Reddit mentions of Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stacker Wooden Ring Educational Toy

If you do the math it’s not so jaw dropping!

297 (total price) /3 (months) is 99

99/month is still pretty pricy for my family, as I think most people in our socioeconomic group can agree with (first time parents under the age of 27, just barely breaking into our career fields)

However, the package comes with 6 toys each

99/6 is 16.5

Given that there is science to back up how beneficial these materials are for the child’s development at that particular stage in their life, $16.50 per toy per month is not a price I am against paying. That’s probably around the price people spend on plastic crap that doesn’t benefit their child’s development or eating at McDonalds per month anyway.

Let’s look at one of these packages and compare pricing on amazon, shall we?

https://montikids.com/we-recommend-level-4/#gf_11

This package is the next age appropriate set for my child. The material it comes with includes:

A level two object permanence box
A push ball set
A stable ring stacker
A peg box
A four piece first shapes puzzle set
A Ball tracker Maze
And five cloth storage bags

On amazon we have:

A comparable object permanence box (29.99)

Montessori Object Permanence Box W/ Drawer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZVT3KW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_P4s3BbNETTNEJ

A wooden ring stacker (12.00-but not explicitly the same as it does not come in the the same set up as the Monti Kids set. I wasn’t able to find one more similar, but based on typical industry pricing that I’ve seen I’d put something more comparable at around $20. However, for these purposes I will be using the $12 price point)

Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stacker Wooden Ring Educational Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000067PWG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Y7s3BbV9QWTX1

Push ball tower (currently on sale but usually priced at $19.99, as listed, so I will be using the $19.99 price point for these purposes.
Also, the closest I could find to the Monti Kids set but not the same. I personally like the Monti Kids set more because it is more developmentally appropriate for my child and we are also teaching him not to hit, so we are avoiding things like hammers and drum sticks)

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pound and Roll Wooden Tower Toy With Hammer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VO3GME/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_w.s3Bb1QXHJ0K


Peg Box (35.99 and nearly identical)

Montessori Materials Imbucare Dowel Peg box Set Toddler Preschool Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ET0BVE0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.ct3BbFBB4RW0

First shapes wooden puzzle (21.99 and extremely similar)

Montessori Single Shape Puzzles Wooden Puzzle Board Knob Wooden Puzzle Geometric Shape Puzzle Early Education Material Sensorial Toy for Toddler Shape & Color Sorter (4 Pieces) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CRFTX4C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1et3BbQ9FR3T2

Ball Tracker Maze (86.95 PLUS 24.98 shipping. Extremely similar to the Monti Kids set NOTE: this is the only item I found with listed shipping; everything else does not have shipping added)

Amazing Tracker Ball Maze https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BTIG88/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_tgt3BbPFDHVN4

Cloth storage bags (comes with three each- 27.98 for two sets, so you will get a bonus storage bag!)

Misslo Cotton Breathable Dust-proof Drawstring Storage Pouch Bag (Pack 3 L) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WP4L1K8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_eit3BbDEZ3DTK



So- lets do the math. Just for the physical items (which are similar but not the exact same) ordering off Amazon comes out to:

$259.87 without tax or shipping (aside from the noted item)

Leaving us with a $37.13 difference.

If all the Monti Kids order came with was the materials, then sure, why not save 40 bucks (assuming shipping and tax doesn’t come up to that amount)

However, the Monti Kids order also comes with online classes for you to take so you can better understand and help your child’s development, one-on-one support from certified Montessori instructors, a “toy timeline” helping you track your child’s development and when is best to introduce each new material, and 10 instructional videos on how to set up your space so your child learns the as much as possible through their play.

I’m okay with spending that extra $40 bucks.

Please note: I have not ever ordered through Monti Kids. I am not a sales person or affiliated with them in any way, as I had not heard of them until today. I did this comparison for my own research as we have several holidays coming up- and also a little bit because u/guardiancosmos is kind of going out of their way to be a jerk. Super exited about Monti Kids though!

Raid your kitchen. Set out some wooden spoons, a spatula, and a couple pots for her to play with.

But honestly, it sounds like she's a normal six month old. Six month olds have a very limited attention span. Playing with one toy for a few minutes then getting bored is developmentally normal. It's ok to let her be bored for a few minutes. Ignore initial cries for help and see if she picks up a different toy on her own.

Some things going forward you might buy are blocks, a ball similar to this one, and a ring stacker.

I have 2 boys as well as working in child development. For a high chair I would recommend one that you can strap into a regular chair and also has a removable tray, for example. You don't need the straps (they get super dirty). I cut the straps off my space saver high chair and threw them away. For toys I would recommend the basics and stay away from plastic and things with small removable parts. Get wooden blocks, a cloth ball, a simple [doll](https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Babys-First/dp/B0015KTV2C0, stacking cups, ring stack. Babies also like to rummage through things and bang on things, so clear out a floor level kitchen cabinet of all the things she can't have (cleaning materials, food, etc) and fill it back up with pots/pans/large spoons. Let her go to town pulling everything out and banging it together. Obviously, when she's gotten to the stage where she can open and go through a cabinet on her own - then it's time to baby proof ALL the things.

definitely a play cube! LO learned how to do all the tactile motions, plus learned to stand at it (with supervison - they do tip if pulled too hard!) https://www.target.com/p/b-toys-zany-zoo/-/A-12025312. We have a 'my busy town' one, not the animal one...but any version that has the doors, the alphabet, and other things is great. my 15mo sill actively uses it now to recognize/say letters or recognize objects, learn colors, etc.

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we also got things like melamine bowls/plates, baby silverware (opt for metal ones that come with blow/plate sets. plastic is useless and hard for kids to use/spear food!), sippy cups, etc. a lot of family/friends gave us jarred baby food, oatmeal, etc.

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we also asked for bigger clothes (our initial 'stash' of baby clothes only really went to 6mo)

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things that were gifted and used within the next 3-4months:

this stacker: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000067PWG?

this shape sorter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0177TS0AI?