When children play with sensory toys, they are not only having fun, but they are also gaining important educational advantages. Sensory play promotes the formation of brain connections and the development of a variety of motor abilities. It can also help children to develop problem-solving and scientific discovery skills. A study also proved that the use of interactive sensory toys played a role in developing social understanding in children with Autism (1).
We have put together a list of the best sensory toys to provide babies and toddlers with a tactile and informative method to perceive the environment. These toys satisfy our requirements for sensory stimulation while also being incredibly entertaining, robust, and thrilling for infants and toddlers.
These genuinely distinctive toys will delight babies and toddlers alike with their noises, tastes, textures, colors, and patterns, and you’ll appreciate how inexpensive and simple it is to maintain them.
Our Top Picks
- Best Sensory Fidget Toy: hand2mind Sensory Fidget Tubes
- Best Sensory Auditory Toy: Halilit by Edushape Rainmaker
- Best Sensory Water Toy: Splashin’kids Inflatable Tummy Time
- Best Multi-Textured Toy: Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball
- Best Sensory Spinning Toy: Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain Kids Stacking Toy
- Best Sensory Board Toy: FBve Toddler Busy Board
- Best Sensory Seeking Toy: iPlay iLearn Bouncy Pals Bull Hopper Toy
- Best Interactive Sensory Toy: Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station
- Best Sensory Bath Toy: Boon PIPES Bath Tub Toys
- Best Multi-Sensory Stuffed Toy: Skip Hop Bandana Buddies
- Best Push And Pop Sensory Toy: Fat Brain Toys Original Dimpl Brand Baby Toy
- Best Crinkle Book Toy: Lamaze Peek-A-Boo Forest
- Best Building Sensory Toy: Bristle Blocks by Battat
- Best Floor Sensory Toy: Fisher-Price Playmat
- Best Active Sensory Toy: Prince Lionheart Wheely Bug
- Best Sensory Ball Toy: Edushape Sensory Ball
- Best Sensory Chew Toy: Ausbay Sensory Chew Necklace
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Sensory Toys For Babies And Toddlers Picks
1. hand2mind Sensory Fidget Tubes – Best Sensory Fidget Toy
These sensory fidget tubes are the perfect tool for when your little one needs to unwind and settle down. With four different tubes to choose from, each with its unique movement and color, your child is sure to find a favorite. The glitter tube sparkles and shimmers as it moves, while the fidget tube is perfect for busy hands. The reverse hourglass is mesmerizing to watch as the sand flows in reverse, and the gravity spinner gently spins to help calm the mind.
2. Halilit by Edushape Rainmaker – Best Sensory Auditory Toy
Introduce your child to the wonderful world of music and rhythm with this enchanting rainmaker. With its gentle sound and mesmerizing visual effects, this toy is perfect for encouraging your baby to crawl during tummy time. Not only does it promote sensory and cognitive development, but it also enhances hand-eye coordination, listening skills, and creativity.
3. Splashin’kids Inflatable Tummy Time – Best Sensory Water Toy
With this mat, your baby can have a fun time on their tummy, playing with cute floating fish in the center, while the outer ring is filled with air and the center with water. There’s so much to explore with the colorful marine life and beautiful background scenery.
After use, be sure to drain the water and let the inside air dry to prevent any mold growth. Keep an eye on your child to ensure they don’t use it as a teether or try to pop the water-filled area. This mat is designed for babies 3 months and up.
4. Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball – Best Multi-Textured Toy
This stimulating toy is perfect for newborns and infants who are developing their eyesight, motor skills, and sense of touch. The high-contrast colors and patterns make it easier for your baby to focus, while the gentle bead rattle sounds help to develop important neural connections in their growing brains.
The ball’s chunky bumps are easy for tiny hands to grip, encouraging your baby to reach, grab, and transfer it from one hand to the other. Plus, the various textures on the ball provide a tactile feast for your baby’s curious fingers.
5. Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain Kids Stacking Toy – Best Sensory Spinning Toy
Your little one will love stacking the colorful discs onto the threaded corkscrew pole and watching them spin down to the reversible wobbling base. With double-colored daisy and star-shaped discs in a range of sizes, your child will be mesmerized by the vibrant rainbow of colors, including magenta, lime, teal, lemon, red, and blue. Mix and match the discs in any order you want, then watch them all fall when you remove the corkscrew rod from the base.
6. FBve Toddler Busy Board – Best Sensory Board Toy
This busy board features 14 different openings securely attached to a case with two handles for easy carrying. With this toy, toddlers can engage in various activities at home or in their car seats. It’s made of non-toxic woven fabrics of different felted types of wool and weighs approximately 0.4 pounds.
7. iPlay iLearn Bouncy Pals Bull Hopper Toy – Best Sensory Seeking Toy
Bouncing on this hopping bull is the perfect solution for children who need some movement-based input. It’s a surefire hit with any child who lays their eyes on it. With the quick-action hand pump included, you can adjust the bull’s stiffness to your child’s preference.
Once it’s inflated, your little one will be eager to hop onto it, clutch onto the bull’s ears, and start bouncing away. Don’t worry about dirt and grime; the bull’s cloth cover easily zips off for hassle-free washing.
8. Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station – Best Interactive Sensory Toy
This interactive toy is perfect for babies who love to explore colors, animals, lights, and music while lying on their stomachs or sitting up.
When your baby touches the various colored parts or spins the rattle drum, the toy bar lights up, providing a fun visual stimulus. The toy also features three different modes – animal noises, color sounds, and xylophone sounds – to help stimulate your baby’s sense of hearing. Plus, you can choose from English, Spanish, or French to expose your baby to different languages.
9. Boon PIPES Bath Tub Toys – Best Sensory Bath Toy
This set includes five different shapes that your little ones can scoop, pour, and combine to create a chain of colorful pipes. The suction cups on each pipe make sure they stick to the wall, keeping your bathroom flood-free (sorry, plumbers!).
Not only do these pipes have fun designs and colors that will captivate your kids, but each one also serves a unique purpose – whether it’s creating a special water flow or giving your child something to hold onto while playing. These bath toys are perfect for sensory exploration and imaginative play, and the set includes five different parts so your child can mix and match to their heart’s content.
10. Skip Hop Bandana Buddies – Best Multi-Sensory Stuffed Toy
Designed for babies three months and up, this delightful elephant is sure to become your child’s new best friend. And if elephants aren’t their thing, don’t worry – you can also choose from a fox, giraffe, llama, dog, or unicorn.
Your little one will love squeezing, hugging, and playing with this stuffed toy. It offers a variety of sensory experiences, including a teething ring, a rattle, crinkly ears, different textures, and even a mirror. Plus, it comes with a handy attachment that allows you to fasten it to a stroller or car seat for fun on the go
11. Fat Brain Toys Original Dimpl Brand Baby Toy – Best Push And Pop Sensory Toy
It’s easy to get started with this toy, but it’s hard to stop once you begin. Simply push the bubbles in and pop them through to the other side with your fingers. It’s an addictively fun and satisfying sensory experience that will keep your little ones entertained for hours.
This activity toy is perfect for traveling, as it’s easy to pack and take with you on the go. It’s suitable for babies over 10 months old and provides endless hours of entertainment and fun.
12. Lamaze Peek-A-Boo Forest – Best Crinkle Book Toy
This soft book is jam-packed with interactive features that teach your child about all sorts of forest animals. Each page is made of sturdy material and features a soft peek-a-boo flap that your baby can easily open and close.
But that’s not all, this book also has bright colors, a variety of textures, and unexpected crinkles that will encourage your baby to explore and discover. They’ll love touching and feeling the different textures and hearing the crinkling sounds.
13. Bristle Blocks by Battat – Best Building Sensory Toy
With 80 durable pieces in a variety of shapes and sizes, including wheels, spheres, and more, the possibilities for imaginative play are endless. Each block features soft, rubbery spikes that add a unique and tactile element to your child’s creations.
Your little ones will love exploring the vibrant colors and textures of these blocks as they connect and build, encouraging creativity and fine motor skills. Plus, with rounded edges and safe bristles, bumps, wheels, and pyramids, this toy is perfect for newborns and toddlers. When playtime is over, simply pack everything up in the handy storage container for easy cleanup and organization.
14. Fisher-Price Playmat – Best Floor Sensory Toy
Your baby will never run out of ways to play with over 10 toys and activities available in 3 different modes! The rainforest-themed gym comes alive with music, lights, and nature sounds that respond to your baby’s movements, encouraging them to reach, bat, and play with the hanging activity toys and motion-activated music during lay & playtime.
For tummy time, you can lower the toys or move them to the play mat, providing a fun and engaging way for your little one to develop their motor skills. The gym also features sweet sensory details, such as a soft, satiny mat border and a large crinkle leaf, perfect for keeping babies entertained and engaged.
15. Prince Lionheart Wheely Bug – Best Active Sensory Toy
This ladybug-shaped ride-on toy is the perfect way to help toddlers learn balance and mobility in a fun and interactive way.
Made from high-quality wood with sturdy handrails and wheels, the Wheely Bug can move forward, backward, and sideways, depending on where your child wants to go. And with its smooth-rolling wheels, it’s easy to navigate over any type of flooring.
Plus, the Wheely Bug is available in a variety of bug and critter shapes, so your child can choose their favorite and enjoy hours of entertainment.
16. Edushape Sensory Ball – Best Sensory Ball Toy
With various textures, shapes, and bright colors, this sensory ball encourages children to engage their senses and develop their natural curiosity.
You don’t have to worry about the safety of your child when playing with this ball because it’s BPA and phthalate-free, and it’s designed to be gentle on their skin. The ball comes inflated, but you can always use the built-in valve to adjust the air pressure to your liking. It’s recommended for children 6 months and up.
17. Ausbay Sensory Chew Necklace – Best Sensory Chew Toy
The three necklaces come in different colors and are perfect for both boys and girls to enjoy. Made with little ones in mind, these necklaces are safe for toddlers who love putting things in their mouths.
Crafted entirely from high-quality silicone, they are free from any harmful materials like phthalates, latex, lead, or BPA. These chewable necklaces are perfect for light to moderate chewers and are tear-resistant. They’re even great for children with specific needs, such as autism, ADHD, or SPD, who require oral stimulation.
How To Choose The Best Sensory Toys For Babies And Toddlers?
- Sight: The colors of a toy can be important in attracting a child’s attention. Vivid colors or those with contrasting hues and patterns may be particularly intriguing to youngsters. Additionally, toys with elements that move, like beads, may also be attention-grabbing.
- Sound: Some toys make noise when you press them or squeeze them, which can be really fun for kids. These toys often have rattle-able beads inside, which make a nice sound. Toys that make noise or play music are great for stimulating your child’s senses and keeping them interested.
- Touch: They will be inspired to explore with their hands and tongues by various textures. Look for objects with raised, crinkly, or soft textures that little hands can feel. It will be enjoyable for a baby or toddler to explore and touch various materials. They may also try to put the objects in their mouths, so it is important to choose materials that are safe for them to eat.
- Smell: Smell-infused toys are often marketed to older kids, but the scents can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. Different materials, like cloth, wood, and plastics, all have unique smells that can be enjoyable for kids to explore.
- Taste: When babies are exploring the world around them, they often put things in their mouths as a way of learning about them. This is why teething toys with different textures and shapes can be so beneficial for them. It allows them to explore different flavors and sensations and helps them to learn more about the world around them. Just be sure to clean the toys regularly and make sure they are free of toxins to keep your baby safe.
What Is Sensory Play?
Sensory play is a great way to engage your child’s senses and help them learn about the world around them. It can involve anything from exploring different textures to playing with light and sound. Sensory play is a great way to stimulate your child’s imagination and help them develop important skills such as fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving (2).
Are Sensory Toys Safe For Kids?
A lot of parents are concerned about whether or not sensory toys are safe for their kids. After all, these toys can be pretty intense, and some kids may seem to react negatively to them. However, most experts agree that sensory toys are actually very beneficial for kids, and as long as you use them properly, they are perfectly safe.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is important for toys to be age-appropriate, durable, and larger than your child’s mouth to prevent any potential choking hazards (3).
Sensory toys are designed to stimulate the senses, which can help kids with sensory processing disorders. These toys can also help kids to develop fine motor skills, and they can provide a much-needed outlet for kids who are constantly on the go (4). As long as you supervise your child while they are using the toy, and you make sure to choose age-appropriate toys, there is no reason to worry about safety.
At What Age Do Babies Need Sensory Toys?
Most babies need sensory toys from around 4-6 months old. At this age, they begin to become more aware of their surroundings and start to develop their sensory skills. Sensory toys can help stimulate their senses and support their development.
