I've recently begun studying to become a Montessori guide and I have had several people ask me how I am doing this in Japan. I thought I would write a bit about it based on some of the research I have done. This is only my research and my interpretation of the options available in [...]
Author: mymotherhoodtokyo
Cultivating Montessori-friendly Spaces with Multiple Age Children
As someone who lives in a (relatively) small apartment with two adults and three children, this is something I have had to think about from day one. I often remember fondly the days when I only had one toddler in the space and everything was set up for him. Oh, how easy I had it! [...]
What is a Montessori toy?
Thanks to social media popularizing the "natural" aesthetic, Montessori toys are all over the place these days. I should say "Montessori" toys in air quotes because many of these toys are not actually Montessori at all. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) the term Montessori is not copyrighted so anyone can use it to describe their toys, schools, [...]
5 Questions I Ask Myself Before Buying a Children’s Toy
Over the last couple of years I have been on a long journey towards carefully curating the types of toys and materials that come into our home. Since I began studying Maria Montessori's philosophy a couple of years ago, I've become much more aware of just how important it is to select the right type [...]
Managing Twin Sleep Without Sleep Training
If you watch almost any "twin preparation" or "twin sleep" video, you will probably hear this advice first. "Sleep train them as soon as possible!" I watched those videos in dismay for all the other soon-to-be parents of multiples who were wondering how they would survive nights and days getting two (or more) babies to [...]
The First Year With Twins: Mirai and Taishi’s 1 Year Update
WE MADE IT! Scream it from the rooftops folks because that is exactly how I feel! The first year with two young babies is HARD to say the least. Managing and meeting the ever changing needs of two babies at once is quite plainly, intense. Add a toddler/young child into the mix and you have [...]
My All Time Favorite Baby Led Weaning Products (After Three Kids!)
After three kids and three different baby led weaning experiences, I think I've finally found all the best products available as of 2021! Baby led weaning can be super fun...but also very messy! There's a few products I've found to be extremely useful in the last six months and I think they will continue to [...]
So You Want To Exclusively Breastfeed – Tips for Singletons and Multiples
Any amount of breastmilk is does incredibly things for your baby's health, but some parents have a goal of exclusively feeding breastmilk to their children. The benefits of giving breastmilk only are numerous. First of all, breastmilk and formula are not the same. Breastmilk contains living cells, stem cells, white cells, antibodies, and immune factors [...]
Twins in Tokyo: Which double stroller should you buy?
Buying a stroller can be a difficult process, even for just one baby! But buying a double stroller, especially when you live in a condensed city like Tokyo, can feel like an impossible task. Before buying my double stroller, I did a lot of research on the available options and asked in my local twin [...]
Vaginal Birth or C-Section? Pros and Cons for Both
I've actually thought about writing on this topic since I found out I was pregnant with twins. I knew that a multiples pregnancy increased my chance for a c-section and since I've already had a vaginal birth, I wondered if I would be in a position to be able to write it. Well, here we [...]