Babies love to play, and even more so when they can touch different textures with their little hands. Babies learn about about themselves and the world around them through hands-on activities. That’s why sensory play activities are not only fun for babies but also an important part of their development.
Sensory play has many great benefits and it is essential for children’s brain development as well as gross and fine motor skills. If you want to learn more about what is sensory play and the benefits of sensory play, click here.
It is great for babies to explore, but the problem is that they also like to put everything in their mouth, and some things are just not safe for them. That’s why when it comes to baby sensory play you want to make sure the activity is safe: taste-safe and not a choking hazard.
Now that I have 2 kids my youngest really wants to be a part of it all so I’ve had to create some baby-safe activities that she can do on her own. The best part is that these activities are so fun even my 3 year old plays with them. Seeing them play together is so fun and it also means I get to sit down for a few minutes. 🙂
Most of these activities are taste safe, so while they are not things I would normally feed my kids, I don’t have to worry if they eat them while we’re playing. Some are not edible but big enough that they don’t pose a choking hazzard to the little ones. Either way, all these sensory play ideas should be done under adult supervision and with babies that can sit up.
Keep in mind that most of these activities use food dyes to make things fun for the little ones. If you’re going to try a recipe that requires a dye it is best to stick to natural food dyes (we use Supernatural).
I’m going to share with you my favorite sensory play activities and I hope you kids love them as much as mine.
Update 2019: my kids are now 3 and 6 and we still play with a lot of these same activities! So they are entertaining for a wide range of ages.
Baby-Safe Sensory Play activities
To see the instructions for each sensory play activity click on the name of the activity below each image.
How to Make Taste-Safe Slime (no borax, no glue)
Halloween Sensory Activity with Spaghetti and Creepy Creatures– this is Halloween themed but you can recreate this activity with any theme
Rice Sensory Bottle (Baby and Toddler Version)
How to make non-toxic bath crayons
Taste safe moon sand recipe {with natural colors}
Rainbow Oats: How to dye oats for sensory play
Edible play dough recipe for babies
Water beads sensory window bag
DIY Sensory Board Ideas for babies, toddlers and school aged kids
Using Pipe Cleaners for Fine Motor Development
Montessori-inspired mini discovery boxes for babies
There you have it- some pretty amazing baby-safe sensory play ideas. As you can see there are many ways to make sensory activities so if get creative and use things you already have around your home.
I hope your little one enjoys these activities as much as my girls!
Is there a sensory play activity your baby loves that is not listed here? Share it in the comments!
Related: Looking for sensory play activities for older children? Try these!
LaTonya says
Hello, I am a family childcare provider who has 3 infants and would be so grateful if there is any suggested activities
Carolina says
Hi! Can you tell me the age range of the infants? That way I can recommend an age appropriate activity.
If they’re newborn I would just read to them and spend time with them. They sleep a lot when they’re little and you don’t want to overstimulate them when they’re awake.
Kerri says
Hi, my toddler is almost 2. I’ve been a bit neglectful in this area. Would these be good for his age?
Carolina says
Yes, totally! My 18 month old and 4 year old play together when we do these activities and they both have fun.
Richa says
Wow!!! This is a huge list and i loved it:) i am definitely gonna try each of them .Thanks carolina i especially loved the rainbow oats and pipe cleaner fine motor activity these seem to be awesome. i am here through Pinterest and you have a rocking profile.
AllThatsmom
Carolina says
I’m so happy you loved it! There are some really fun and creative ideas here. 🙂
The best part is that a lot of them are with things everyone has in their home.
Jennifer P says
I would love to get some recommended sensory activities for my 7month old. He can sit on his own, stand with help and is commando crawling everywhere. He seems bored with a lot of his toys now, so I’m looking for new things to stimulate his brain development and give him so excitement.
I’d love any suggestions.
Carolina says
Have you tried the activities on this post? I bet he would love some of them.
Shirah says
What age is good to start these activities?
Carolina says
It really depends on your baby, but I would start most of them once your baby can sit. 🙂
Shauna says
We did a cereal sensory bin last night and I simply let them mix cheerios, fruit loops, and mini marshmallows with big plastic spoons And then fill muffi cups With the mixture kept them busy for over an hour
Carolina says
It’s amazing that the most simple activities keep them the busiest!
Wenny says
Thanks for all the great ideas. The sensory bottles are really fun to make and I’m hooked to it. My 17mo enjoys them so much 🙂
other than that, i’d also made the slime and edible water beads.. Both keeping her occupied for a long time. And the excitement on her face is priceless 🙂