Baby Sensory Toys

Inside you’ll find: Some of the best baby sensory toys to help your infant’s brain and body to grow big and strong.

Everyone has sensory needs, babies included. The need to experience the world around them not just with their eyes, but through touch, sound, movement and pressure.

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Note: My oldest son has sensory processing disorder so I often through around terms like vestibular (movement, balance and inner ear stimulation) and proprioception (heavy work, weight and joint stimulation). They’re rarely talked about, but oh so needed at every age!

Tactile Visual and Auditory

Sensory Tubes Giant Sight & Sound Tubes These are mezmerizing and totally baby safe! No chocking hazard here! Your little one will love watching how different objects react differently to gravity and love the various sounds!

Sensory Mini Mats Great tactile sensory activity. Obviously a young baby won’t be walking on these, but they can certainly explore the different textures!

At the Beach Discovery Bag Great toy to encourage kids to explore and search.

Discovery Discs Another fun “eye spy” type toy with no choking hazard.

Rainbow Hand Kite Ribbon My son is a big fan of these ribbons. While he likes to dance and twirl with them, even a very young child will be encouraged to wave their arms and cross midline with this gorgeous toy. (Don’t leave a baby unattended with these long ribbons.)

Super Durable 6 Pack Sensory Balls Balls with various textures and so fun to explore with and these can handle a baby mouthing them.

Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set More options on the textured ball.

Kids Playpen Ball Pit Go all out with this incredibly affordable ball pit so your child can get far more than just their hands involved in tactile play!

 

Oral Input

Soothing Teething Mitten with Hygienic Travel Bag This is pretty much brilliant. It’s common knowledge that babies love to explore the world with their mouth, the oral sense. These gloves are perfect because the child can really go to town on their fingers and the gloves have a super interesting texture!

All-in-1 Teething Necklace Mommy is always a baby’s favorite toy. These teething necklaces are great for a child to get the oral and proprioceptive input they crave while keeping you looking good!

 

Gross Motor

Tummy Time Discovery Pillow Tummy time is a must for all kiddos! But it’s not always fun. Try toys like this that will have your child enthralled, at least for a couple beneficial minutes.

Tummy Time Fun Frog Activity Mat This was our boys’ tummy time mat. They loved that it crinkled and squeaked. The mirror was a favorite.

Kick and Play Piano This is a toy that’s used mostly on a child’s back, but it’s still great for the core. The child kicks the vertical mat while “playing the piano”. It’s lots of fun!

MamaRoo Infant Seat Not the ideal option, but sometimes, you just can’t have your baby on you! If your child loves motion, this one mimics the movements of mom while they were in the womb.

Rainforest Jumperoo Hands down, my boys favorite toy. They loved pushing off with their feet. They get tons of proprioceptive input and vestibular fun. I don’t suggest letting them spend hours in it, as you don’t want them to have any hip issues. But for us, it was just what my sensory seekers needed.

 

Baby Wearing

I am a strong advocate for baby wearing for a number of reasons, one of them being their sensory benefits! Children NEED movement. It’s not normal for them to be in a carseat or a child rocker for hours and hours. They spent nine months in the womb and you want them to have an easy transition. Babywearing gives them the vestibular and proprioceptive input they crave while strengthening their core, head control and more. Oh, and it’s just wonderful to get some extra cuddles.

Baby Carrier Wrap A wrap is your best option for your littlest ones. So cozy and comfy for everyone involved! There’s a bit of a learning curve when you’re trying to get it on, but there’s roughly a million tutorials online.

Ergo Baby Carrier A soft structured carrier is a must as your child gets a little bigger or if you ever want to leave the house and don’t want to wrap yourself in 20 yards of fabric in the parking lot.

Look for a carrier that will keep most of the baby’s weight on your hips (if it’s all in the shoulders, you’ll die. It’s seriously the worst.) You also want something that will spread your child’s legs wide. It their legs hang straight down from the hips, it could cause them long term problems. You want the baby’s weight to be on their bottom AND their thighs.

These things are beasts. Definitely my most used carrier. I can still wear my large four year old in one in a pinch.

 

Looking for sensory toys for your baby’s older sibling? Check out these sensory toys for big kids. 

 

Interested in super simple sensory activities for babies? These all you stuff you probably already have lying around the house.