On the Road to Baby Independence!
The guide to first gestures and how to encourage them
At Charlie Crane, our objects are much more than children's furniture. They transform, they are designed to be durable and intelligent. In fact, we have dedicated a selection focused on toddler independence from 12 months!
Why encourage baby's independence?
From birth, baby begins to absorb their environment unconsciously and, from the very first years of life, the toddler will try to replicate what they see in their daily routine to do "like a grown-up" or alternatively "do it all by themselves." This happens through play but also through everyday actions.
How to encourage independence as a parent?
At this age, the child is far from being able to understand a simple verbal instruction, so it is crucial to show them. It is indeed through imitation that these first gestures of independence will gradually take shape…
It is equally important to:
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Doing all these steps with kindness: parents should move neither too quickly nor too slowly, avoid over-explaining the action, and repeat it if needed so your child has time to break it down.
- By letting them observe: Yes, baby needs to see an action several times before taking action themselves!
- By verbalizing: gestures are important, but you can also use simple words to explain what you are doing in the moment.
- By respecting their pace: every child is different, take your time, don't rush them, and you'll see that little by little everything will fall into place.
Adapting their living space
Around 12–18 months, baby slowly begins to explore and gradually gain independence. Let's see how to encourage it, room by room, by adapting the environment to their level!
- In the bedroom
Having a floor bed allows the child to get up safely and also go to bed when they feel tired (let's dream a little!) Do you know our YOMI and KIMI beds? We've put together an article that sums up all the theory behind the Montessori floor bed right here:
We also think about shelves at toddler height, accessible mini bookshelves (a passion for pulling out books!), as well as low coat hooks so baby can put away their bag, jackets, and coats…
In terms of play, the timeless wooden kitchen is a must that delights little ones (and older ones too) — we also think of our Levo Doll bouncer for dolls which is a must-have when children want to play mom or dad.
- The bathroom
At this age, it's the right time to invest in a Montessori wooden learning tower or our HIBO stool so they can reach the sink and wash their hands with soap, brush their teeth, clean their face… Our HIBO stool is multifunctional: step stool, footrest, and of course a stool — a true ally for independence!
- In the kitchen
Here too, a Montessori learning tower or our HIBO stool comes in handy for watching the grown-ups cook and, later on, joining in at mealtimes! But not too fast! At this age, baby can now sit in their high chair — like the Tobo for example — and grab and drink from their cup (without a lid), pick up their cutlery or their food to perfect their baby-led weaning!
Every day, we teach baby the gestures that will help them grow while having fun! As an adult, it is important to stay attentive, watchful, and encouraging. And then little by little, baby will be able to wipe up small spills on the table with a sponge, throw away their diaper, tidy up their toys… For clothing, opt for elastic-waist pants, zippers…
Finally, dear parents, a few tips:
- Your child will take much, much (much) longer than an adult to do small everyday tasks — that's perfectly normal and an oh so important stage of their development. It's important to breathe, despite the morning rush or the evening slump…
- Who said you succeed on the first try? Sometimes your child will fall, spill, tear things… That's all part of the process! Encourage every small victory by being factual.
- We avoid rushing over to them when they fail or get impatient…
Ready to support baby in their first steps?
Discover our selection of products on this theme:
