Inside my toddler’s closet, how it works for her

I won’t call this a Montessori closet, because it is far from being textbook perfect. But my toddler can do everything for herself when it comes to getting dressed, which most definitely displays Montessori principles.

Ever since I posted tips about how my big girls’ closet is organized to inspire independence using Montessori principles at home, I’ve been meaning to do the same with my toddler’s closet too. This falls in line with our potty training journey post, and having things within her reach to take care of business just the way a two-year-old wants to do.

A true Montessori closet would not have this many clothes in it, and it would not have anything hanging beyond a child’s reach. But for the sake of being practical at home and having all her clothes all in one place, versus a Montessori closet with only a few choices made available to her at one time, this is what works best for her, and us.

It’s neat and orderly, and only holds the items that are seasonably appropriate and in her size.

If it’s an occasion or a day when she choices to wear a dress that is hanging beyond her reach, she just points to which one, saying the color, and we get it down for her. However, everything from skirts, pants, shirt, pajamas, nighttime diapers, underwear, tights, leggings and hair bows are within her reach and compartmentalized in separate bins. Plus there is a place for her to put her dirty laundry and hang up her bath towel or robe.

You may think this looks like a lot of clothes for one child to own. So I remind you that she is the third girl with lots hand-me-downs. And these photos were taken on a RARE day when all her laundry had been washed and put away.

Inside the bins on what used to be the changing table when she was a baby, have been converted from being filled with cloth diapers and burp cloths to things she likes to wear and access herself. The big blue bin still holds bags, sheets and things I need to access for her. That would not be there in a true Montessori fashion. But in real life we have to have a place to store things for our kids. So I find a medium that works for us.

In the three lower baskets are Baby Legs (which are awesome for potty training), leggings and hair accessories. Because you know, she is the third girl. And when sisters do it, she follows suit. I’m sure you know what I mean.

As you might can guess in the bottom of the photo, is her bed. It’s a big bed so I thought I should note, on the Montessori issue, she sleeps in a twin size bed. We’ve used toddler beds before to transition the girls from our bed to their own space. But I’m finding I much prefer a bed that an adult can fit in as well. For snuggles of course. They are young for such a very short time.

While I love seeing my toddler being independent for things such as caring for herself and her environment. Sometimes I still like her to be a baby too. Which means lots of snuggles. So no, we don’t practice Montessori principles when it comes to sleeping. And I’m not a fan of the name “weaning table” either, as the name of a baby’s first table.

I’ll save that opinion for another day.

But a nicely organized closet – that’s something any mom can feel good about.