Baby sensory toys are a wonderful tool for keeping your little one’s mind entertained. As your baby grows, keeping their little minds entertained can be tricky, which is why sensory toys are a wonderful tool. Sensory toys for babies offer fun activities for you and your baby and are also very useful for their development.
However, knowing what type of baby sensory toys are best for your baby can be bewildering. This guide to the best sensory toys, written by a fellow mum, will help you decide which toys are best for you and your little one.
What Are Baby Sensory Toys?
Sensory baby toys stimulate the senses with lights, sounds, tactile surfaces, and vibrations and encourage babies to explore and engage with their bodies. They are a great way to engage babies when you play with them, as playing is fundamental to healthy brain and physical development [1]. As a mum, I loved playing with my daughter to connect, and sensory toys came in handy when looking for new play ideas.
Developmental Benefits for Babies
From the moment your baby is born, they take in the world around them through touch, smell, sound, and sight. Playing with your baby through sensory play can help your child develop language skills and motor skills and help with cognitive growth [2], encouraging vital social skills that are important for when they are older. This is why baby sensory toys are brilliant, offering multifunctional purposes for you and your baby.
Types of Sensory Toys
There are many different types of sensory toys for babies available, with toys suitable for newborn babies up to 12 months old and beyond.
- Interactive sensory toys for babies encourage your baby to take action and get involved in the play. This can include playmats, sensory books, and toys that vibrate or move. A great example is the MiniDream Wooden Baby Gym & Leaf Playmat Set, which is a great toy for newborns that encourages them to look and reach for the toys hanging above them.
- Sensory balls or cubes are toys that are multi-surfaced with baby-safe tactile materials. The Little Dutch Activity Cube is an ideal baby sensory toy for 0-6 months. The Little Dutch Activity Cube is great as it has plenty of interesting tags, strings, and textures for your baby to explore. My daughter had a similar sensory cube that provided endless fun.
- Musical sensory baby toys are excellent for a baby’s cognitive development and teach babies how to track and recognise sounds. The Sebra Rainbow Musical Mobile plays gentle lullabies when the coin is pulled and is a great sleep aid. I would personally use this on-the-go, as it is compact and easy to attach to a pram to soothe and delight your baby.
- Light up Sensory toys are fun and help your baby’s visual development. Light-up toys are very engaging and are a great tool to entertain your baby. Exciting light-up toys can be very stimulating for babies, so monitor the use of these toys to avoid overstimulation.
How to Choose a Sensory Toy: Age-Appropriate Choices
As a parent, it can be tricky knowing which toys are best for your baby’s age and current development. Baby sensory toys are ideal for encouraging your baby to gain muscle, and develop motor skills as they reach and grab for a toy, and interact with you.
Unsure of how to use sensory toys? Then learn how to work them into your daily routine with your baby. The best times to engage in play are often during feeding, nappy changing, dressing, having a bath, or preparing for bedtime [1].
SMALL SMART has some amazing toy options for babies of all ages, from the newborn phase to sensory toys for 6-month-olds, and curious 12-month-olds. Here are our recommendations:
Baby Sensory toys for newborns
- Wee Gallery Alphabet Cards These alphabet cards aid visual development and are ideal for newborns as their vision grows. I had a set of similar cards positioned next to my baby’s changing area, which kept her engaged and made changing nappies easier.
- Sophie La Giraffe Teether One of the ways babies explore is through their mouths, so ensure what they are grabbing is baby-safe with this fun and well-loved Sophie La Giraffe teether.
- MiniDream Luxury Baby Play Mat Playmats are a valuable tool for new parents, as they provide a safe place to lay your baby and stimulation for their growing minds. The MiniDream Luxury Play Mat is soft and has plenty of visual and touch stimulation ideal for newborns.
3-6 Months : Sensory toys for 3 month old +
- Sebra Wooden Activity Roller This tactile roller toy is an interactive sensory toy for 3 month olds. The roller can be used during tummy time and has mirrors, an abacus, and a mini maze to discover.
- Fold-Out Soft Book - Croco Green This charming fold-out baby book is perfect for young babies, providing a calming sensory experience. Its versatile design makes it ideal for use at home, during playtime, or as an engaging activity while on the go. Compact and foldable, it’s easy to carry wherever your adventures take you.
- Little Dutch Soft Activity Triangle Tummy time is an important activity for babies as it builds neck and shoulder muscles [3]. The Little Dutch Soft Activity Triangle is perfect for tummy time and has plenty of engaging sensory features for curious little minds, including sweet little birds, flowers, and butterflies.
Sensory toys for babies 6-12 months
- Trixie Wobbly Stacking Animal This fun animal-themed stacker will engage your baby in interactive play and is a great sensory toy for 6-12 months. The Trixie Wobbly Stacking Animal also incorporates sound with a delightful, soft musical tinkle as the pieces are stacked.
- My Stacking Garden Wooden Toy This eco-friendly sensory toy is wonderful for developing your baby’s fine motor skills. The attractive wooden sensory toy will keep busy babies content while they are also learning. I love the tactile wooden animals that are painted with non-harmful paints.
- Trixie Wooden Beads Maze This wooden toy for 12-month-olds is a great tool for babies who like to explore the world through touch. It is an excellent interactive baby toys that both you and your baby can enjoy playing with together.
Baby Sensory Toys FAQ
Are sensory toys good for babies?
Baby sensory toys are very good for your baby and can aid in the development of their senses from birth. Choosing an age-appropriate sensory toy for your baby is important to ensure that they get the most benefit from the toy.
Do sensory toys help with autism or ADHD?
Sensory toys are appealing and helpful to children on the spectrum. For children on the spectrum, sensory toys can help children remain calm [4] and aid them in connecting to their senses.
How do sensory toys help with development?
Sensory toys help babies develop by stimulating their senses and encouraging exploration and learning. It help build motor skills through actions like grasping, boost cognitive skills through problem-solving play, and help babies foster emotional comfort and overall growth.
When should I use sensory toys?
Sensory toys for babies can be used at any time and can easily be incorporated into your daily routines. This can include during playtime, tummy time, feeding, nappy changes, and bedtime. They're great for keeping your baby engaged and stimulated.
Conclusion
Baby sensory toys are an essential tool for encouraging your little one's development while creating memorable moments of connection and play. From tactile surfaces, such as teething toys, to stimulating lights and sounds, sensory toys support your baby’s cognitive, motor, and sensory growth at every stage. By choosing age-appropriate options and incorporating them into your daily routine, you can help your baby explore the world in a fun and meaningful way.
References:
- Babysensory.com. (2025). Baby Play. [online] Available at: https://www.babysensory.com/babyplay
- Cleveland Clinic (2022). What is sensory play? The benefits for your child and sensory play ideas. [online] Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. Available at: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-sensory-play-ideas.
-
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. (n.d.). Why Babies Need Tummy Time. [online] Available at: https://www.choa.org/parent-resources/orthopedics/tummy-time-tools.
-
Esposito, A. (n.d.). What are sensory toys and how do they help? [online] Autism Speaks. Available at: https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/what-are-sensory-toys.
