The best tuff trays for sensory and messy play

If you have a baby or young toddler, the bigger tuff trays might be a bit too big and overwhelming for them. This is where the Inspire My Play Tuff Tray shines – with a lid for play prep and storing! This means you don't have to deal with the clean-up when playtime is over. Just put on the sealable lid and save for next time. The lid also doubles up as a second play tray, meaning you get two for the price of one, a shallow option and a deep one. Not only that, but it also comes with six removable compartments to help little ones organise their playthings, which really makes a difference for sensory play.

It may not have a stand, but this play tray is sturdy enough with non-slip silicone feet for stability on both the bottom tray and the lid, making it perfect for use on various floor surfaces. If you're worried about it being too small, our two testers, Sherida and Fern, found the perfect amount of space as they could reach all areas of the tray.

It may be more pricey than other options, but nearly 80% of customers, including our testers, give five-star reviews. Fern mentioned that it's durable and loved the play ideas pack that came with the play, as it allowed her to set up different activities for her daughter easily. She would have loved it if the tray did have the option to spin, as she had to manually turn it for her daughter when she was sat with it at the table, but this also meant that the silicone feet kept it stable, preventing it from being pushed across the table or onto the floor.

Sherida and Fern also found it really easy to clean when changing activities, while it might be a bit bigger for some sinks, they could wipe it round with a sponge and leave it on the draining board to dry.

While only available in one colour, the Play Try Table with Play Mat Set comes with two tray mats, a dinosaur, and an underwater area, so it can help inspire themed sensory play. The mats are removable, so your little one can play without the tray.

It's a good height with adjustable legs that fold into the tray itself when not in use. Another feature parents loved was that it fits perfectly through a door frame without having to be tilted, so you can easily and quickly dispose of the tray's contents!

It's a good size for multiple children to enjoy, and the tray itself is food-safe, so you can even use it for babies in sensory play with food-based play.

This set includes both the tray and stand. It is 100cm, which provides lots of room for your child to enjoy messy play, and it can be adjusted in height from 52 to 73cm. One reviewer thought it was a great product and said that both their children enjoyed playing in it all day with sand and water toys. They liked that it allowed them to play standing, too, and they weren't restricted to sitting around it on the floor.

Overall, customers seem to like the different colours, how easy it is to clean, and the convenience of not having to worry about the kids damaging their tables or getting upset because they have to clean up before food time. Reviewers also like the adjustable height for growing children and the fact that the tray is strong. One reviewer said, "It's great quality," too.

The Create Your Play Sensory Tray includes eight double-sided activity cards, which eliminate the planning and stress of messy play. It also comes with three fine motor tools, which make playing with different materials more engaging.

It's suitable for sand and water, and the tray is even dishwasher safe, so it makes cleaning up after sensory play much easier.

It is much smaller than other tuff trays, so if you're looking for something that allows you to be a bit more creative and has more space, you might prefer the Simpa Large Round Mixing Tray.

Despite this tuff tray not including a stand, it boasts five stars from reviewers on Amazon. Sometimes a tray is all you need, especially if you have little ones like toddlers that enjoy crawling and playing on the floor. A tuff tray without the stand is ideal for keeping toys together in one place and reach instead of spreading them all over the room and causing trip hazards or stubbed toes for adults! One customer said, "It is quite big, but it meant we could get loads in it." They say it's very sturdy and easy to clean and that they think it's great value for money as there is so much you can do with it. If you decide you want the stand, you can still purchase one separately to complete your set later.

One thing to consider is the floor on which you intend to use the tray. One reviewer says, "It's a good tray but if we use it on the laminate floor it's super slippy, there's no grip underneath so can be dangerous for kids stepping in and out." They also said that it tends to dip a lot in the centre of the tray, creating a puddle in the middle if filled with water. They felt it would have been better if the whole base laid flat on the floor. They recommend going to Pinterest for ideas on how it can be used.