Our Montessori infant weaning table & hand washing station: At 11 months Quentin can push back his chair from the table when he’s finished, and open the kitchen cupboards. He still needs help to get out a table setting. The little vase is empty; needing its flower replaced. The “fine art” hung at child’s height above the table is a simple post card in a frame.
In Montessori infant communities children eat at small tables sitting on small chairs as soon as they can sit comfortably. Everything a child uses (similar to the rest of the classroom) is designed to be as realistic as possible. This means real silverware (sized for a small child) and a real place setting including drinking cup.
We use porcelain plates and bowls and glass drinking cups. Although many Montessori material companies sell infant drinking glasses such as these we just have heavy shot glasses for now.
The worry of course is a young child and broken glass. I think what’s important to us is that there is always close supervision of Quentin while he is eating. We also have a linoleum kitchen floor. It may be why we haven’t had a broken piece yet.
Maria Montessori anticipated negativity around using real and fragile dining ware:
…they place more importance on the glass than on the child; an object worth a few cents seems more precious than the physical training of their children. – Maria Montessori. The Child in the Family.
We store everything in Quentin’s hand washing station.
This has worked really well for us. It fits the Montessori principles of being beautiful, functional, and real looking. Quentin has just started washing his hands in the tiny sink.
Our Montessori Life 
Does the little sink and tap work or is it just for show?
What a great idea! My mother-in-law has asked if she could get us the ikea kitchen, and I hesitated because I thought it was just for play. It never occurred to me to use it for “real.”
Peter – no, the tap isn’t functional, but the sink is watertight. You would need to fill up the sink from another source, then remove it to empty. Which would be good for our son, who thinks the only purpose of a sink is to pull the plug out!
Hi Alissa, we have actually plumbed the sink. We drilled a hole in the sink bottom so the water can run out when he pulls the plug. But we did just dump it out when he was younger.
is this incorporated in your own kitchen or is this installed in Quentin’s room?
This is in the kitchen. With the Montessori pedagogy ideally bedrooms are only for sleeping. Not preparing and cooking food.