Safety

Small parts, second-hand toys, and the rules that actually apply.

A wooden peg board with loose pegs on a cream cloth beside a wooden stacking ring toy with large rings, in natural window light.
Choosing toysSafety 10 min read
Can a 2-year-old play with toys labeled 3+?

The 3+ on the box is not a difficulty rating. Once you know what it is actually measuring, you can tell which ones are a real no.

A short brass cylinder with a slanted base standing on a cream linen cloth, beside a large wooden knob and a wooden bead fixed on a curved wire.
MilestonesSafety 9 min read
Pincer grasp activities at 9 months, when everything still goes in the mouth

Everything still goes in the mouth, so most pinch activities are out. There is a cylinder that tells you which ones are safe.

Two wooden toys on a pale table: on the left a bare unpainted beech ring stacker, on the right an older wooden pull-along with chipped painted stripes.
Choosing toysSafety 11 min read
Are second-hand baby toys safe? A five-minute check

One date decides most of it. Anything made before it needs a closer look, and a five-minute check at the sink covers everything else.

A wooden step stool with side rails standing at a kitchen counter, with a shallow bowl of green beans and a small ceramic jug on the counter above.
Doing it themselvesSafety 10 min read
What can a 2-year-old actually do in the kitchen?

The height is the whole problem. Solve it and a two-year-old has real jobs, none of them hot or sharp.

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The Ultimate Guide to Montessori at Home

Shelf setup, choosing toys, and knowing when your child is ready for the next thing.

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