Sensory toys are toys or projector lights that stimulate one or more of the five senses of touch, hearing, sight, smell and taste, as well as the lesser-known senses of spatial awareness, movement and balance.
The best sensory toys for babies aged 6 months and up will engage one or more of your child’s senses and they’re brilliant for developing emotional intelligence, and social and communication skills. Sensory toys can even come with sensory lights for babies.
“They’re important for baby and toddler development as they provide sensory input, which is necessary for the brain to process information,” says Heather Welch, brand manager at Edx Education, one of the world’s leading educational toy brands. “But they also offer a tangible way for kids to interact with their environment, which helps them learn about the world around them.
“Sensory toys are also great for developing physical skills too,” adds Heather. “Fine/gross motor skills, balance and coordination can all be nurtured and improved through sensory play.”
Sensory toys are also beneficial for children with autism spectrum disorders. “They can help them focus and pay attention, as well as relieve some of their stress and anxiety making them relax, focus and stay calm,” says Heather.
You’ll definitely want to have a few sensory toys in your child’s toy box to boost their development. You may even already have a few without realising they were sensory toys to begin with or you might want to even try making your own with a toddler busy board. However, if not, we’ve found the best ones to buy now.
The best sensory toys
Awarded Gold in Mother&Baby 2023 Awards
Description
These three smooth, mirrored buttons with a metallic gold, silver and colour-burst appearance, were awarded Gold for ‘Best Toy’ in the Mother&Baby 2023 Awards. They really nourish a number of your child’s senses, such as touch and vision, as they’re captivated by these buttons’ intriguing colours and smooth surfaces. Your child’s mind will be left amazed as they try to discover all the different things they can do with these buttons, such as stacking them, seeing their reflection and the different sounds they make too. Suitable for all ages.
One parent review said: “These multi sensory discs are brilliant. Babies love the shiny look of these discs, the rattle noise when shook and can view their own reflection on them. They are smooth and are perfectly sized for little hands. Perfect quality and look great. A perfect addition to our sensory toy collection.”
Pros
- No seams or holes, so bacteria can’t build inside
- Non-porous and easy to clean
- Made chemically-free
- Encourages problem-solving skills and fine motor skills
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a storage box to keep them in
- May need to supervise very young children with them
Best sensory toy for babies
Description
Our parent reviewers loved Taf Toys Tissue Wonder Box. As well as exploring colour and movement, this tissue box gives your child the chance to figure out how to grasp the beautifully eight-coloured fabrics and successfully pull them out of the box. There are also two crinkle blankets to really get those fine motor skills fired up. The box hole is the perfect size for little hands so that they can try and stuff the fabric back inside the box themselves. Suitable for children aged nine months and older.
Our parent reviewer, Aleksandra said: “I would definitely recommend this product to others. It is a great sensory development toy for infants and toddlers. My 11 months old son loves playing with the box and pulling out the tissues from inside. It is very sturdy and you can easily remove the top of the box to put the tissues back inside. It is a great fun developmental toy that every baby would enjoy. It keeps my little one occupied for a good ten minutes (and he hates sitting still – so that tells you).”
Pros
- Great for developing fine motor skills, exploring different colours and movement
- Fabric squares can be hand washed
Cons
- A little pricey
Best sensory ball
Description
This is one of our favourite sensory ball sets for babies. These brightly coloured balls will immediately catch your baby or tot’s attention and they’ll be curious to find out what they’re all about. Each ball has a unique texture that your little one will be able to discover through touch, helping to develop their fine motor skills. Suitable from six months.
One customer review said: “Great baby toy! The colors and the texture of the balls are very interesting to babies. Got these for my daughter when she was a baby. She is a toddler now and still loves playing with these.”
Pros
- BPA-free, safe for chewing on
- Eye-catching design to help stimulate child’s visual senses
- Different textures develop fine motor skills
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Holes in balls can make cleaning them a bit of a faff
Best sensory night light
Description
This baby sensory light has vibrant, colourful patterns that will certainly stimulate your baby's vision and spark their curiosity. It has two projection films, of either a starry night sky or animals, and also comes with 12 lullabies. We really like the fact it has a remote control which you can use to change the settings, from up to five metres away, so you won’t disturb your little one if they've nodded off. Suitable from birth.
One customer review said: “Great night light for kids. Remote works well, colour options are great. Timer works as expected. There's a rotation option as well as a lullaby music option.”
Pros
- Good projection quality that isn’t blurry
- Great for soothing and calming before bedtime
- Helps develop cognitive skills
Cons
- Pricey, but worth it
- Batteries aren’t included
5.
Kinetic Sand
Best sensory toy for older children
Description
Your child will have a range of sensory experiences with this multicoloured Kinetic Sand. They’ll be able to mould, squish and cut this eye-catching sand which never dries out, so the fun never stops. As well as this set coming with 10 bright colours, your child can also mix two colours together to make new ones. It’s suitable from the age of five upwards.
One parent review said: “This is so much fun without the mess like actual sand that even me (an adult and parent) enjoys playing with this. We use it for homeschooling my toddler, as it’s good to use for counting, making shapes and learning colours etc.”
Pros
- Non-toxic
- Pack comes with 10 eye-catching colours
- Less messy than regular sand
Cons
- More expensive than regular sand
Best sensory play gym
www.argos.co.uk
Description
Baby play gyms and playmats are great for keeping babies occupied with stimulating colours, objects and sounds. This musical mat helps your baby through several developmental milestones including lay and play, tummy time and sitting up. The dangling toys help develop self-awareness and hand-eye coordination, while the mat also helps develop motor skills by kicking and reaching for the piano keys. If you have space, a water mat makes for a great sensory toy too. Suitable from birth.
One parent review said: “Easy to put together and very colourful and vibrant - just want babies need this age to help develop. Volume at high is quite loud, piano lights bright and a good variety of sounds / songs etc.”
Pros
- Batteries included
- Designed to grow with your baby through the toddler years
Cons
- Quite small in size
Best outdoor sensory toy
Description
Your little pirate is sure to love this water table ship, which has plenty of space for their shipmates to fit around too. They can squirt water from the cannon, make tidal currents with the spinner and there are plenty of little accessories that come with it for lots of imaginative play. Plenty of your child’s senses (as well as their social skills) will be developed with this water table. Suitable from 24 months and upwards.
One parent review said: “My two year old granddaughter loves this pirate ship! Endless amounts of fun (supervised when the water is inside), but so easy to empty with the plug design. It can easily be transported round the garden too! Excellent toy.”
Pros
- Decent size
- Colourful and fun design, with lots of games
- Lightweight and easy to move (when water isn’t inside)
Cons
- Pricey
- Not suitable for indoor use
Best stacking sensory toy
Description
Stacking toys for babies and toddlers are ideal for helping with fine motor skills, gross motor skills, as well as cognitive development. With three stacking puzzles, this stacking toy will nourish your baby and tots problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination as they discover how to stack the multicoloured shapes together. Their bright colours will immediately catch their attention, promoting colour recognition too. Simple, but effective. Suitable from three years and upwards.
One parent review said: “Amazing. My son is 20 months and had it for christmas. It is a step up from your basic stacking set. It is smaller to help with fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. No word of a lie he sat there for 25 mins playing with it!”
Pros
- Made from 100% FSC-approved wood, which is more hygienic than plastic as it has antibacterial properties
- Not too big, so can be easily packed away
- Small and lightweight shapes are good for little hands
Cons
- Parents may need to supervise babies from putting small shapes in their mouths
Best sensory toy for children with special needs
Description
These 36 pretty pebbles are another toy that will immediately grab your tots attention. They'll be kept occupied for hours as they get creative trying to stack and incorporate these pebbles into their everyday play. You also get 20 double-sided activity cards with different patterns and counting challenges for your toddler to follow. Plus, you get a free storage box so everything can be packed away neatly afterwards. Suitable from three years and upwards.
Pros
- Colours and tangible texture make them an ideal toy for children with special needs
- Free storage box and activity cards
- Helps develop fine motor skills and imagination
Cons
- Pricey
Best for babies that are crawling
Description
How cute is this little guy? This happy penguin provides your baby will a multi-sensory experience, encouraging them to move around and listen. The penguin wobbles from side to side, back and forth, spins and flaps his little wings, all while playing a sweet tinkling tune. Your crawling baby will instantly feel like they've got a friend for life and will be keen to prod and poke their penguin themselves to see what it can do. Suitable from six months.
One parent review said: "We've had it for a few weeks now and my boy has since started crawling and chasing the penguin around the playpen. Love the noise it makes. Motivates the little one to move around. Very happy with it!"
Pros
- Adorable design
- Encourages motor/cognitive development
- No batteries required
Cons
- Quite small
FAQs
Why are sensory toys good for children with autism?
“Children with autism spectrum disorders face an array of challenges, which include difficulty communicating, interacting and learning,” says Heather. “Sensory integration is one of the most important skills for those with autism to learn because it helps them to better understand their environment and become more aware of their emotions.
"They can help by reducing stress levels, improving self-awareness, refining gross motor skills and fine motor skills, learning cause and effect, improving communication skills, developing social skills and increasing self-confidence."
Make sure you're aware of the signs of autism in babies and toddlers.
What are some of the other benefits of sensory play?
“Sensory play is a great way to improve cognition, which in turn can help with early years maths and science learning,” says Heather. “For example, comparing sizes, shapes and textures and using these observations for sorting and patterning activities are the beginning stepping stones of maths. While water and messy play fuel scientific learning, as children observe how different materials respond to cause and effect processes.”
This article contains expert advice from Heather Welch, International Brand Manager at Edx Education. She is also Play Ambassador for The Genius of Play and a Trustee of a UK charity ‘Gecko on the Move’ providing educational opportunities to children around the world.