Free New Baby Printables and Montessori-Inspired New Baby Activities

This is an exciting unit for our family … and my 5-year-old grandson said it’s his very favorite one. That’s because my daughter, Chrissy Chitwood, and her husband, Tom, are expecting a new baby in March! In honor of Caleb becoming a big brother, we have a new baby unit! You can easily adapt it for your home or classroom.

Here, you’ll find links to free new baby printables used to prepare hands-on activities and a Montessori-inspired new baby pack for our free newsletter subscribers’ resource library!

Here’s Chrissy’s YouTube short video of their baby announcement. And here’s a sweet YouTube short of Chrissy and Caleb showing how big the baby was at 25 weeks. (Chrissy is now 30 weeks pregnant!)

Here’s a special video of the baby gender reveal from their golf-loving family:

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with New Baby Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired new baby themed numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Note: The Montessori-inspired new baby pack isn’t designed as a complete new baby unit but as supplemental materials. I design the packs using realistic images that I’ve often looked for when preparing a unit study (such as font cards and phonogram cards featuring the letter and phonogram related to the theme and math cards with realistic images that fit the theme and can be adapted for math activities at a variety of levels.)

You could mix your new baby themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special new baby themed area something like the one pictured. My shelves at the beginning of our unit have a mixture of skill levels. Many of the activities can be adapted for a variety of levels. If you’re a homeschooler, just choose the activities that work for your child’s interests and ability levels. If you don’t have room for all the activities you’d like to do, simply rotate them.

Notice the framed art print Springtime in France (circa 1923) by Max Bohm. It’s a free download from Smithsonian American Art Museum.

For our monthly featured art print, I purchased a Li’l DAVINCI art frame that opens in the front for easily changing a free art masterpiece printable or vintage illustration to fit with the month’s theme. The frame can be switched from horizontal to vertical without changing the hanger, which is perfect!

If you’re wondering about the rugs and rug box I use, both the rugs and wooden rug holder are from Montessori Services. I love the Montessori Services rugs and rug holder! I used to use an umbrella stand something like these. I loved that for 1-3 rugs, but I needed something different when I had more grandchildren and some projects that needed more than one rug.

Favorite Shelves, Trays, Baskets, and More for Montessori Homeschoolers

I often get asked about the trays, baskets, etc., that I use, so I published a post with many of the items. You can find lots of helpful resources here. They’re not all essential, so don’t feel you need to have everything. Just choose what’s best for your budget and your unique family’s needs. You’ll find more ideas in the Living Montessori Now Amazon shop

New Baby Themed Books for Kids

Even though I have books on shelves, I usually have many of my themed books in a forward-facing display after placing a plant where the themed book basket was before. Most of my seasonal books are now in that book basket.

For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).

Note: I’ve had the new baby books available for about a week for Caleb (who’s 5, almost 6). He’s been busy reading them, and his parents and I read a few of them to him as well. Before publishing my post, I asked him what his favorite new baby book was. He said he likes them all!

Top Shelf of Themed Shelves: 

• I love the Big Brother Learns All About Babies series and Big Sister Learns All About Babies series! They’re reassuring books that give older siblings ideas of what the baby can do at various ages along with ideas of how to play with the baby at various ages. The big brother series only has two books now (0-3 months and 3-6 months), but the big sister series has 5 books, going all the way through ages 2-4.
• What Baby Needs (Sears Children’s Library) is a Montessori-friendly book that has lots of easy-to-understand information about a new sibling in the family. It comes from a natural parenting/attachment parenting perspective. 
• My First Signs is a baby sign language book I had with my first three grandchildren. It has real photos of people doing the signs along with touch-and-feel images on each 2-page spread. I also especially like Baby’s First 25 Signs (American SIgn Language with Real Pictures), although it’s in paperback and not available as a board book. I like books that use an ASL emphasis (for children in the U.S.) and photos of real people. You’ll find more ASL baby sign language books here. 
• DK’s First Human Body Encyclopedia has helpful pages about fetal development.

Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:

• Nine Months: Before a Baby Is Born
• Baby on the Way (Sears Children’s Library)
• What to Expect When Mommy’s Having a Baby

2nd Shelf:

• What to Expect When the New Baby Comes Home
• The New Baby at Your House
• The New Baby by Fred Rogers (dated photos but great content)

3rd Shelf:

• Hello Baby!
• André The Best Big Brother
• On Mother’s Lap

4th Shelf:

• The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby
• The New Baby by Mercer Mayer
• Big Brother Learns All About Babies: When Will Baby Play?

Bottom Shelf

• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: The Baby Is Here
• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Big Brother Daniel
• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Daniel Plays in a Gentle Way

Some other human body books we’re using that are in a book basket:

(I had these available from other human body units. They’re obviously not all needed for a new baby unit, but they do all have some helpful information about human reproduction.)

• DK Smithsonian Human Body!
• DK Super Human Encyclopedia
• National Geographic Kids Ultimate Bodypedia
• Foldout Anatomy
• The Visual Dictionary of the Human Body

You can see new baby books both old and new here: New Baby Books for Kids (including books as they’re published)

New Baby Books with Baby Motor Development Matching Activity

I love the Big Brother Learns All About Babies series and Big Sister Learns All About Babies series! They’re reassuring books that give older siblings ideas of what the baby can do at various ages along with ideas of how to play with the baby at various ages. The big brother series only has two books now (0-3 months and 3-6 months), but the big sister series has 5 books, going all the way through ages 2-4.

What Baby Needs is a Montessori-friendly book that has lots of easy-to-understand information about a new sibling in the family. It comes from a natural parenting/attachment parenting perspective. 

Free Printable: Infant Motor Development Birth-12 Months by Natalie Ugarte at TPT

I used a 4-page Infant Motor Development Birth-12 Months printable from TPT to help children understand how a baby changes during the first year. I printed two copies and cut one apart so each section could be matched. Younger children could just match the pictures while you read the descriptions.

My First Signs Book with Baby Signs Bookmark Cut-and-Paste

My First Signs is a baby sign language book I had with my first three grandchildren. It has real photos of people doing the signs along with touch-and-feel images on each 2-page spread. I also especially like Baby’s First 25 Signs (American SIgn Language with Real Pictures), although it’s in paperback and not available as a board book. I like books that use an ASL emphasis (for children in the U.S.) and photos of real people. You’ll find more ASL baby sign language books here. 

Free Printable: Baby Signs Bookmarks by Baby Signs at TPT. This is a fun resource for siblings. The bookmarks can be cut on the solid lines, folded on the dotted lines, and then glued together.

I like the idea of older siblings learning sign language and helping to teach it to their baby sibling. 

I think it’s very helpful to have videos to go with any books, and I like this Free Resource: Sign Language Video Dictionary from Signing Time.

Be sure to check out my Free Baby Sign Language Videos {Signs and Songs} post for lots of helpful sign language resources.

Parts of the Womb 3-Part Cards and Pages from First Human Body Encyclopedia with Baby Doll Care Activities in the Background

Here, you can see pages from DK’s First Human Body Encyclopedia (the book on the easel). I love this book for its photographs and easy-to-understand information about the human body.

Free Printable: Parts of the Womb 3-Part Cards from Little Schoolhouse in the Suburbs

If you’d like to include the terms fetus or unborn child or make a booklet, you could check out the inexpensive pregnancy printables from Montessori Print Shop

Baby doll care activities (including a verb activity for kids who are ready for grammar activities) are in the background. See below.

Sand Writing Tray for New Baby Unit

Free Printable /n/ for newborn (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber). They come in print, D’Nealian, and cursive. 

You’ll see a variety of simple letter writing trays in my previous unit study posts. I often used the wooden tray from the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shapes. You can use whatever tray or container work best for you, though.

The sandpaper letters I use with younger kids are available in print or cursive.

I typically now use this lovely spelling/alphabet tray from FamilyTreeWW on Etsy. I like it for writing more than one letter or spelling words. (Note: That sand tray is currently unavailable, but you’ll find lots of other options for Montessori sand trays on Etsy.) I found some colored sand in 12 colors on Amazon that I started to use instead of salt or colored salt. I love it because it’s so soft and feels great! I used the yellow sand for a gender-neutral sand writing tray.

If you would like help with introducing phonetic sounds, introducing objects with sounds, or beginning phonics in general, check out my DIY Beginning Montessori Phonics with Preschoolers.

Phonogram Activities for y in Cry and aw in Crawl

Free Printable: “y” in cry and “aw” in crawl (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)

Free Printable: Cry Baby – y makes two sounds by The Lit Bridge with Gina Applegate at TPT

Free Printable: Picture and Words for the aw Sound from MontessoriSoul (I like to make these into a little booklet, although the picture and word can be cut apart for movable alphabet work as well.)

You’ll find more free printables for the y grapheme at MontessoriSoul, too.

I don’t like the term “cry baby,” but this activity shows very clearly the “cry baby rule” for spelling words with “y” at the end. I never used pacifiers with my children, but this is a cute printable whether or not your family uses pacifiers. I made the “cry” and “baby” headers using the free editable word strips by Yaneth Sell – Maestra Miss at TPT. For some reason, the printable doesn’t line up for  me when I download it but works when I use it online.

Matching Baby Handprint Alphabet Cards in Print and Cursive

Free Printable: Baby handprint alphabet cards (part of my subscriber freebies, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber). 

I used the print and cursive alphabet cards for matching along with tracing cursive letters using a cursive tracing board. There are many options of cursive tracing boards on Etsy. I got the 2-sided version (with capital letters on one side and lowercase on the other), since capital cursive letters aren’t commonly seen on written materials.

The baby handprint alphabet cards in print and cursive are easily adaptable, depending on the child’s level. They can be used for a variety of activities, such as matching letters with sandpaper letters, matching print to cursive letters, or movable alphabet word building. 

Baby Footprint Skip Counting with Bead Bars

Free Printable: Baby number cards 1-30 (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).

I used a baby footprint craft punch. My grandkids enjoy using craft punches, and they’re great for coordination! I used green cardstock for the activity. I’m having the child lay out the footprints they’ve made into sets of twos and then count by twos to get the number of footprints. You can also talk about the number of “pairs” or “sets” of footprints as well.

There are so many different activities you can prepare using the math cards! This is just one example. You’ll find many ideas in our previous units.

Stages of Pregnancy and Fetal Development Work with Skip Counting by 4s to 40 Weeks

I used the Stages of Pregnancy and Fetal Development Wooden Tiles from Mirus Toys. They’re available through Mirus Toys shop or on Etsy. 

The wooden tiles are:

“10 double-sided wooden tiles showcasing the stages of fetal development in four week increments starting with Week 4 and culminating at 40 weeks. One side of each tile features a beautiful, medically-accurate fetal development image. The other side provides information including the size of the baby and developmental milestones.” 

The wooden tiles aren’t inexpensive, but they’re beautiful. I chose them as my homeschool gift for the year because Caleb is obsessed with knowing everything possible about his new sibling. I like that there are tiles for each 4 weeks of pregnancy. Of course, it would work well to just use a printable, too.

Free Printable: Baby Development Cards from Little Schoolhouse in the Suburbs (There wasn’t a card for week 40, so I used the blank card in the set to add Caleb’s photo at one day old.)  I wanted to share a free option here, although I also have the inexpensive Baby Fetal Growth Montessori Cards by Montessori Factory on Etsy with images of a fetus each 4 weeks through week 40.

We’ve done a number of hands-on skip counting and multiplication activities. I like that this works well with Montessori bead bars for skip counting  by 4s.

After placing the wooden tiles in order, matching the printables to the wooden tiles, and skip counting with the bead bars, Caleb turned each of the tiles over to read the information about the fetus at each 4-week age. This was a fun activity!

New Baby/Doll Care Work from Another Shelf

Free Printable: Baby’s Diaper – Help for b, d, p & q reversals by Jenn Copeland at TPT

This is a silly but memorable printable. There is a white baby image and Black baby image. Since it’s for Caleb’s baby sibling, I used the white baby image. The chant that goes with the  printable is “Check your baby’s diaper. P U. I mean q.”

You could use a baby boy or girl doll (or both). I used the 14″ baby doll we had for our baby doll washing activity before Zoey’s little sister was born.

The doll clothes are some my now-adult daughter had for her 14″ baby dolls. She’s given them to me to use with grandkids. I just purchased the set of cloth diapers for 14-18″ dolls recently, and they’re great although not absorbent if you want that.

Free Printable: Printing on Sentence Strips Template by A Little Bit O Sunshine at TPT

I found a cute mini baby doll set on Amazon. There are a number of options available. This is the tray that all my grandkids were instantly drawn to!

I just made the “I can help the baby” printable by adapting a baby shower template on Canva.

I made the verb command cards using the editable template with a different font. I printed the verbs on red cardstock so the child could help the baby doll sleep (in the cradle), bathe (in the little tub), ride (in the wagon), push (the trike with the baby’s feet), rock (on the rocking horse), and eat (in the chair). With a younger child, you could just talk about what the baby doll is doing.

Free Montessori-Inspired New Baby Pack

Montessori-Inspired New Baby Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

More New Baby Resources

New Baby Books for Kids

• Baby Doll Washing: Practical Life for Toddlers and Preschoolers (my post with YouTube video)
• 20+ Doll Washing Activities for Indoors or Outdoors
• Using Kindness Elves to Help Prepare a Child for a New Baby
• Welcoming a New Baby into Our Montessori Family
• Welcoming Another New Baby into Our Montessori Family
• 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge for Big Sisters and Big Brothers
• Free Baby Sign Language Videos {Signs and Songs}
• Preventing Choking in Babies and Toddlers with Older Siblings
• How to Prepare a Montessori Baby Room at Home (roundup post)
• Preparing a Montessori Newborn Baby Space at Home
• How to Use Montessori Mobiles to Encourage a Newborn Baby’s Development and Delight
• Preparing a Montessori Baby Space with Shelves at Home
• Preparing a Montessori Baby Space in Your Living Room
• How to Prepare Montessori Homeschool Spaces for Babies through First Graders
• Babies – Activities and Ideas Pinterest Board

If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout January and February, see my January Themed Activities for Kids. and February Themed Activities for Kids.

Have fun preparing for a new baby (or helping your students prepare for a new baby)!

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