By Desiree Frigenti – Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist & Director of Ocean Kids Health.
Hello again- playtime with your baby!
Engaging your baby in sensory activities is not only fun but also crucial for their development. Sensory processing is an important part of development, which is why sensory play for babies is so essential! As your baby get older, this ability will help them organize the inputs they receive and make sense of the world around them.
Here are some simple sensory activities you can try with your baby:
1. Texture exploration: Offer your baby a variety of textured materials to touch and feel, such as soft fabrics, smooth surfaces, bumpy toys, and crinkly paper.
2. Sensory bins: Fill a shallow container with materials like uncooked rice, dried beans, or sand. Let your baby explore the textures using their hands or safe utensils.
3. Water play: Fill a basin or tub with water and let your baby splash and play with safe water toys. You can also add floating objects for them to explore.
4. Sensory bags: Create sensory bags by filling sealable plastic bags with items like hair gel, coloured water, or different types of beans. Seal the bags tightly and let your baby squish and explore the contents.
5. Musical instruments: Offer your baby simple musical instruments like shakers, bells, or drums. Let them explore the sounds and textures of each instrument as they play.
6. Sensory books: Choose board books with different textures, flaps, or interactive elements for your baby to explore while reading together
7. Outdoor exploration: Take your baby outside to experience different sensory stimuli such as feeling grass under their feet, listening to birds chirping, and feeling the breeze on their skin.
8. Sensory play with food: Offer your baby safe, age-appropriate foods with different textures to explore, such as mashed avocado, cooked pasta, or soft fruits like bananas or strawberries.
9. Sensory art: Allow your baby to explore safe, non-toxic art materials like finger paints, edible paint made from yogurt or pureed fruits, or textured materials for stamping and creating tactile art.
Remember to always supervise your baby closely during sensory play and ensure that any materials used are safe and age-appropriate to prevent choking or other hazards.
I think you and your adorable little one will have so much fun!
Coming up with a plan for clean up ahead of time (by using waterproof sheet) makes the clean up pretty quick and not too unpleasant. Plus seeing your baby’s messy, happy face makes it all worth it. 🙂
Desiree Frigenti
Senior Physiotherapist/ Baby Whisperer
July 2025
