As parents, you’re always seeking the best tools to nurture your little one's budding senses and cognitive abilities. That's where sensory toys come in! These innovative playthings engage your baby's senses, from sight and touch to sound and beyond, laying the foundation for exploration and discovery. In this comprehensive review, we delve into a curated selection of sensory toys designed to captivate and stimulate your baby's curiosity. From soft, textured objects to interactive sound toys, join us as we explore these essential tools for your baby's sensory journey, using playtime to unlock their potential.
Our Best Buy
The Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Toy is the best sensory toy for babies. Packed with textures, colors, patterns, and sounds, this toy ensures that little hands stay active as babies explore the gentle rattles, crinkles, and more. Suitable for babies of all ages, it is highly portable and easily attaches to a stroller or car seat. Priced at $12.89, it’s a great value option for a toy suitable to any stage of your little one’s development.
In this guide
Best Sensory Toys for Babies
Our Review
The Baby Einstein Bendy Ball Rattle Toy is a versatile sensory toy that will stimulate your little one's senses and keep them happy and occupied. With its bright primary colors and friendly caterpillar design, it's sure to grab your baby's attention. Its soft, flexible material is safe for your child to hold, squeeze, and explore.
Moreover, the ball inside the Bendy Ball adds a fun auditory element and aids visual stimulation, encouraging sensory development. Its compact size makes it ideal for travel, offering a fun and educational way to keep your child amused on the go and foster fine motor skills.
What we like
- Soft and flexible plastic for easy handling and exploration.
- Vibrant colors and a delightful caterpillar design for visual enjoyment.
- Rattle inside supports auditory stimulation and further engages your baby's senses.
- Compact size for easy transportation or on-the-go entertainment.
Things to consider
According to some consumer reviews, it's important to take note that there is a potential risk of a baby's finger getting stuck in the hole located in the caterpillar's body. Despite the possibility of this being a one-off incident, we advise parents to exercise caution and supervise their children closely during playtime with the toy.
Useful product information
- Product Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 4 inches.
- Item Weight: 3.52 ounces.
Our Review
The Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Toy is a must-have for an engaging and interactive playtime. Packed with textures, patterns, and sounds, this toy ensures that little hands stay active as babies explore the gentle rattles, crinkles, and more.
The soft bandana teether is a thoughtful addition, as it easily detaches for parents to wear around their wrists for quick access. Whether at home or on the go, this colorful companion offers play that keeps babies entertained and promotes their sensory development.
What we like
- Engaging textures, patterns, and sounds that hold babies' attention and promote development.
- Detachable bandana teether provides convenience for parents and an additional texture for babies to explore.
- Can be easily attached to strollers, car seats, or infant carriers for entertainment anywhere, anytime.
Things to consider
While the Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Toy offers various engaging features, some customer reviews have mentioned that the stitching began to unravel after a short period. This can be disappointing for those who expected it to last longer - but experiences may vary, and many parents did not have this issue.
Useful product information
- Product Dimensions: 4 x 10 x 5 inches.
- Item Weight: 5.3 ounces.
- Material Free: Phthalate Free.
- Care Instructions: Spot clean with the damp cloth & mild detergent; air dry.
Our Review
The Baby Rattle Socks Toy is a great investment for parents focusing on their child's sensory development. These charming foot finder socks and wrist rattles are scientifically designed, entertainingly promoting hand, foot, and eye coordination.
Universally fitting, the socks ensure comfort for your baby. The auditory stimulation from the rattles helps capture your child's attention, while the vivid colors and soft textures add to its appeal. They come highly recommended as a fun and educational aid for your baby.
What we like
- Encourages healthy growth through the stimulation of hand, foot, and eye coordination.
- Striking colors, smooth textures, and cute designs are sure to capture and hold your baby's attention.
- Socks securely fit most babies.
- Designed to be hand-washed, making them an ideal choice for busy parents.
Things to consider
Some customers have reported the wrist rattles being too small for larger babies, with no way to adjust the size. If your baby is on the bigger side, the rattles may not fit comfortably. However, the socks serve their purpose well and provide substantial sensory stimulation. Consider your baby's size and proportions before purchasing.
Useful product information
- Product Dimensions: 5.12 x 6.38 x 9.06 inches.
- Item Weight: 1.76 ounces.
- Care Instructions: Hand Wash Only.
Our Review
The dearlomum Baby Play Mat is a versatile and engaging play area that offers a range of activities designed to stimulate your baby's senses and enhance their development. With six distinctive modes, including lying, sitting, tummy time, kick and play, and take-along, this tool grows in harmony with your child. The captivating musical piano key with incorporated light encourages exploration and interaction.
As part of the set, four removable sensory toys, along with a flower mirror, offer ample opportunities for your infant to interact with a variety of textures, sounds, and colors. An added guardrail and the use of high-quality, soft fabric ensure your little one will remain secure and comfortable during active playtime. The mat is machine washable, simplifying cleanliness. As a whole, this product offers value for new parents seeking a fun, interactive approach to bolster their baby's development.
What we like
- 6 different modes to accommodate your baby's evolving needs.
- Introduces different textures, colors, and sounds, and enhances overall sensory development.
- Toys can be removed to use as rattles.
- Guardrails and high-quality fabric for security and comfort.
Things to consider
Some customers mention that the volume options may be louder than preferred, potentially causing a disturbance for parents. The placement of the toys may also be inconvenient, not always directly facing the baby. Overall it provides value and developmental benefits beyond these minor concerns.
Useful product information
- Package Dimensions: 17.63 x 13.54 x 4.17 inches.
- Item Weight: 2.64 pounds.
- Batteries: 3 AA batteries required (not included).
Our Review
This Baby Teething Sensory Toy is a perfect companion for your infant's teething journey. Made from food-grade chewable silicone, this toy features 12 balls in vibrant colors and 2 different textures that are gentle on your baby's gums. When shaken, the toys create clear rattling sounds, providing auditory stimulation for your little one. Additionally, rotating the toys produces a delightful crinkling noise.
These sensory toys are suitable for newborns and infants aged 3 months and above. With their heat-resistant materials, cleaning is a breeze, making it convenient for busy parents.
What we like
- Made of food-grade chewable silicone for safe teething relief.
- 12 vibrant colors and 2 different textures for sensory stimulation.
- Easy for tiny hands to grasp, promoting fine motor skills development.
- Creates clear rattling and crinkling sounds, engaging your infant's senses.
Things to consider
While reviews are mostly positive, some mentioned that the clicking noise the toy initially made ceased over time.
Useful product information
- Package Dimensions: 4.25 x 4.21 x 2.83 inches.
- Item Weight: 5.6 ounces.
- Material Composition: German Imports BPA-free Food-Grade Silicone.
- Care Instructions: Machine Wash.
- Batteries Required: No.
Our Review
The Itzy Ritzy Crinkle Bunny Toy is an entertaining yet developmental toy to add to your infant's collection. The sweet bunny design features a textured teething ring for soothing during the teething phase. Its intriguing crinkle sound and vibrant ribbons aid sensory development, ensuring your baby stays engrossed and happy.
Constructed from durable, safe materials, it gives you peace of mind as a parent. Moreover, it's the perfect size for small hands, promoting exploration and discovery for your little one.
What we like
- From newborns to toddlers, the bunny toy serves as a cherished companion.
- Fascinating textures, shapes, and patterns contribute to a captivating sensory journey for your child.
- With braided loops and knots easily held by small hands, this toy fosters the development of fine motor skills.
Things to consider
Potential users should be aware of the toy’s specific cleaning instructions. Because it's a surface-clean-only toy, it cannot be machine-washed. Periodic spot cleaning helps preserve its cleanliness, but may not be sufficient for extended usage--which could be a drawback in regards to durability.
Useful product information
- Product Dimensions: 5.71 x 4.53 x 2.76 inches.
- Item Weight: 2.46 ounces.
- Material Type: Cotton.
Our Review
This pull-string activity toy is a fantastic option for engaging your baby in sensory play. It offers a range of features designed to enhance fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, sensory exploration, and grasping abilities. With slide buttons, finger-pressing bubbles, soft textured ropes, and easy-to-hold grips, this toy offers endless opportunities for your little one to learn and grow. Its brightly-colored makeup also aids in visual development and color recognition.
One standout feature is its safe and high-quality construction. Made of non-toxic, BPA-free plastic ABS and TPE, this toy is soft and smooth with no burrs or sharp edges. It's not only tough but also tear-resistant, promising that parts will not fall off. Additionally, the design ensures that it's the perfect size to prevent any choking hazards. Easy to pack and carry around, it's a must-have for any journey with your little one. This engaging and educational toy is bound to offer hours of entertainment and developmental benefits.
What we like
- Offers a range of features that promote fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and other important physical skills.
- Made of safe and high-quality materials, it provides a soft and smooth surface.
- Bright colors contribute to visual development and color recognition.
- With its tough and tear-resistant design, it ensures safety for babies to play with.
Things to consider
It's worth noting that some users have reported that younger babies may find the toy a bit advanced for their age. The manufacturer's recommended age is 18 months, and younger babies may struggle to grasp how the toy works.
Useful product information
- Package Dimensions: 5.71 x 5.04 x 2.99 inches.
- Item Weight: 6.7 ounces.
Our Review
This fantastic play kit is full of entertaining and educational sensory toys. The included red mirror knob puzzle strengthens sensitivity to colors while promoting important hand-grasping skills. The medium spinning drum captivates little minds with its splendid display of captivating colors and soothing sounds. Moreover, the rainbow fabric ball adds a delightful touch, presenting a variety of colors and textures that stimulate tactile senses.
Designed according to Montessori principles, each toy in this kit promotes independent learning and stirs creativity. It is an ideal gift for infants between 6-12 months, providing endless hours of fun and essential cognitive and sensory development.
What we like
- Sensory development is promoted through the red mirror knob puzzle, which encourages color sensitivity and fine motor skills.
- Medium spinning drum provides a captivating sensory experience, with delightful colors and tactile invitations for exploration.
- Rainbow fabric ball introduces babies to various textures, stimulating sensory development.
- Perfectly aligns with Montessori principles, promoting independent learning and creativity for infants between 6-12 months.
Things to consider
Some users have reported difficulty with removing the plastic film from the mirror, resulting in tiny bits of plastic which might pose a safety worry for parents. Some parents also mentioned the base of the spinning drum being light enough that it may not always stay in place as babies spin it. However, most customers seemed very happy with the purchase.
Useful product information
- Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8 x 6.7 inches.
- Item Weight: 2.01 pounds.
- Manufacturer recommended age: 6 months and up.