Infant / Nido Program Aurora and Naperville

The Montessori Environment for Infants

Our Nido (Infant) Program has two main components: a warm, home-like environment for non-walking children, and a thoughtfully prepared space for walking children to explore and engage with their world. The environment is built around the needs of the child, not the adult—so every detail supports success and independence. Furniture is proportioned to the child’s body, and all materials are real, practical, and sized for little hands.

The Non-Walking Space (typically 2 – 12 months of age)

For our youngest children, we create a space that feels as close to home as possible. The classroom includes four main areas, sleeping, personal care, eating, and living/playing, mirroring the rhythm of family life.

• Sleeping: A quiet, cozy space with cribs available whenever rest is needed.
• Personal Care: A dedicated area for bathing, changing, and dressing, helping children begin to build awareness of self-care.
• Eating: From a comfortable chair for an adult to feed an infant, to small tables and child-sized utensils for early independence, the eating area grows with each child.
• Living/Playing: A family-room-like space that encourages movement, play, and skill development, supporting both fine and gross motor growth.

The Walking Community (typically 12 – 36 months of age)

Once children begin walking, they enter a vibrant community of learning and exploration. The classroom is divided into areas that encourage focus and independence, while still offering quiet spaces for rest.

• Personal Care: Children work on dressing and undressing themselves and may be introduced to toileting with child-sized equipment designed for comfort and success. We transition directly to training underwear instead of pull-ups, fostering true independence.
• Eating & Food Prep: This area now includes opportunities for children to help prepare their own food, engaging all the senses with real tools and real experiences.
• Living & Learning: Shelves are filled with carefully chosen activities to match each stage of development. Materials promote language growth, art, music, and practical life skills, all rooted in real-world activities.

Parent Collaboration

We believe supporting parents is just as important as guiding children. From sharing prenatal resources to helping families create enriching home environments, our staff partners with parents to make these early years joyful, productive, and full of growth.

Our Goal

Through this environment, we aim to:

• Stimulate the senses with meaningful experiences
• Enrich vocabulary and language development
• Encourage repetition and mastery of activities
• Teach the use of everyday tools like utensils, brooms, and sponges
• Nurture self-esteem, confidence, and independence

Maria Montessori’s words, “Help me to do it by myself,” guide our approach. Every child is supported as an individual, moving at their own pace toward independence in self-care, movement, and discovery.

Why Choose Montessori Over Daycare?

Casa Dei Bambini Montessori School offers more than just care, we provide an alternative to traditional daycare that truly nurtures your child’s development. In both Naperville and Aurora, our Infant Program focuses on emotional security, sensory exploration, and early cognitive skills in a safe and stimulating environment.

Our Montessori-trained caregivers create a calm, loving atmosphere where infants engage with purposeful, age-appropriate materials. Through gentle guidance and hands-on experiences, children develop language, motor skills, independence, and a strong sense of connection.

At Casa Dei Bambini, we know these early months are foundational. Our Infant Program is designed to help children grow into confident, curious learners, providing the best possible start, far beyond what typical daycare can offer.