Favorite Small Businesses [Montessori-Aligned]
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through my link but does not change your price.
I have a deep love for small businesses. I grew up with small business owner parents. Every weekend we sold at the farmer’s market. I know deeply how support for a small business changes the lives of families. I know there were things we could afford on years we sold more and things we couldn’t when we didn’t. Now as a small business owner myself it is not our only source of income in my family like it was for me growing up, but it still affects our life significantly.
When possible I try to support small businesses. As a creator, I also feel it is my responsibility to share small businesses. This post shares some of my favorite small businesses we love in our Montessori home: businesses where your money supports a family.
Small Businesses for Children’s Furniture and the Home
Sprout Kids (code OnTheWay10): Much of our Montessori-inspired furniture is from Sprout. We have our beloved learning tower (and we just purchased one for my daughter too), our weaning table, shelves, bookcase, beds, shoe bench, and accessible wardrobe. They make each product to order and it is beautifully crafted.
RAD Children’s Furniture (code HomeAway): RAD Children’s Furniture is another beautiful children’s furniture company and is where our Pikler triangle is from! They make Pikler products in addition to some Montessori-style products.
Catchy (code Ayelet10): the high chair Catchy is an incredible invention. It keeps food your baby drops from falling on the floor. Not only does this keep your floors clean, it means you can plop the food right back on the plate- major waste reduction! Amazing circumstances led to me actually having dinner with the founder and her family (I came across their office in Australia, popped in to say hello, and she invited me to dinner). They are the sweetest people and the business is built out of a passion. Rachel specialized in feeding therapy before founding Catchy. She knows how important it is for babies to be able to make a mess, but how difficult that can be for parents.
Ruggish Co.: we have this reversible play mat in my son’s room and it is so fun for a vehicle-loving child!
Small Businesses for Toys
Baba.bears: Baba Bears makes the most beautiful handmade bears. We have one for each of my children and they are just the most beautiful treasures.
Skillmatics (code Ayelet20): Skillmatics sells a variety of wonderful educational toys such as puzzles, flash cards (which we use for matching), and art activities. Their piece-and-play puzzle is the best.
Educating Amy (code Aye20): Educating Amy produces beautiful handmade quiet books. We love these for travel, restaurants, or even just at home. They are incredibly high quality and thoughtfully created. My son loves the threading, color matching, and fine motor work. He also loves that the one we got is vehicle themed! They donate from every order to help girls in India who do not have access to education.
Everwood Friends: Everwood friends makes the most beautiful unit blocks. We got a set for my son last year for Chanukah. They are smooth and perfectly-sized. This is a small-family business.
Sarah’s Silks (code OnTheWay10): play silks are a wonderful versatile and open-ended toy. My baby has loved them since she was a newborn and my toddler plays with them too. I actually don’t even think we have reached our peak of play silk play. This is a small family-owned business.
Bubbles and Joy Co.: Bubbles and Joy Co. is a wonderful mother-owned company that makes monthly bath toy boxes. They are beautifully curated with bath toys that don’t mold and other fun bath accessories such as toddler-safe bath bombs! The boxes are just so cute.
Lalo: Lalo makes beautiful children’s furniture and toys. They are a wonderful small-ish company.
BreezyAnnBoutique: This is a small Etsy shop where I got my daughter a stuffed animal made out of her hospital blanket. It’s such a fun memory keepsake and she was so nice to work with!
BambinoandtheBunny: This is a small Etsy shop that makes Montessori mobiles. We got my daughter’s octahedron mobile from there and it is beautiful.
Small Businesses for Practical Life
Tovla Jr.: Tovla Jr. is a great company for children’s cooking sets. They make nylon knives and other cooking supplies for children.
Small Businesses for Clothing
Ivy City Co.: Ivy City Co. is my go to for mommy and me matching dresses that are also nursing friendly! I love their shop and they are mother owned.
Hanlyn Collective: Hanlyn Collective has wonderful bamboo sleepwear including our favorite construction pajamas.
Barefoot Shoos (code Homeandontheway): this is a small mom-owned shop. Most of the shoes my son has worn have been from here. We particularly love them for climbing at the playground!
Piccoliny: We love Piccoliny for NYC themed children’s clothing.
Education
Poppy Prints Papery: this company makes gorgeous alphabet cards. We have them in our playroom and they are some of the prettiest I have seen.
More Than Montessori sells beautiful finger plays about nature. These are so fun to do with your child!
Project Based Primary makes some wonderful printables. She also has a full curriculum for preschool and kindergarten and a phonics course.
Nurtured Play makes wonderful printables and now has a printed playmail box you can get where it comes all prepared!
