I was putting together a list of my faves for a friend and decided to publish it for others too. Since most of it is available through Amazon I decided to monetize my site so I could earn money if anyone decides to buy something. The money will fund travels home to see my mom. Every penny helps!
* Toddler Table and chair set by Tag toys: At 12 months my LO eats his snack at this table only he pushes the table around the kitchen as he does. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "eat and run".
*Baby Signing Time: Started this with C at 6 months. At 10 months he was signing back. His first sign was "milk" which meant he wanted to nurse.
Baby Signing Time Volume 1 DVD.
READ THIS!!!!!!
*Miracle Blanket: They really are Awesome! I swaddled for several months and this kept my son's arms from getting out after he outgrew the hospital blankets. This was too small at first and he would kick out his feet. WARNING: You will eventually wean them from this. Whenever you nurse/bottle feed and snuggle with them have a security object tucked in between you. This will get them used to the item and when you transition from the swaddle they will have something that is comforting. If you wait till you try to transition to introduce the security item it's too late!!!!! They won't take it. I used a very soft velour Twin size blanket that I got from KOHLS. I cut the blanket up into tiny squares and larger squares. The small were for when he was little and now the larger one he uses at 19 months as a blanket. I will never have to worry about loosing one b/c I still have tons of fabric to make more if I need to.
*Pedipeds: Best shoes EVER! So soft and supple. Start with size 6-12months. Before that they only need socks. My LO is barefoot 95% of the time. I use shoes when we go out b/c he can take socks off too easily.
*Boogie Wipes: Super soft, gentle and will take off boogies and dried on cookie in one swipe. My fav. scent is original. These have a strong scent but it is nice.
*Boon Spoon: This spoon is great for travel. Fill it and squirt the food out! Also great for a tot that is intent on grabbing the food container from you.
*Boon Bowl: This bowl sticks to the table but my LO can yank it up. At least it gives me a second or two to get to it b/f he dumps it.
*Munchkin Mesh Fresh Food feeder
: Great for teething! C's favorite is nice cold apple chuncks and frozen mango.
BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Synergy:
Don't buy a carrier that doesn't have back support. I took my LO to the zoo for the day and my back didn't hurt after 2 hours of walking around. He was only 8 lbs at the time, but still!
*Moby Wrap: cheaper than Bjorn and awesome too! Has back support but not as good as Bjorn's. This has a "close to baby feel" that bjorn doesn't. Great for soothing a fussy baby and your hands are free to tidy up, cook etc.
*Magic Bullet
: MYO baby food and smoothies 4 mom.
*Munchkin drying rack for bottles. This folds flat for storage. NICE!
*Balmex
: Redness is gone the next day.
*Tot Locks- I have these and the plastic ones that you push with your finger. I prefer the tot locks even though they cost more. The plastic ones allow a small gap that a little hand can squeeze through.
* Gownies - Maternity Hospital Gown : Best thing I ever bought myself!
This was truly a gift for me and I wore the 2 I got for several weeks after the hospital too b/c they were great for nursing (comes undone at shoulder with snaps) and VERY comfortable with my C-section. Snaps down the back too.
BUY THESE! YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YOU DID! Buy them somewhere else if you think I'm just saying it to make money. I LOVE MINE! Every post prego mom should have something pretty and comfy to wear during and after delivery. Treat yourself!
I had to put this in b/c at 9/10 months he is fascinated with the toilet. First of all he wacks me in the back with the lid while I go potty (does this happen to other moms? Am I the only one who gets freezing cold hands on my legs while I'm trying to go?) . Then I have to hold his hands back while I try to put the lid down. Recently he has taken to throwing something in before I can close it. I do let him pull the toilet lock up. Then he screams for me to open it again. He also loves to pull down the bath-kneeler mat which is attached up with velcro. 
Had to include this Eric Carle Lady Bug toy. This little bug is worth his weight in gold. Mirror on bottom, ring rattle with circles, crinkly toy on another arm, and a squeaky star. It has everything!
This is a walker wagon from Ikea. It has since been moved to a room with carpet to keep it from scooting out from under him. It is not weighted but it was cheap and he LOVES it.
This magnet goes to our Tot Locks system. He loves to stick them to the fridg.
This is a glockenspiel. Better know as a xylophone. Montessori is all about "real" instruments. One reason is they sound a million times better. I found this at a resale store. I take it out only when I can sit with C and we tap it together. (He mostly wants to put the sticks in his mouth at 12 months. He tries to imitate me tapping the keys but can't quite hold the sticks correctly in order to make the sounds.) I love the sounds it makes. When he is able to play it on his own I won't mind how long he bangs on it. To be honest...I like playing with it myself.
Not really a Montessori activity (I think) but C likes it.
Nesting Boxes: Got these at a yard sale. At 12 months he puts one inside the other but mostly just takes them out of one another and goes to something else.
Hinged Photo box: I cut a slit in the lid for a poker chip. He LOVES this box and pushes it all around the house. At first he tried to put the chip in the slot but couldn't quite get it, so he opened the lid and put it in. At 12 months he has mastered it.
DIY imbucare box. I cut out the square with a utility knife. He lifts it up to get the cube. It makes a nice "plunk" on the kitchen floor.
This is our version of an object permanence box. C really likes this thing and it take quite a bit of fine motor skill to get the ball in the hole and to manage to pull your fingers out of the way while pushing the ball through. He still mostly only does the hole on the far right.
I gave this to C at 10 months and he only takes the egg out. I plan to give it back now at 11 and see what happens.
At 9- 10 months C loved taking the lids on and off. Still does. We also play a hiding game with them. I take the lids off and flip them upside down. Then I hide an object under the one with the long handle. I ask, "Where's the ___? " Each time I hide it under the same one but switch them around. 
This is a transfer activity I put together for C. At 11 months he had no interest in putting them from one to the other but he has decided to put them in and take them out without dumping them out. He started out just putting 1 in and out and now he does more.
This is a scrapbook with page protected pages. I put pictures of family members in it. He loves it because he can turn the pages easily.
This is the shelf I have in the kitchen for C's activities.
