DIY Topponcino: A Cozy Montessori Pillow for Baby

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One of the things I love to do before welcoming a new baby into our family is to make them a special topponcino. This is a Montessori-inspired pillow that is soft, cozy and full of mama’s love. It’s one of my favorite baby items and I’m going to share with you why you need one too!

A topponcino is a classic Montessori method item for babies.  It’s a thin, quilted pillow made from natural materials like cotton or wool. It’s designed to be a comforting and familiar place for your baby to rest on, especially during the first few weeks of life. You can start by sleeping with it yourself, so it absorbs your scent and warmth. Then, you can use it to hold your baby, nurse them, change them, or lay them down for a nap. It helps your baby feel secure and calm in any environment, whether it’s at home, in the car, with older siblings, or at grandma’s house. It also protects your baby from being jostled or startled by other people or pets.

How We’ve Used the Topponcino

My son used his topponcino consistently for the first four months of life, and even as a toddler, he still loves it! It’s his “little bed”, that he cuddles up with it on the couch, brings it along on long car or plane trips, and it’s always there with him during nap time at daycare or when we’re staying in unfamiliar places. It’s like his security blanket.  

For newborns, the topponcino facilitates the Montessori principle of giving babies the freedom of movement to explore their surroundings when used as a movement mat. It’s not restricting, so your little one can move around on it comfortably for tummy time or lie on their back next to a mirror mesmerized by their reflection or under a Munari mobile device (another beautiful Montessori baby essential).  I have fond memories of watching my newborn captivated by the gentle movements of the mobile on his topponcino, giving me a chance to sit back and enjoy a cup of hot tea.

The topponcino is very useful for social outings and family gatherings. Whenever we’re with our extended family, I know there will be a lot of eager family members wanting to snuggle with the baby. So to avoid too much stimulation, we pass the topponcino around with baby atop.  It creates a soft buffer for cold hands, unfamiliar smells and new sounds. It’s also great to place in a Moses basket or pram bassinet for naptime when away from home. 

Creating Your Own DIY Montessori Topponcino

If you’re interested in making your own topponcino, it’s actually quite simple. Especially if you’re a bit crafty and comfortable with a sewing machine. But if DIY is not your thing, there are plenty of great options available online, like on Etsy or The Topponcino Company.  If you have any friends with a new baby on the way, a homemade topponcino could make a perfect baby shower gift. It’s a lovely and practical present that any new parent will appreciate.

Choosing the Right Fabric for Comfort and Easy-Care

When choosing fabrics, go for soft fabrics like 100% cotton or cotton-bamboo blends. These fabrics are breathable and machine washable, which is a lifesaver when dealing with anything baby-related. If you have an old nursing cover or muslin swaddle, you can even repurpose it for this project – just avoid synthetic fibres like polyester.

Remember to aim for having the topponcino made a couple of weeks before your baby’s due date, so you have time to sleep with it and infuse it with your scent. And when it’s time for the big day, don’t forget to pack it in your birth bag if you’re planning a hospital or birth centre birth. 

How to Make a Topponcino

Materials:

• Organic cotton batting or cotton-bamboo blend batting- 1 meter (x2.44m)
• White cotton fabric or calico (for soft mattress cover) – 0.5m
• Cotton fabric (for cover) – 0.5m
• Fabric scissors
• Embroidery thread and needle
• Sewing machine
• Iron and ironing board
• Brown paper wrapping paper to make your pattern

Instructions:

1: Cutting the Pattern

Cut a large piece of paper to make a pattern. The pattern should be a rectangle measuring 64cm by 40cm (25″ by 16″) with rounded corners. Use a mug or cup to get nice even, rounded corners.

Use the pattern to cut six shapes from the cotton batting. I folded my cotton batting in thirds, pinned the pattern to the fabric, and cut three pieces at a time.

Cut two more shapes leaving room for a 1.2cm/0.5-inch hem on all sides (see photo – this will allow your pillow insert to fit nice and snug and not bunch up) from the white cotton or calico fabric and set them aside for the cover.

2: Assembling the Pillow Insert

Lay the cut pieces of batting on top of each other. Pin all the layers together to keep them in place.

3: Stitching the Pillow Insert

Use a hemming stitch, hand-sew along the edges of the batting, bundling all the layers together. Stitch through the edges of the top and bottom layers.

Take the two pieces of white cotton/calico fabric shapes, place them on top of each other, and pin them together. Stitch along the sides using a straight stitch on the sewing machine, leaving an 18cm/7 inch gap on one end. Turn the fabric inside out to create a pillowcase.  You may like to give it a press with your iron.

Roll up the pillow insert and insert it into the pillowcase through the gap.

Hand-stitch the pillowcase closed using the hemming stitch technique again.

4: Securing the Pillow Insert

Prevent the insert from shifting inside the pillowcase by using embroidery thread to hand-stitch at six points across the pillow. To do this, thread a needle with embroidery thread, tie the ends of the thread, and stitch through the pillow from the front to the back. Tie the threads on the back side of the pillow and cut the excess thread after making the knot.

5: Making the Topponcino Cover

Cut two pieces and cut using the same pattern and like with the white/calico fabric. Leave room for a 1.2cm/0.5-inch hem on all sides. Cut the paper pattern down a quarter off one of the short ends. Then cut one shape from the altered paper pattern. Refer to the picture for guidance.

With one of the full-sized pieces, cut 5cm off the top. Fold over the straight edges of the two separate pieces and iron or pin in place.  Use a straight stitch to create hems.

Pin the fabric pieces together as follows: Place the largest piece face up, then place the smaller pieces face down on top. Pin all around the edges. Sew along all the edges, then turn the cover right-side out. This will create an envelope-style pillow cover with smaller pieces overlapping at the back. Give it a press with your iron.

Place your topponcino mattress inside and you’re done!

Topponcino FAQ

How do I wash my Topponcino?

To wash a topponcino, simply machine wash it cold with like colours and use gentle laundry soap (I prefer my homemade laundry liquid). Afterwards, either line-dry it or tumble dry on low.  Many store-bought topponcinos specify that hand washing is the only appropriate method, but I have found by using the materials in this tutorial, machine washing is completely fine!

Is the Topponcino safe to sleep on?

The Topponcino is lovely for supervised naps or when you’re holding your little one. It’s considered safe, but remember, it’s not meant for independent sleep in a crib or bassinet. Always keep a watchful eye when they’re using it.

How long do babies use a Topponcino?

Generally, babies use it for about 3-4 months as a security pillow during the early days, but you’ll be surprised how the bond continues. Our older child still finds comfort in using his even now as a toddler.

Montessori Resources for Further Reading

1. “The Montessori Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Nurturing Your Baby with Love, Respect, and Understanding” by Junnifa Uzodike and Simone Davies
2. “The Montessori Toddler: A Parent’s Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being” by Simone Davies
3. “The Absorbent Mind” by Dr. Maria Montessori
4. “How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way” by Tim Seldin
5. “Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three” by Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen
6. “Montessori: A Modern Approach” by Paula Polk Lillard