Have you ever heard of the topponcino? I know that a few years ago, I hadn't! The topponcino is a small mattress used to help transition a baby from womb into the world. The baby uses the topponcino when he/she is being held, or placed somewhere for the first few weeks of the baby's life. It becomes the baby's first environment, one that can move with the baby from place to place. A mom sleeps with the topponcino before the baby arrives so that it smells like her and provides a secure and comforting feeling to the baby.
The topponcino itself is firm but flexible and soft. It feels as if you took a stiff quilt and folded it several times. It's typically oval and not particularly thick. Since I hadn't heard of them with Henry and Nora, I only used one with Augustus. And, I have to say if we ever have more children, the topponcino goes on my must-have list. It was fantastic, and I so wish I had one for my older kids too. Here are a few reasons I LOVED the topponcino!
Holding the baby
The topponcino makes it easier so much easier to hold the baby. This was especially true when Gus was little and floppy and I was recovering from his birth. It helped to distribute the weight and provide just enough support to make it so much easier. Now, this isn't to say that it was a replacement for skin-to-skin time, just that in those moments that I needed a bit of help. Also, for older relatives, it was amazing. My mother, grandmothers, and others all loved having that extra bit of sunggly support.
Sibling Bonding
The topponcino was awesome for sibling bonding! It helped Henry and Nora to be able to independently hold Gus without a lot of fuss from us. It also helped provide a defined space where the other children knew to stay back from so that Gus got the space he needed to stay safe in those early days.
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Putting the Baby Down
The topponcino is also awesome because when your baby falls asleep and you put your baby down, the surface doesn't change and the baby often keeps on sleeping! Same when you pick the baby up! Being the third baby, Gus often would fall asleep on the topponcino in a random place (like the kitchen floor) as I helped Nora/Henry with something. Then I could easily pick him up, and place him in a safer, long-term sleeping area and he wouldn't bat an eye.
Unfamiliar Places and People
The topponcino made for some awesomely calm doctor appointments, family gatherings and other venues where Gus had to be passed around. His little environment stayed familiar. He was comfortable, protected against whatever was on everyone's clothes, and peacefully transferred from one person to another. It was always a familiar reference point for him and made these types of situations peaceful for him.
For these reasons, the topponcino is at the top of my Montessori baby must-have list. My topponcino was made and borrowed from my dear friend Amy. If you want to make one, you can find several tutorials online {here for example.} However, if you aren't as crafty they can also be purchased on Etsy {here and here, for example.} and some other Montessori shops.
Have you used a topponcino? What did you like about it?!
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