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March 17, 2017

Using a Play Gym -- Montessori Baby Week 15

As I have said many times before, the freedom of movement is extremely important for babies, especially in a Montessori environment. We want to prepare a space that a baby can explore without restricting the baby's ability to move around. Montessori also strives to do this in a way that is not overstimulating to a baby. This is often done by using a movement area. But, when you have other children, sticking to one part of the house is unrealistic. This is where using a play gym can come in handy. 

Using a baby play gym as an alternative to a movement area can be a perfect option for many Montessori babies. This allows families to stay together while still keeping the baby engaged in a Montessori mobile.

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*Please note that the play gym featured in this post was recalled after we used it and is no longer sold. I have linked updated versions in this post.*

Montessori Babies and Play Gyms 


Play gyms come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Many mainstream play gyms have those mats with the bars over head and may include lights, sounds, or hanging toys for the baby to "enjoy." We avoid those in Montessori, specifically because we aren't interested in toys that entertain rather than engage. Those types of lights/sounds can also be overstimulating. Thankfully, there are lots of great Montessori friendly options as well. 


We use a play gym in addition to a movement area for a couple of reasons. First, this allows all of us to remain together when we are hanging out throughout the day. With the play gym, the baby can move around with you and engage in family life. While, Gus is a relaxed enough baby that I can place him in his movement area and walk away, I don't always love doing this, especially if we are engaged in play elsewhere. This allows him to engage in something while being close to the rest of us. 

Second, it allows us to move the movement area if we have to. Our movement area is in our playroom which happens to get very cold in the winter. So, if the heater is forgotten or it's still too chilly, we can move somewhere else. We aren't stuck in the same spot all day. 


We are using this Plan Toys Play Gym. In these pictures, I have hung this HABA teether on some elastic for Augustus to play with. 

And, we use it in a few different ways. One, we use it for visual mobiles. This works, ok. My visual mobiles were made to be hung higher than the play gym sits. So, using them on the bar required some delicate hanging. But, if you planned to use a play gym from the beginning to hang mobiles, they could easily be made to accommodate this height.

Using a baby play gym as an alternative to a movement area can be a perfect option for many Montessori babies. This allows families to stay together while still keeping the baby engaged in a Montessori mobile.

More recently, we are using the play gym for tactile mobiles. These are things that Gus can reach for and interact with. These are things he can try to kick, grab, bat, chew, or hold. It can be as simple as a rattle, bell, ring or puzzle ball. We are using things we already own, and simply a piece of elastic or ribbon. One of the reasons, I love the play gym we have is that it allows for us to easily swap out toys and mobiles without a fuss. Eventually we can add a couple of toys at once. 


There are several great options if you are looking for a Montessori friendly play gym for your kids. These include: this HABA play gym, or this version also from HABA, a wooden small shop version, or the play gym from IKEA

2022 Update: With our 5th baby, Penelope we have used this Montessori play gym from Willow and Pine and have LOVED it! 

Using a baby play gym as an alternative to a movement area can be a perfect option for many Montessori babies. This allows families to stay together while still keeping the baby engaged in a Montessori mobile.

Have you used a play gym with your baby? How do you use it? 

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Comments

Christina @ montessoriishmom.com
We have a similar play gym, but I love that yours has that knob on top to make it so easy to hang things. Ours has holes instead so we tie the ribbon / elastic through there - no big deal, just a little more time consuming to switch out. We're using ours for tactile mobiles too lately, so much fun!
Anonymous
Anonymous said…
We use same kind of play gym too. Really great thing for a baby. I love watching how she plays with those toys with her little hands :) Also this gym is a great way of developing motor reflexes. I'm a personal teasher for schoolers. This gym is a great way to busy my chil while I give help with math problems for my students.
Unknown
Unknown said…
Now my baby girl is 23 weeks. We have the play gym with sounds and lights. I read about your article, and this kind of play gym is not good for the development of baby, so I want to change a new one. I do not know how long the play gym will be used for baby.