15 Best Sensory Toys for Babies & Toddlers
Sensory toys do much more than entertain – they’re powerful tools that support crucial development in babies and toddlers. These sensory toys for babies and toddlers help build focus, self-regulation, and sensory processing skills through engaging play experiences.
After extensive research with child development experts, we’ve curated the definitive list of 15 best sensory toys that benefit all children. Whether your little one seeks sensory stimulation or needs gentle input, these carefully selected options make playtime both fun and developmental.
Each selection encourages learning while calming and delighting young minds. Discover why these standout toys deserve a place in every child’s playroom and how they support growth at every stage. But before going towards toys make sure you know why you need the sensory toys for your child.
Why Sensory Toys Matter for your toddlers
There are a lot of benefits of sensory toys. They help babies and toddlers explore their world while keeping them engaged without feeling overwhelmed. These tools spark curiosity, improve focus, and calm fussy moods—benefiting both newborns and active toddlers. For children with autism or ADHD, autism friendly toys provide particularly valuable support through:
Brain Growth: Sensory input helps with processing different textures, sounds, and lights
Body Skills: Strengthens motor skills while improving focus
Calming Effects: Repetitive motions like rocking or squishing ease anxiety
Talking & Learning: Encourages language development through tactile exploration
These 15 best sensory toys offer benefits of meeting diverse needs—from sensory seekers to those who need gentle input. Each selection supports development through play. Let’s explore the toys.
1.Fisher-Price Kick & Play Piano Gym
Fisher-Price Kick & Play Piano Gym
Newborn baby gym with 4 ways to play as baby grows, plus music, lights & learning fun.Smart Stages learning levels with 85+ songs, sounds and phrases that help teach animals, colors, numbers and shapes
The Fisher-Price Kick & Play Piano Gym engages babies with music, lights, and high-contrast visuals. Its detachable piano works for floor play or car rides.
These toys help cognitive development through textures, sounds, and colors. They build motor skills like grasping and squeezing while calming kids with spinning or rocking motions. For language growth, describing a bumpy ball teaches new words. Perfect for sensory seekers and kids needing comfort. This sensory toy is best for 0-12 months old babies
2. Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Crinkle Book
Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Crinkle Book
A pure tactile delight. Each page features several fruit and vegetable illustrated shapes and pieces to grasp and explore. The will be especially fun for them to touch and squeeze, due to the soft velour stem and greens.
This multi-functional gym alternative is perfect for tiny hands! The high-contrast visuals grab attention, while the crinkly sounds engage babies without overstimulation. It’s ideal for car seat entertainment and encourages eye contact during playtime.
Lightweight and easy to carry, it’s my go-to for quick distraction or tummy time. No fancy piano keys or lights—just simple, effective sensory fun!
3. Edushape Sensory Balls
Edushape Sensory Balls
A variety of textured surfaces engages the senses and enhances tactile development. Gripping, tossing, bouncing, and rolling encourage growth of fine and gross motor skills
Best for: 6+ months
Designed for babies 6+ months and older, these soft, textured balls feature an easy-to-grip design, making them great for little hands. The varied surfaces—spiky, bumpy, and ridged—stimulate touch and keep little hands busy while also providing relief for teething. The unique textures offer more than just play.
Children with Autism or ADHD often find the spiky textures helpful, as they provide deep pressure that can calm anxiety and reduce hyperactivity. These sensory balls support both entertainment and developmental benefits in an engaging way
4. Skip Hop Explore & More Roller
Skip Hop Explore & More Roller
Newborn baby gym with 4 ways to play as baby grows, plus music, lights & learning fun.Smart Stages learning levels with 85+ songs, sounds and phrases that help teach animals, colors, numbers and shapes
Best for: 6-12 months
Ideal for crawling babies (ages 6-12 months), this rolling toy keeps little ones engaged with rattling beads, a spinning wheel, and teether edges. It teaches cause-and-effect play as babies discover that pushing it makes it move and rattle. The perfect mix of fun and learning for curious explorers!
it naturally teaches cause-and-effect play—baby quickly learns that when they push it, it rolls and rattles right back at them. It’s like their first little science experiment! And as a tired parent, I loved that it was easy to wipe clean after yet another drool session or snack time mess. If you’ve got a mini explorer at home, this one’s a must-try.
5. VTech Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer
VTech Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer
Roll the bulldozer and trigger motion sensors to listen to fun tunes and songs on the move stimulating attention and coordination
Best for: 12-36 months
The Bright Starts Press & Glow Spinner is a compact yet powerful toy, perfect for little hands. Designed for babies 6+ months and up, it activates with a simple push, rewarding your child with lights and cheerful melodies. This makes it great for teaching early cause-and-effect concepts—your baby will love seeing their actions create fun responses!
What I love is its size—it fits easily in a diaper bag, making it a staple for on-the-go play. Whether at home or out, it keeps babies engaged while helping them learn. A must-have for parents looking for a toy that’s both entertaining and educational!
6. Bright Starts Press & Glow Spinner
Bright Starts Press & Glow Spinner
Every push makes the star spin and glow. Playful way to discover cause & effect
The Bright Starts Press & Glow Spinner is a compact yet powerful toy, perfect for little hands. Designed for babies 6+ months and up, it activates with a simple push, rewarding your child with lights and cheerful melodies. This makes it great for teaching early cause-and-effect concepts—your baby will love seeing their actions create fun responses!
What I love is its size—it fits easily in a diaper bag, making it a staple for on-the-go play. Whether at home or out, it keeps babies engaged while helping them learn. A must-have for parents looking for a toy that’s both entertaining and educational!
7. Melissa & Doug Monster Bowling Set
Melissa & Doug Monster Bowling Set
Newborn baby gym with 4 ways to play as baby grows, plus music, lights & learning fun.Smart Stages learning levels with 85+ songs, sounds and phrases that help teach animals, colors, numbers and shapes
This colorful, fuzzy bowling set is perfect for toddlers 2+ years old. The soft monster-shaped pins are fun to knock down—and even sweeter to cuddle! It’s a great way to boost hand-eye coordination while sparking imaginative play.
this toy keeps little ones engaged. The textures and bright colors grab their attention, and the lightweight design means no frustration—just fun!
8. Infantino Textured Multi-Ball Set
Infantino Textured Multi-Ball Set
Easy-to-grab, bright and textured design for babies to develop tactile senses while having funSoft and textured material featuring 10 varied sizes and shapes which encourages baby to reach, bat, grab and enjoy sensory play
Best for: 0-12 months, this set features lightweight, easy-to-grasp balls with different textures—smooth, nubby, and ridged. The variety helps stimulate a baby’s sense of touch and supports oral exploration, which is important for early development.
Brightly colored and perfectly sized for little hands, these balls encourage sensory play through rolling, squeezing, and feeling. A great way to engage curious babies while aiding their growth.
9. Montessori Play Kits (Subscription)
Montessori Play Kits (Subscription)
Newborn baby gym with 4 ways to play as baby grows, plus music, lights & learning fun.Smart Stages learning levels with 85+ songs, sounds and phrases that help teach animals, colors, numbers and shapes
One of the sensory toys for babies and toddlers is the play Kits deliver expert-designed, stage-based kits packed with Montessori-inspired toys perfect for 0-4 years. Each kit includes simple yet brilliant tools like sensory boards, wooden cars, and even tissue boxes—all designed to spark curiosity and learning.
The Montessori-inspired approach focuses on purposeful play, avoiding overstimulating plastic toys. Little hands love exploring the wooden cars and sensory boards, which help develop fine motor skills and sensory awareness.
With a subscription, new stage-based kits arrive just as the child grows, taking the guesswork out of playtime. From the first tissue box discovery to stacking wooden cars, these kits make every milestone engaging.
10. Crayola Light-Up Doodle Board
Crayola Light-Up Doodle Board
The Crayola Toddler Touch Lights Musical Doodle Board comes with 6 Songs, 12 Light Up Colors, and 1 Instruction Sheet.
Perfect for 2+ years, this mess-free drawing toy is a parent’s dream—no more stained walls or sticky fingers! The glowing colors and fun musical buttons keep toddlers entertained while secretly helping them learn letters and early writing skills.
It turns scribbles into a light-up masterpiece—my little one giggles every time the music plays. Plus, it’s sturdy enough to survive those toddler tantrums.
Simple, engaging, and secretly educational—what more could you want?
11. Pat the Bunny Touch-and-Feel Book
Pat the Bunny Touch-and-Feel Book
One of the best-selling children’s books of all time, this classic touch-and-feel book offers babies a playful and engaging experience promoting all five senses, all the while creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
This classic touch-and-feel book is best for 10 month old babies. Little ones love to pat the soft bunny’s fur, peek into the tiny mirror, and even smell the sweet flowers. It’s a multi-sensory experience that keeps babies engaged while making story time extra special. As a parent, I’ve seen how this book sparks curiosity and creates sweet moments of bonding—perfect for snuggles and giggles!
12. Strider 2-in-1 Rocking Bike
Strider 2-in-1 Rocking Bike
Babies everywhere are clapping their chubby little hands over the fact that they too can now ride –or play – on a bike. As soon as your little one begins to crawl, they’re pretty much telling you they’re ready to explore and won’t stop…at least not until it’s nap time.
The Strider 2-in-1 Rocking Bike is a game-changer for little vestibular seekers who love to spin, jump, and move non-stop. My nephew got one last summer, and within weeks, his balance and core strength improved dramatically. The rocking motion helps regulate energy levels, making it a great pick for kids who need extra movement—especially those with ADHD benefit in mind.
What makes this sensory toys for babies and toddlers special is how it transitions from a rocker to a balance bike, growing with your child. The smooth rocking motion keeps them engaged while secretly boosting coordination. And don’t worry about crash fears—the sturdy design keeps playtime safe and fun. If you have an energetic little one, this bike is a must-try! Best for the toddlers age one to 5 years
13. Taf Toys Tissue Box
Taf Toys Tissue Box
This tissue toy provides babies with a variety of ways to explore. They can pull out tissues one by one. This activity helps to develop the baby’s hand-eye coordination ability.
If your baby loves pulling out tissues from a real Kleenex box, the Taf Toys Tissue Box is a way better (and less messy!) alternative. This toy comes with crinkly, soft tissues that are attached with colorful ribbons, so they never run out—giving your little one endless fun.
It is one of the best sensory toys for babies and toddlers that keep them entertained, but it also helps develop their fine-motor skills as they grasp, tug, and explore. Trust me, as a parent, I’ve seen how much joy this simple toy brings—without the chaos of scattered tissues everywhere!
14. Fat Brain Toys Dimpl
This little toy is a hit with babies and toddlers—those colorful silicone bubbles are just too fun to squish! Every satisfying pop keeps tiny hands busy, and the soft texture is perfect for oral sensory seekers.
Parents love it because the predictable sensory input helps calm kids, especially those with anxiety or who benefit from autism support. I’ve seen how it works—it’s simple, addictive, and great for reducing stress. A must-have for curious little minds! Best for babies above one year.
15. Water Mat for Tummy Time
Water Mat for Tummy Time
This tummy time water mat has bright and colorful seabed world patterns, cute and beautiful marine animals, which can make your baby love doing tummy time exercise. It can not only make baby exercise the muscles of the neck, shoulders, back and limbs, but also make the baby get sensory enjoyment
This tummy time water mat has bright and colorful seabed world patterns, cute and beautiful marine animals, which can make your baby love doing tummy time exercise. It can not only make baby exercise the muscles of the neck, shoulders, back and limbs, but also make the baby get sensory enjoyment
$10 from Amazon
If you’re looking for a mess-free way to keep your little one engaged during tummy time, a water mat is a fantastic choice. Best for: 3-12 months, this sensory toy is filled with water and colorful floating objects that babies and toddlers can press and chase with their tiny fingers.
The gentle movement of the objects is mesmerizing, keeping them entertained while strengthening their neck muscles—a must for developmental growth. As a parent, I’ve found it’s a lifesaver when you need a break but still want to encourage playtime without the clean up!
Pro Tips for Choosing Sensory Toys for babies and toddlers
Picking the right sensory toys for babies and toddlers can make a big difference. If your child is sensitive to too much input, avoid overstimulating options like flashing lights or loud sounds. Instead, go for predictable choices like the Dimpl or fidget spinners, which provide gentle engagement. For kids who need to channel energy, movement-based toys like rockers or swings work wonders, especially for those with ADHD. Fidget-friendly items like infinity cubes or stress balls can also help them stay focused.
Pro Tips for Choosing Sensory Toys for babies and toddlers
Picking the right sensory toys for babies and toddlers can make a big difference. If your child is sensitive to too much input, avoid overstimulating options like flashing lights or loud sounds. Instead, go for predictable choices like the Dimpl or fidget spinners, which provide gentle engagement. For kids who need to channel energy, movement-based toys like rockers or swings work wonders, especially for those with ADHD. Fidget-friendly items like infinity cubes or stress balls can also help them stay focused.
If your child struggles with anxiety, weighted toys or those offering deep pressure (like squeeze toys) bring comfort. Slow, rhythmic toys such as rainmakers create a soothing effect, perfect for calming nerves. Always observe how your child responds—what works for one may not work for another. From personal experience, a simple fidget tool can sometimes be the most effective!
Safety Tips for Sensory Play
Always supervise babies with small or chewable toys—little ones’ love putting things in their mouths. Check age labels to avoid choking hazards, especially for younger kids.
Keep playtime fresh by rotating toys weekly. This helps maintain interest and prevent overstimulation. Fewer toys at a time = happier, more focused play!
Conclusion
These sensory toys can turn everyday play into developmental wins. Whether it’s a newborn fascinated by crinkly books or a busy toddler balancing on a wobble bike, these tools do more than entertain—they engage a little one’s sense of discovery and spark curiosity.
These toys help in soothing fussy moods to encouraging exploration, the best picks combine fun and learning. With thoughtful choices, playtime becomes both joyful and enriching for your child.
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