in 1907 !

[@R.F.9847]

@@rachelcookie321 Anne Frank attended a Montessori school before she was forced into hiding.

[@ichinisa2583]

I don't want to have babies, but hearing Jessica and Claudia so lovingly and patiently talk about raising their child like an actual human person kinda heals my soul

[@noneofyourbeezwax7284]

Love this and love Montessori. Want to point out though, especially because these beautiful wooden handmade toys are so aesthetically pleasing and trendy right now, the Montessori method can definitely be implemented without having to buy all these things! (nothing wrong with buying them if you want to and can! But a reminder to people who may feel they can’t access this Montessori learning style because of how trendy and aesthetic it has become on social media.) Household objects, hand me down toys and more I can also at the same purpose. An example for older kids, Those Functional toddler size kitchen, and helper towers are all the rage. But the same thing can be accomplished by moving a child’s items down to cabinets at their level, or just using regular stepstools so they can access the sink etc.

[@thatonetrumpet205]

The more I learn about Montessori, the more I realized how much it would’ve helped me as an autistic child. My parents would teach me skills by force instead of letting me explore by myself. It’s caused a lot of issues as I’ve gotten older and nearing adulthood. Can’t wait to see how it helps him as he gets older! And thank you for being such good parents. More children need parents like you.

[@maskedpanda8502]

I don't know when/if I will have a child but you have made me decide that if/when I do the method of parenting will be Montessori. I love the fact it recognizes the child's autonomy, even as a baby. Something I wish was more common to acknowledge. And the way you present it makes so much sense.

[@KindCountsDeb3773]

autonomy would seem to be very good for the parents as well.

[@audrab.589]

Fine motor game - lacing. It maybe to early for him but there are lacing boards (you can probably make them). You weave a yarn in and out or make crazy patterns with them. I’m a Special Ed teacher and I have used this with students who need fine motor practice but it can be done for fun as well.

[@paadoxal]

oh yeah! those are great:)

[@mo0nflowersart]

@@paadoxal they really are!!

[@alisonbarker3862]

The 'SPECIAL ED' term is extremely abusive and prejudged. [I have had a disability for 53 years].

[@SeymourDisapproves]

@@alisonbarker3862 what should people use instead, then?

[@augustevarkalaite321]

My parents didn’t know much about Montessori methods. But they did a lot of things intuitively very similar to Montessori. Especially the potty training bit - it’s just there, I was learning about it and was one of the early children to not need a nappy. I saw the same thing happen with my younger siblings. When I will be a mom I will definitely implement these methods consciously.

[@theresethalsethkvande5888]

This is so interesting. I'm a preschool teacher and have always been extra interested in Montesorri. We visited a Montesorri kindergarten in Sweden for a job trip many years ago and I was totally mesmerised. Especially by the way their kitchen area was made so the children could reach everything themselfs. But the mos mind-blowing positivly must have been the arts and craft areas. They had three studios adapted to age where everything was out and showing to be inviting to make the children want to craft. I got so lost in the amazing layouts that I ended up being late for a meeting. Hehe. If I was ever going back to school I'd love to educate myself in Montesorri.

[@NuttyRottenCandy]

Jessica and Claudia are the parents everyone deserves. My heart goes out to all of you who's parents were neglectful, abusive, violent, and so on. You are a wonderful person, you bring joy to others and give so much despite your upbringing. You are not perfect, no one is, so just remember to be the best and kindest you can.

[@audreydoyle5268]

As a person who suffered abuse from my parents, I would like to say thank you for your kind words. But also, when speaking about this topic, I personally think it would be better to say "negligent" rather than "neglectful". "Neglectful" sounds as though neglect is just the playful, not as, well, harming version of physically or verbal abuse. As though it is a simple description. Whereas "negligent" gets straight to the point, and perfectly resonates as meaning the slack and inconsistent meeting of basic needs.

[@NuttyRottenCandy]

@@audreydoyle5268 I'm not a native English speaker so I appreciate the feedback, thank you🌻

[@audreydoyle5268]

@@NuttyRottenCandy you're most welcome 😊 and for someone who has a different first language than English, your spelling and punctuation is very good.

[@DestructionGlitter]

My daughter is 5 now, but I remember her being 8 months and learning to stand up before she could sit up - everyone told us it's wrong or weird but we were like "meh" and let her be. There were a lot of child-led processes that worked really well with her that we would have not been able to do otherwise. One day when she was about 2.5 she just said she didn't want diapers anymore, and that was literally the end if that. When she was less than 3 years old she just gave up her pacifier all by herself. In that sense it was very similar to what you're doing, but honestly if I'd known what Montessori was at the time, I'd have probably gone for it, too 🤷

[@kittymervine6115]

Thank you, fewer is BETTER. Don't bring a new baby a toy unless there is a registry. Also my grandson in loving Montessori, age 4. So proud his mother chose Montessori like I did for her!

[@fedepereiraa]

This journey is so interesting! I'm not even a mom, I'm just a teen interested in education, but I love this updates and perspective. Thank you for sharing, much love to you, Claudia and Rupert 😊💕✨

[@jennifers5560]

It is so lovely to see how much time and thought you are putting in to raising Rupert. …Does anyone else think there be an uptick in “Montessori” searches today?

[@ashneehs]

Jessica and Claudia are such good people and parents that they're helping me overcome deep scarring trauma caused by my parents

[@maddiedoesntkno]

Floor beds are lovely to me also because they seem so much safer than cribs. No pinch points, nothing to fall off of or bruise on.

[@junkjunkloot4357]

Hey Jessica! If you want a video idea, what about some games you play with your little one in the Montessori method? What does parental participation look like for play while upholding the principles that Montessori encourages? Maybe it would also be cute to talk about what the two of you gravitated towards as little ones when you played, your favourite toys/activities, etc.

[@sregan5415]

You're literally the first KZbinr/vlogger I've seen who makes me actually wanna have kids. Everyone tries to portray parenthood in a positive light, but many I see... they just looked so much happier pre-kids. Jessica was *made* to be a mother and you just seem in your absolute element. It's truly amazing to see someone so selfless and Rupert is a very, very lucky boy!

[@JollyHolidaywithMary]

I vote for an hour long Montessori video!! Lol. I love Montessori even though I don’t have kids yet. I’m ready for all the videos!

[@TheJoyBinkley]

same!

[@OtherBlueFae]

Oh my goodness Rupert is such a cute little chap! I loved hearing his reactions to the ball tracker. He’s so chatty! My nephew is about to turn seven, and sometimes I truly can’t believe it! It’s like, “No, you were just a tiny baby! How did you get so big?!”

[@KindCountsDeb3773]

baby time seems to fly by !

[@Darkthestral1]

You can do a lot of fun things with beans. They come in different sizes and colors and make fun noises when you drop them on different surfaces. You can take a toilet paper roll (the cardboard portion) put some beans in and fold/bend the ends together to make a rattle of sorts. You can do a lot of DIY rattle things and they'll all make slightly different sounds and would be good for motor skills. Most won't be durable but you can use random stuff tupperware of different sizes, toys with holes, plastic Easter eggs, ect and it's a nice activity for parents to do with kids. Plus you can throw in counting if your kid's up to it.

[@darkacadpresenceinblood]

you're so right beans are amazing, my mom used to play counting games with me using beans when I was tiny

[@gamingamanita]

Jessica's tips and just general talk about Montessori, really pinged my interests because my partner and I are planning to have a baby next year. And Montessori is something that really interests me to try

[@KindCountsDeb3773]

it's reassuring that it has a long, admirable history for being correct and helpful.

[@normamcphee8956]

I like that he has a nice little shelf of books near his floor bed.

[@tortoiseshell.cats.and.dragons]

I love that Rupert can get out of bed and play with his toys if he wants to! I definitely want to be a parent one day, and I'm pretty sure I'll be looking to the Montessori method for inspiration.

[@narnigrin]

I love the vibe of Jessica signing "Yes, precisely!" at some random noise that Rupert does. I did this (well, I don't know sign language, so I did it verbally) when my kiddo was at the cooing stage and a lot of people kept being either amused, surprised, confused or a combination, which I think is odd, because why not respond to your tiny human as though they have language right from the start? (Besides, small children understand language way before they can produce it to the same level, which gets obvious pretty fast if you spend any amount of time with a child right at the breakpoint between infant and toddler.)

[@elphie93]

I've definitely had funny looks in cafés for how much I talk to my four month old but he is starting to fill gaps in conversation with his little babble. You're so right - babies understand language way before they speak intelligibly.

[@KWAnima]

We also started toilet learning in the same manner that you did! Our daughter (6months) army crawls to the potty when she needs to go now.

[@claspring]

I've been reading up on 'elimination communication' after hearing Mayim Bialik discuss it and it seems like a similar approach, if perhaps less intense!

[@microwavegum]

This tiny little human so capable of so much

[@treefrog1018]

I work as a nanny and while I am very happy with my current family...this video makes me want to work for you. 😍 I know your lives are far from perfect but...the way you wish to encourage your child's independence to care for themselves is definitely a trait of my unicorn family. Unicorn family = the perfect fit for a family and their nanny

[@annajackson9001]

The family I nannied for I'm still close with them and I'm now godmother to the eldest child, and I stopped looking after them 20years ago, I was with them for 15.5 years

[@elliel4736]

2:08 "It's a safe space for you that will always be here for you when you're tired of your explorations." Sounds like something from a fantasy novel, I love it.

[@TheJoyBinkley]

This was fantastic! We're starting to think about kids, and I love the concepts of Montessori. Also, as an adult who sleeps on a floor bed (Japanese futon situation) I can confirm that it is cooler than an elevated bed. We use a fluffy silk duvet year round and change pjs with the weather. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to put children on floor beds. It's my favorite of all the sleeping situations we've tried. :)

[@Marymationnn]

Dear Jessica, thank you so much for working with Surfshark. I have watched your videos for a long time, and this ad stuck in my memory. Now my country is harshly blocking the internet so that people won't have opportunities to seek any truthful information aside from propaganda (unfortunately, I am a citizen of Russia). KZbin will probably be blocked too very soon. At times like this, VPN is a means of survival. I'm so glad I could find a relevant link with promo code at your channel. I bought myself 3 years of subscription in advance, and it was still affordable, even though the economy right now is at its bottom and will continue to fall. P.S. Praying for all people in Ukraine

[@sydneygraham1470]

Lmaoo the "yes, precisely" to the ababababababa was too cute

[@hannah3965]

Love the Montessori approach and to hear how Rupert is thriving. Wonderful parents.

[@Gelca510]

I love this! I have older children but I believe these different Montessori concepts are amazing. I especially like the bed, I had never thought of just having a mattress on the ground. I think that is really great idea. ❤

[@antoniaarias1614]

My kid started sleeping on a floor bed at 18 months and it was so perfect! She could go about her business if she wanted to but knew that WE were sleeping and it was quiet time. She fell asleep easily and slept through the night.

[@garnetcookley2012]

16:48 his little "yeah yeah yeah" 🥺🥺 hes too precious!!!

[@annajackson9001]

Thank you, this is so interesting, I think the idea of only having a few toys out is good because like you said they get overwhelmed, may I ask did you mean that Rupert puts his own toys away? That is a great skill to have. Forgot to say, when I was growing up, my mum would fill the baby bath with sand or water and I would spend hours filling up containers, burying them, letting sand go through a colander.

[@nicholewarren4229]

I can't speak for Roo but when I was working at a Montessori preschool kiddos that young would regularly at least attempt to put their toys back in their places/baskets!

[@KindCountsDeb3773]

a very tactile play experience.

[@annajackson9001]

Thanks, I thought it would be something like that

[@nyan0812nerd]

can't belive he's 8 months already!!

[@captainkacke1651]

As an early Montessori child I have a lot of bad memories, mostly from the elementary school I went to being a Montessori school, but the teachers obviously not being too well equipped at that time. I remember we had this kind of a 'week plan' in which we were able (and supposed to) make our own way through the week plan at our own pace and only ask the teacher for help when we needed it. Problem was, I have dyscalculia (it's like being dyslexic with numbers) and would always do all the supposed things on the week plan except for the mathmatical stuff. When I was doing stuff I enjoyed instead, like reading, my teachers ended up taking my books away from me and forbid me to read until I would complete the mathmatics problems which I was unable to do, but noone took me seriously or tried to help, because 'it's all about leaving the problemsolving to themselves'. It is one of my worst memories and I had a very hard time, and I know that my mother who chose that school in the first place only meant well. Since I was also heavily bullied, I ended up changing schools after 4th grade and went to a 'normal' school, which was so much better for me personally, because having a structure put into place made me feel less left alone with my struggles. I was encouraged in my strong suits (language classes) and supported in where I lacked (maths). I still have dyscalculia, but thanks to nowadays technology I can live my life without too many struggles, since it's barely required to be good at doing math in your head these days. Now, talking about the good side, I definitely am one of the most independent people I know and have been from a very young age. Mostly because I HAD TO though, since my mother was always working and someone had to do the chores, right? So I don't know how much my teen and adolescent independence actually stems from Montessori education… What it definitely did well is that now, my mother and I have a very close and good relationship with each other, because she was never trying to make me fit into a mould or forced anything on me I didn't like or didn't want to do. I trust her a lot and we can talk about almost anything. I think what I am trying to say with my comment is; every education style has its good and bad things and not every style works for every child. It's probably better to cherrypick from different styles, find what works well and not set your mind in stone for just one. And if you send your child to a Montessori style school, make sure the school are actually committed in doing it right and are well educated in it. Also, try to figure out if your child is struggling with the system or if it works well for them, I of course only speak from my own very personal experience and don't want to say Montessori is bad or anything, it just felt right to share that it didn't work too well for me when I was a child.

[@craisins95]

It’s so interesting to see how different people raise their babies. My sister is raising my nephew with Montessori as well and some of the things you showed were definitely great for him at 8 months. He used a crib rather than a floor bed (I hadn’t heard of that as an option and I’m glad it works for Rupert). Thank you and Claudia for sharing some of your parenting tips. Hope all of you have a great week!

[@TPOTP]

I was in a Montessori school until I was 8 I have nothing but positive memories!

[@jwb52z9]

Having a spouse who knows about teeth on a very deep and thorough level is very nice for the time when you also have a teething baby. :)

[@dariadarling]

"It's a safe space from which you can go and return, my love, and we'll always be here for you" WHY AM I CRYING 😭❤️

[@minazire]

hi jessica!! i have always loved your videos, especially as someone who has some chronic health conditions and wishes to have children in the future with their partner. i was very very happy when baby rupert was born!! but i stopped watching you for a little while in november because i experienced the loss of a baby in my family. now that i feel better, it’s so refreshing and lovely to see you guys again. i have some videos to catch up on! you and claudia are awesome mothers and rupert is an awesome son. it makes me happy to see you all living your best lives

[@lilypudd]

Wish I had been aware of Montessori methods when my son was little. So thought out and I love the idea of him learning he can do stuff on his own. That builds self confidence so much. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us!

[@KindCountsDeb3773]

What a wonderful age !! Montessori is really admirable, having a workable plan for a child is such a gift to the child and parent. I'm impressed it teaches independence, choice and other positives. I imagine there will be less conflict, neediness and frustrations for him. And you and Claudia will receive many positives as well. The "floor bed" does seem revolutionary. Well done ! 💞💞 xoxoxo Rupert !

[@jwatson11]

For anyone interested in the sleepbag setup but is a bit worried about them falling or getting stuck - you can get them with individual feet so they can crawl and walk independently. They look like little clouds with legs 😂

[@darkacadpresenceinblood]

"little clouds with legs" is such a precious description

[@katie-vq4op]

I don't plan on having a baby but these videos are so interesting to me and I love learning how montessori works!

[@nat_fletxher]

I don't even know if there'll be any babies in my life but I LOVE Montessori as a philsophy so I find these videos so interesting

[@BlahBlah-cn3cs]

07:09 did he just try to say “Mama”? He’s growing up and learning so quickly!

[@marikotrue3488]

All the Montessori items and viewpoints seem so logical and natural. I love how the floor bed benefits both the parents and the child. The only hesitation I would have with the floor bed are in-house animals (aka "pets"). While I imagine the door is closed to keep out the dogs, although by the video at least one of the dogs seems smitten with Rupert, I have always had cats who seemingly have never met a closed door they cannot master (unless securely bolted by the humans). Would love to see more Montessori toys, which efficiently are also learning tools, in future videos. I know that this may sound weird, but I think that the Montessori methodology would help in care homes for those with degenerative brain diseases.

[@ettinakitten5047]

I could easily imagine Rupert and a cat sharing that floor bed without any real issues. A dog would be more of a concern, but also generally easier to keep out of spaces they're not supposed to be in. As for keeping baby in a room if you have cats wanting to freely come and go, a baby gate is little impediment to most cats but a lot more likely to stop a baby.

[@idek7438]

@@ettinakitten5047 Not all cats are good with babies. Babies don't know that they can hurt kitties if they pull their tail or ears or even just touch them when they don't want to be touched, and not all cats react well to that. Some are super chill and just take it in stride or leave, but others might scratch or bite the baby and hurt them in return. The floor bed can definitely be an issue then

[@yuliam2086]

@@idek7438 it's true and it's definitely a concern, but let's be real - it doesn't really matter for a cat if a baby lies in the floor bed or in the crib. If a cat wants to get somewhere, it will. And if it doesn't want to communicate with somebody, it will steer clear of that person's way.

[@courtney_j]

@@idek7438 the risk of a cat in a baby sleeping environment is more the risk of suffocation - kitties love to curl up in warm places, and won’t care if that warm place is right on baby’s face!

[@niteotter]

While I fully respect your decision to keep his face off camera, I’m am dying to see him. I just love the glimpses of his chubby little baby feet and the occasional bit of profile. 👶🏻

[@FennecTheRabbit]

Y'all are parenting goals. Also for teething my cousin's son really liked an old washcloth of all things, it had a lot of texture and obviously easy to clean, just pop it in the wash.

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

I really love all the work Jessica and Claudia have put into creating such wonderful spaces for Rupert!

[@KindCountsDeb3773]

I'm thinking it will continue to pay off as he grows.

[@RangerChibi]

I am impressed by your dedication to not show your kid's face. Go you!

[@rayyg786]

I put my daughter on the potty around 8-9 months. We had cloth nappies and I was Looking to wash less. Just before and after naps at first. She took to it immediatly. Never forced. Gave her a book most times to keep her from running off. Never peed her bed.

[@JaneAustenAteMyCat]

How wonderful that Rupert will grow up bilingual with English and BSL

[@AngiDas]

You both seem so thoughtful in the way you are raising your son and you are going to raise a wonderful caring man.

[@anjiliveach3267]

When he said "yeah yeah yeah" at the end!! My heart!!! What a cutie 😍

[@poplillyp]

I'd love to hear more about Rupert's transition to eating solid foods and what you're doing regarding that. It's so nice to see how you light up when you talk about being his mother it makes me so happy.

[@mayajudy]

I absolutely love the floor bed idea, so genius

[@elspethfougere9683]

Yay!! So great!! I so approve, I worked with little kids for so long and your doing everything great! I can tell you that these methods work for sure, the kids I've worked with grow up strong and confident and kind to others, because they've learnt to go at their own pace as well as consider others. It's great.

[@cacklebarnacle15]

A fine motor skill game, when he is a little bit older: something with a lot of holes in it (in our montessori kindergarden we foung the cutlery holder "Ordning" from ikea works really well) and a lot of things that fit into these holes, i.e. paper straws. Keep the paper straws in a cup, that you can put inside the cutlery holder and take the cup out when it is time to use it. Then he just gets to put the straws through the holes, until it looks like a hedgehog. A bit more difficult is putting the straws to holes on opposite ends of the cutlery holder. Paper straws are good for this, cause the child can chew on these without problem (other than having to throw the soggy straw away), cause they are meant for food consumption anyways.

[@10puppyluv]

Does watching these videos ruin my attempts to get Google to stop giving me baby ads? Yes. Do I still watch them because Jessica is very enjoyable to listen to? Also yes

[@crazybabysittertwin]

Love this update and insights. Thanks! Sounds like you inadvertently started practicing a very chill form of infant pottying/ec. Which, I guess, is not so surprising since Rupert signs so much and is more able to communicate his needs. I'm a nanny & decided to give pottying a shot when I started with my previous nanny fam about 8 years ago (just holding her over the toilet). Baby #1 was 4 mos old at the time and caught on so quickly, I was amazed. She was also a very solid sitter, so I got her a a small one-piece potty at 6 mos. I'd sit her on it and give her a stack of board books while I did meal prep. Lol. I was even more amazed by Baby #2, whom I started pottying at 17 days old. It was so amazing to see her communicating her need to go so early on, and also realizing that she seemed to fully understand me when I'd ask her to wait a moment. Baby brains never cease to astound me. I love watching them learn the world around them.

[@ettinakitten5047]

Honestly, it also reminds me of how we potty train puppies and kittens. For both species, we tend to make suitable potty locations available from an early age, with puppies often having it adapted to be easier for them than doing it the adult way (by going on a newspaper indoors instead of going outside), and just put them in the potty spot when we think they might need it.

[@1234bobfox]

This is the only parenting videos that reassure me about becoming a mother. Thank you for putting these videos out! I learn a lot every time

[@aylazelanagrebiel3210]

I love this! He’s getting to be so big, such a lovely little boy. It’s really interesting on Montessori as my parents did that with me and they didn’t necessarily follow a guide it was intuitive for them. But because they were so similar in their teaching and parenting, I attended a Montessori nursery because of it. I love the method!

[@robinhahnsopran]

That ball-tracker is such a cool toy for little ones! He's so engaged with it! ✨

[@jaelmao2214]

i went to a montessori school my whole childhood and i 100% believe the montessori method is close to the best way to teach and nurture children. this vid depicted it perfectly.

[@sleepingroses761]

I work at my church doing childcare during our services, and even before I first heard about Montessori I was beginning to realize how well these methods work. Most young kids are happier if you just give them some basic, open-ended toy options and then let them control their play.

[@dylnpickl846]

Jessica, I love your commentary on parenting and would certainly enjoy watching a longer form video if you felt like creating one. :) As a survivor of childhood abuse and neglect, I second the sentiments shared by other commenters regarding the general comfort, validation of childhood/infant needs, and hope for the future generated by watching your parenting content. Thank you for sharing yourself and your family with us all

[@totebag132]

I would absolutely watch an hour long video on all the things you use for Rupert and his Montessori journey! Also it would be interesting to see what you've learned works and doesn't work with your family.

[@snazzysuze]

I went to a Montessori school from age 2 through fifth grade. My favorite thing to do in Montessori primary school was shaving soap with a cheese grater and then whisking it into water to make bubbles. So satisfying!

[@marynelson2875]

Teaching independence is so important! I used to work with preschool aged kids and there were always a few who would pretend they couldn't do things like zip up their coats or open their lunches or put toys away, just to get adults to do everything for them. I usually fell for it unfortunately because I didn't have the patience to make them do it themselves.

[@nualamurphy838]

I did Montessori from 4 years here in Ireland. Really helped with sounds and reading. Helped me get a great start in life.

[@Eco_Hiko]

I'm totally glued to the Rupert related content because I'm now a God parent. I learn so much from these videos

[@jennifers5560]

You will be a great God parent!

[@Eco_Hiko]

@@jennifers5560 thank you.

[@fugueoffiber]

I’m a Montessori/RIE infant teacher, love seeing how you work these pedagogies into your home life! You’re so eloquent and well researched, I feel like I could use this video to show parents what Montessori at home can look like. Many toys/works can also be DIY-ed, I recommend trying the work yourself so you can make sure that you know how to model it and that it works the way it’s supposed to. I like taking a large container with a lid, making a hole with a craft knife, sand down edges if needed, then you can put items inside! Baby can shake them around to make a sound, reach inside if the hole is big enough, or take off the lid, then can place the items back inside. This helps with fine motor, gross motor, music, and language/reading!

[@vegetaenjoyer]

I went to a Steiner school in Australia as an autistic child and they've helped me grow and learn so well. They're a very gentle and caring introduction to the world and I highly recommend them if you have a child with sensory issues!

[@sarahw598]

As an early years practitioner, I love seeing examples of children using different methods for learning, and I love hearing parents opinions on methods and products. Every child is different and parents know can know so much more about their child than I can, so hearing parents opinions and experiences is always so exciting to me

[@sammihom15]

Not a parent myself, but my parents say I absolutely loved those puzzle cube things (the cubes with different shaped holes that you push smaller blocks into). Don't know when I first started playing with it but it sounds like I got a lot of use out of it.

[@ettinakitten5047]

I did too, apparently. I specifically had a ball-shaped one that I was able to pull the shapes back out through their holes as well.

[@comettripper]

This video is lovely as always and I'm finding more and more things to love about Montessori. But I would like to point out that "every child is different" is not a good point when talking about milestones. Yes, every child is different. But missing milestones or getting to them too early can tell us more about the child, specially in case they're late. So it's important to know what's the "typical" age for gaining those abilities. If they're late it might be a sign they'll need more help with it and maybe a different aproach to learning a skill. It's very common for people to ignore these things or even brush it off saying that "every child has their time" and this actually does more harm than good and can prevent kids from getting help when they need it. I'm not sure how Montessori can be adapted for disabled or neurodivergent kids, but I'm sure there is a way. For exemple, some autistic kids have interoception issues. That means they don't know when they're hungry, thirsty or need to go to the bathroom. So in that case, they would need to be "convinced" in a way, or encouraged. Some kids also have trouble with potty training because of sensory issues. I understand that Montessori is also about observing and learning from your kid, so it makes sense to have a second plan or another alternative in case this happens. But to be able to notice it, parents would need to know what's expected of their kid at each age.

[@23rdFoot]

The CDC is updating their milestone guidance with some of these questions in mind: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html

[@ettinakitten5047]

There's a difference between keeping in mind what's typical vs a sign of some developmental difference, and trying to impose a specific developmental sequence on a baby when they might not be suited for it. I suspect that for a child who is experiencing delays, they'd benefit even more from encouragement to develop at their own pace. Certainly, I didn't do well in later childhood as a twice exceptional child (both advanced and delayed in different areas of development) in a setting with a whole bunch of same-age children all being taught the same material at the same time and judged on whether or not we cooperated enough to demonstrate mastery in the specific way the adults were expecting. I did a lot better when my parents stumbled into child-led strategies in my teens while homeschooling me.

[@comettripper]

@@23rdFoot Yeah, and that's actually not a good thing. It's worrying SLPs because it means less children will get help, and that's already a problem. Also, it seems like they're doing some questionable math bc they said it's supposed to meet the average of 75% of kids, but people who know that data have shown it doesn't. It's way less words than what 75% of children can speak. I can't find the post right now, but I follow a SLP who takes care of gestalt language processors and she posted about it a while ago. I found this though: abc30.com/child-milestones-cdc/11600137/

[@comettripper]

@@ettinakitten5047 There are lots of issues with the educational system, that's for sure. But "waiting and seeing" is not a good thing. Professionals who take care of children and help them develop agree that the earlier the intervention, the better the chance of success. Yes, some children will catch up on their own.* But some won't, and that will cause a lot of additional stress to their lives, because they won't be able to communicate with their peers in school and won't be able to express their needs. It's not only about speaking either. When you get professional help, if they're a good professional they'll often suggest alternatives like AAC until the kid can communicate by speaking, or in case they don't. I mean, you said it yourself. You struggled a lot, but you got better when you finally got help. The problem is that there are still a lot of undertrained professionals. But that's a whole other thing. Also, I just want to highlight: Children who develop later are not "broken" or "flawed". There's nothing bad about it. But they do need help. And ignoring it or pretending they're not struggling because "that's just not their time yet" will prevent them from getting help. So they'll keep struggling. *For the kids that catch up on their own, it's still a good idea to have an assessment early because their development can also be a sign of other things. Like autism for exemple, which, again, not a bad thing! But it's good to know when you're autistic bc not knowing causes a lot of confusion and people with late diagnosis end up developing anxiety, depression, etc. So even if they were going to catch up anyway, it's good to know because they might need help with other things in the future too. tldr: no, it's not a "flaw" if a kid has a development delay, but it's important to know so you can help them. And ignoring it will make their lives more difficult.

[@beccab2151]

Yes exactly. Some children have disabilities or just need extra support and if you don't interviene early then it makes it harder for them later on. I'm dyslexic (amongst other things) and wasn't diagnosed until very late and I felt like I was just stupid and wasn't trying hard enough even though I was trying super hard. It made me depressed. I'd have probably done better in school if it was picked up on sooner.

[@madtingz2288]

Jessica looks like the perfect 1950s mother you’d see in baby adverts haha I love it

[@mo0nflowersart]

Im not having a child soon, Im 17, I do have an interest in child development! This channel is wonderful. You have some of the most wonderful parenting advice, I can tell you know what your doing. I never really heard of a montessori, but it is absoloutly wonderful for children, I might implement it in my home, when I have children.

[@lauriey.4525]

As far as motor skill activities go, I remember a few I made fore my youngest. He enjoyed rolling bath ball toys in a shallow cookie sheet with a little water and pulling out play silks out of the holes in my laundry basket. I saw a few others that I never got around to doing , like putting a medium mixing bowl into a large one and rolling balls in the gap between the two bowls, sticking wads of tissue paper in one of those orb balls with giant holes, or stringing fabric ribbon through holes in a shoe box with large knots ties at the ends. I remember more diy toys I made for him as a toddler like pushing pom poms into a hole I cut in a fancy box, poking chenille craft sticks into holes I made in a plastic bottle, sticking playing cards/wooden tiles/blocks/craft sticks in a slot I made in a coffee tin or snack container (he loved slipping the toys in and then ripping the lid off to take them out of the can), hiding snacks or toys in plastic Easter eggs, and opening small toys or snacks in a ball of aluminum foil or parchment paper. Whenever both kids get a box of facial tissues as a gift a good time will be had by all and I've seen this activity recreated using play silks.

[@cathycat4989]

I love how colorful this is. My girlfriend and her wife want to have kids in the next few years and i hate how, at least in the us, Montessori means beige because it's become associated with trendy, just like beige.

[@maydaylane9154]

I'm honestly so fascinated by Montessori and kind of jealous of Rupert. When I grew up I wasn't treated as a full person until I turned 18. My parents expected me to act like an adult in ways that I couldn't but did not let me act as an adult in ways that I could. Basically the opposite of what Montessori aims at. That aspect of my childhood has been a source of great grief and frustration and I can see ways in which it has affected me now. I am controlling and fiercely independent and nothing makes me feel as horrible as being helpless. I never knew that an option like Montessori was existed but I think it is wonderful that it does. I wish more parents were able to treat their kids like you and Claudia do - with respect and allowing them to have their own independence, and lending them great amounts of trust, even from a very young age. And I am so glad that you are willing to make videos about it and share your experiences with the Montessori method.

[@XxFluffyxX]

My friend just had a baby - I'm excited to share these with her!!

[@piperthorn9948]

My grandparents have something very similar to the ball tracking thing, but with little wooden cars that flip when they go down each level. I remember my little brothers and I all loving that toy for years. Something about those kinds of toys just really captivated me and my siblings. Even as a teen and adult there is something soothing about watching the simple colored cars and hearing them fall to the next level with a light "thunk"

[@velocitygirl8551]

The windows in your home are EVERYTHING!!!

[@MarnieLuna]

I am nowhere near ready to have a child yet but Montessori does interest me, I feel like the one I would 100% try is the floor bed as it seems quite natural. The Potty training is something that I definitely would be constantly researching on as my biggest concern is that it wouldn't work. But I have been getting my nephew traditional montessori style toys since he was born and he does have a big interest in them as he really loves the puzzles