If you need to find a way to extend tummy time or you want your little one to explore and safely learn about their world, then here’s a list of 60 Sensory Activities for Babies.
If you’re a new mommy, you’ll soon find out that playing with babies can be HARD. There are so many limitations to what they can do, and their attention span is almost zilch. But the good news is that even the youngest of babies love sensory play. Not to mention that there are a whole heap of benefits that come from this type of play.
Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase.
Sensory Activities for Babies
1. DIY Sensory Lids for Babies
Learn how to turn old formula lids into sensory lids. You can use anything for your sensory lids. From fabric with different textures to something as simple as cotton balls. No matter what you use, these are great for hanging up on a busy board or the fridge door.
2. DIY Baby Sensory Bag
DIY Sensory bags are fantastic sensory activities for babies. If you tape them up on the window then your 1 year olds will also develop upper body strength as the play, which is a great way to develop gross motor skills.
Photo: Paging Fun Mums
3. Taste Safe Mud Sensory Bin
I love taste-safe mud, because my kids always have a great time playing with it. Thanks to a little bit of cocoa powder, and other kitchen ingredients, I don’t have to worry about them eating any.
4. Polka Dot Sensory Bag for Babies
This is a simple activity that is also a wonderful sensory experience. Place some rainbow polka dots inside a sensory bag and explore the colors as they move around.
Photo: Mama Papa Bubba
5. Rainbow Rice
Sensory activities for 1 year olds don’t get better than this. I first made this taste-safe rainbow rice recipe for very young children. From 4 months old my baby girl has been playing with this magic stuff.
6. Sensory Fort for Babies
Turn a regular fort into a sensory fort for babies. If you fill it with small toys you can help your kids develop some language skills as you explore the different items hidden inside.
Photo: Messy Little Monster
7. Frozen Pea Sensory Bin
All you need for a fun activity is a bag of frozen peas for sensory play. As the peas thaw out, you can try up to 3 different activities for babies.
8. Sensory Art for Babies and Toddlers
Try a new way to play with finger paints. This paint in a bag activity is a great way to help strengthen little fingers as they watch the colors mix together.
Photo: Arty Crafty Kids
9. Rainbow Jelly Sensory Bin
Hide new things in some jello/jelly to make a small toy scavenger hunt. You can make all sorts of baby sensory activities out of jelly, and know that it’s safe for your 1 year old to taste.
10. Ocean Sensory Bottles for Babies
Turn an empty water bottle into a mini ocean sensory bottle. It’s amazing what simple activities you can make out of recycling.
Photo: Messy Little Monster
11. Giraffe Sensory Bag
Create an easy sensory activity with pom poms and hair gel. Push the pom poms into place to make a rainbow giraffe sensory bag.
12. Sensory Glitter Bag
Create a sensory bag with glitter and water. When trying sensory activities for babies, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how many new skills your baby will develop through this kind of play.
Photo: Laughing Kids Learn
13. Taste-Safe Rainbow Spaghetti
I love adding kids’ scissors to this rainbow spaghetti sensory bin. Scissor skills, along with other fine motor activities, are important for developing hand-eye coordination.
14. DIY Sensory Board for Babies
Glue different textures onto a piece of cardboard to make a DIY sensory board. Furry fabric, sequins, or contact paper with the sticky side up are all great ideas to add to a sensory board.
Photo: Laughing Kids Learn
15. Construction Sensory Bin
Sensory activities for 1 year olds provide a wonderful learning experience for little ones. This constructed themed sensory activity is completely taste-safe and perfect for small world building sites.
16. Edible Sand
This edible sand recipe is a great way to let your babies engage in messy play. Perfect for chronic tasters.
Photo: Happily Ever Mom
17. Rainbow Rice Valentines Sensory Bin
Rainbow rice is a great activity for kids of all ages. Use two different colors to make the shape of a heart in this sensory bin.
18. Tin Foil Sensory Play
Exploring different materials, like tin foil or wax paper, is a fun game that babies will love. They are amazed at the different sounds, textures and way these materials bend and move.
Photo: Laughing Kids Learn
19. Summer Lemon Sensory Bin
Water play is always a hit with my kids, they never get tired of it. The next time you want awesome new sensory play ideas, add some sliced lemon and blue food coloring into a tub of water. The baby will love it.
20. Bubbles
Bubbles is always on any kids list of favorite toys. Even babies will love watching the bubbles float around. If your infants also have older siblings, you can get them to blow the bubbles for you and get the whole family involved.
Photo: The Imagination Tree
21. Fake Snow Sensory Bin
Fake snow is great fun on the sensory table. Toddlers and preschoolers will have so much fun making little snowmen with this taste-safe fake snow recipe.
22. Sensory Gloves
Make sensory gloves the same way that you make sensory balloons. Fill disposable gloves with a variety of different materials and tie the end shut. Your babies can squeeze, push and pull the fingers and feel what’s inside.
Photo: Laughing Kids Learn
23. Iceberg Sensory Bin for Winter
Use this taste-safe iceberg recipe to make floating white icebergs in blue water. Cut the icebergs into different shapes for polar bears or penguins to climb on.
24. Sensory Tunnel
Turn a regular cardboard box into a sensory tunnel. I love the idea of sticking some bubble wrap along the bottom so that the air pockets pop as the babies crawl through.
Photo: The Imagination Tree
25. Winter Sensory Bottles
Discovery bottles are fantastic sensory activities for 1 year olds and older kids alike. Something as simple as glitter in these winter themed sensory bottles is still magical to watch.
26. Ocean Discovery Bottle
Create the ocean in a bottle for your early learning curriculum. This is a great activity for summer or ocean themed lesson plans.
Photo: Paging Fun Mums
27. Squishy Sensory Bags
Use shaving cream and food coloring to make a super simple squishy sensory bag. This is a great way for little hands to strengthen through play.
Photo: Learning 4 Kids
28. Baby Sensory Bottle
You can use so many different things in baby play ideas. This sensory bottle is just rubber bands and water. How easy is that?
Photo: Teaching Mama
29. Green Pea Sensory Bag
Put some green peas in a plastic bag and let your kids play. Here the bag is taped to the floor so kids can also walk and jump on it, engaging their lower body while they play.
Photo: Happy Toddler Playtime
30. Baby Fishing for Cereal
If you’re new to baby activities, I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that they can be cheap and easy to set up. All you need for this cereal activity is a box that your baby can sit in, and cereal. Then let them explore as they want.
Photo: Nate and Rachel
31. Seashell Sensory Shaker
Place some shells in blue water to create a really easy seashells sensory bottle. This is a fun and easy example of baby and toddler activities.
Photo: Arty Crafty Kids
32. Squishy Shark Sensory Bag
Place some squishy sharks into a bag filled with hair gel. As your babies move the blue gel around, the sharks will show their smiles.
Photo: The Chaos and The Clutter
33. Ice Sensory Activity
Something as simple as ice cubes in an empty bowl is a wonderful play idea. Sensory activities for babies can be so easy and fun.
34. Watermelon Sensory Bag
Sensory play ideas are not only great for sensory learning, but also learning about healthy eating. Fruit and vegetable themed sensory activities, like this watermelon sensory bag, are a great way to get kids exposed to new and healthy food, without having to taste them.
Photo: My Mundane and Miraculous Life
35. Pumpkin Sensory Bags
Save your pumpkin innards the next time you cook to create some sensory activities for 1 year olds. This pumpkin sensory bag is a wonderful idea, especially around Halloween or Fall.
Photo: Messy Little Monster
36. Rainbow Soap Foam
Create soap foam in different colors to make a tub of rainbow bubbles. If you’re going to do this activity with your baby, perhaps try a tear-free bubble bath, just in case some of the foam gets into your little ones eyes.
Photo: Fun At Home With Kids
37. Fireworks Sensory Bottle
Have you tried getting your older kids to make activities for babies? It’s a fun way to get siblings involved in the same play idea. Here, get your toddler or preschooler to put glitter and ribbon into a plastic container, to make a fireworks sensory bottle. Once it’s made, they’ll love showing it to their baby brother or sister.
Photo: Messy Little Monster
38. Baby Play with hair Rollers
Get out your trusty old hair rollers for some baby sensory activities. If you have hair rollers in different sizes then that’s even better because your baby can play with the smaller rollers fitting inside the larger ones.
Photo: The Imagination Tree
39. Baby Play Muffin Tray
Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can only use a sensory tub, bottle or bag for sensory activities. You can also use a regular muffin tin, placing different items in each cup. Experiment with puzzle pieces, blocks and other baby toys to fill in the cups.
Photo: Laughing Kids Learn
40. Spring Flower Sensory Bottle
Here are some fun ideas for you to try this spring. Place some of those beautiful flowers into a sensory bottle. Your babies will love watching them float around as they play.
Photo: Kids Craft Room
41. Exploring Hot and Cold
A different type of sensory activities for babies is to let them explore different temperatures. Of course I don’t mean hot, we do not want anyone getting burned. But playing with cold, room temperature, and warm, is a great way for babies to explore.
Photo: Mama Papa Bubba
42. Wash the Muddy Animals
The toy animals have been playing in the mud and are in need of a good wash. This sensory play idea is a great way for babies and toddlers to play with kitchen utensils (like sponges or dish clothes).
Photo: The Imagination Tree
43. Cornstarch and Water
Oobleck (or cornstarch and water) is one of the best sensory play activities. Since it’s a non-newtonian fluid, your kids will have a blast playing with this magical stuff.
Photo: Fun At Home With Kids
44. Baby In The Oats
Sensory activities for 1 year olds usually involve food in some way. Since we know that babies and toddlers put everything into their mouths, we don’t want them accidentally swallowing something hazardous. Here, all you need is a tub full of oats to keep your little one engaged.
Photo: The Measured Mom
45. Nature Discovery Bottle
This is a fun way to explore the different elements of nature. You can even get your child to help you make these nature discovery bottles when you’re out in the garden one day.
Photo: Little Bins for Little Hands
46. Rice Sensory Bottle
Have you ever thought of adding empty bottles to your regular sensory bins? It’s my kids favorite way to play with their sensory activities. Pouring, scooping and shaking the rice in this bottle will be a hit.
Photo: Mama Instincts
47. Color Mixing Oobleck Sensory Bag
Put different colored oobleck in a bag and get your kids to mix the colors together. This is a great opportunity to learn a bit of color science.
Photo: Inspiration Laboratories
48. Star Box Sensory Play for Infants
Use a cardboard box to make a nighttime sky. This DIY star box is one of my favorite sensory play ideas for babies.
Photo: Where Imagination Grows
49. Christmas Lights in a Jar
This is a great way to let the baby play with Christmas lights in a safe way. Put battery powered Christmas lights into a jar and let your little one watch them glow.
Photo: Lemon Lime Adventures
50. Baby Sensory Play with Smells
Grab some fragrant herbs and use them for some sensory fun. This is a great option for babies and toddlers, and it also reminds us to engage all of the senses in play.
Photo: CanDo Kiddo
51. Mini Rainbow Sensory Bottles
Learn the colors when you prepare your sensory activities for babies. These mini sensory bottles are grouped into colors, making a beautiful rainbow when they are all lined up together.
Photo: The Kavanaugh Report
52. Under the Umbrella Sensory Play
This is one of my favorite ways to help cognitive development in babies. It just looks so fun and cozy under this sensory umbrella setup.
Photo: Best Toys 4 Toddlers
53. Bubbles Sensory Bags
Easy sensory activities are all around you. Have you ever thought of putting soap water in a bag? Then as your children hit, push and play with it they’ll get to watch the bubbles swirl around.
Photo: Happy Toddler Playtime
54. Water Bead Play for Babies
Are you looking for easy sensory activities for 1 year olds? Place water beads in a bag with some water. The kids will love watching these magical beads float around under their fingers.
Photo: Mama Papa Bubba
55. Rainbow Bottle Music Shakers
Learn how to make a musical rainbow shaker for your little ones. This is one of the most simple and best activities for babies. They’ll love exploring all the colors and sounds this easy DIY toy has to offer.
Photo: Kids Craft Room
56. Outdoor Sensory Play for Babies
Have you ever realized how many fun sensory activities there are in your own backyard? Exploring the grass, dirt and plants are all new sensations for babies to enjoy.
Photo: The Realistic Mama
57. Rainbow Bread Crumbs
Have you got some stale bread at home? Use it for some colorful baby play ideas, like a rainbow bread crumbs sensory bin.
Photo: Happily Ever Mom
58. Rainbow Water Bead Sensory Bottle
Make a rainbow sensory bottle with water beads. If you want to let your older kids engage in creative play, then get them to help you make it for their younger siblings.
Photo: Messy Little Monster
59. Nature Sensory Bag
Head outside and pick some flowers and leaves with your kids. Then place them in a nature themed sensory bag for your babies to explore. This idea just goes to show you how simple baby activities can be.
Photo: Hands On As We Grow
60. DIY Texture Book for Babies
Learn how to make a simple texture book. This is a great way to encourage babies to flip the “pages” and develop fine motor skills while they discover the different sensations.
Photo: Mama Smiles
FAQ’s
When should you start sensory with babies?
You can start doing sensory play activities from about 4 months old. In fact, it’s one way to make tummy time easier. If you want to encourage your baby to spend time on their tummy, give them a sensory toy to play with.
Why are sensory activities good for babies?
There are a lot of benefits to sensory play. Sensory play helps to build connections in the brain, which in turn helps with language, fine motor skills, problem solving and more.
What are sensory activities?
Sensory play is any activity that encourages babies to explore using their senses, and integrate that knowledge into their brain (otherwise known as sensory processing). If you can create an activity that uses more than 1 sense then there are even more benefits. For example, creating a sensory bin that smells nice. Or a colorful sensory bottle that makes a sound when shaken.
How do you do sensory play with a baby?
You can try many different types of sensory play. For babies, taste-safe options are usually considered best since they still like to place everything in their mouths. You can try taste-safe sensory bins, sensory bags and sensory bottles.
What activities should I be doing with my 1 year old?
Keep it simple. Everything is new and exciting for a 1 year old, so there’s no need to stress about what activities you should be doing. Everyday activities for 1 year olds include things like going for a walk, talking to them, and building blocks. These are all filled with opportunities for your baby to watch and learn from.
Are you going to try any of these Sensory Activities for Babies?
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