Budget Friendly Sensory Activities For Infants

Looking for fun sensory activities for infants that you can do on a budget? These crafts are easy to put together, and your little one will love them! You can find all the materials you need at home or at the dollar store!

Growing up, my mom always loved doing arts and crafts with us. So, of course, I learned so many fun sensory activities that I couldn’t wait to do with my child.

If you are anything like me, I am all about finding enjoyable activities we can do without spending a lot. You will be able to find all of these craft supplies at home or at the dollar store. Babies don’t care how much you spend to absolutely enjoy them.

You can start sensory activities with a newborn baby as young as a week old using tummy time. However, these activities listed will be for when they start to grab items around 2 months old. They won’t be able to put the crafts together with you yet, but they sure will love playing with them for a wonderful sensory experience.

You can use many of these sensory activities for infants through their first year and even as they grow into young children. Once they are little kids, they can even help you put together the crafts and help you gather the items for them.

I do suggest that you are always present while your baby is partaking in these activities.

This post is all about sensory activities for infants.

Sensory Activities For Infants

Benefits Of Sensory Play

Sensory play is essential to a baby’s development and is such a great way for little ones to learn fine motor skills, gross motor skills, cognitive development, sensory development, and so much more!

By playing with new textures, different materials, and other hands-on activities, your baby is actually learning language skills, motor skills, and social interactions.

Learning their new senses with play is a beautiful experience for them and some of the best ways to learn in their first year.

Not to mention it’s so much fun for them and special memories for us. Watching their little hands explore different textures is the best part.

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Tummy Time Sensory Activities For Infants

Sensory Bags

These simple activities are great sensory stimulation, and you can find all of these items at home. Doing different types of sensory bags is a great way to make tummy time more fun and have them wanting to do it longer.

My daughter was not a fan of tummy time, so these activities helped her become more interested.

Shaving Cream Sensory Bag

1. Grab a large Ziploc bag.
2. Fill it 1/2 way full with shaving cream and add a couple of drops of food color. do not mix it in. (I always use this non-toxic food color)
3. Let out the air in the bag when closing it.
4. Make sure the Ziploc bag is closed securely.
5. Tape all 4 sizes of Ziploc onto the floor all the way around the bag. (I like to use painter’s tape, it’s easy to clean up)
6. Put your baby on their tummy in front of the bag and let them squish away.

Outdoor Sensory Bag

1. Find objects from outside, such as leaves, flowers, small rocks, etc. (do not use sticks, as it can puncture the bag or poke the baby)
2. Grab a large Ziploc bag.
3. Fill the bag about 1/2 way with water.
4. Put the outdoor items in the bag.
5. Let extra air out of the bag.
6. Securely close the bag.

Sensory Play Ideas For Older Infants

Sensory Bottles

There are SO MANY ways you can make these bottles. I suggest having fun with it and using whatever you can find around the house or at the dollar store. Sensory bottles are enjoyable for shaking and crinkling the plastic.

Option 1

1. Fill a plastic water bottle 3/4 full with water.
2. Add a couple of drops of food dye and shake it up. (you can add some sparkles in as well)
3. Fill the rest of the bottle with cooking oil or baby oil.
4. Seal the lid shut with super glue.

Option 2

1. Fill a plastic water bottle 3/4 full with water. (add food dye if desired)
2. Here is where you can be playful: Add small items such as rocks, beads, seashells, or anything really that will fit through the mouth of the bottle.
3. Seal the lid shut with super glue.

Yarn Bin

doing a yarn bin is easy and a great activity for learning textures and how to untangle items.

1. Find a medium size bin or box.
2. Unravel the yarn into the box. (any kind of yarn will do)
3. Throw in some of your baby’s favorite little toys, such as little animals and cars, then lightly toss them around in the yarn.

Paint In A Bag

Paint in a bag is a great way to introduce art to your little one without making a mess or putting it in their mouth. It is fun to look at, squishy, and creative.

1. Grab a large Ziploc bag.
2. Put a piece of white paper in the bag.
3. Squirt 3-4 different colors of finger paints into the bag on top of the paper. (do not squish or mix)
4. Make sure the bag is fully sealed.
5. Either on the ground or highchair tray, tape all around the bag, so it is secured flat to the surface. (Again, I like painter’s tape)
6. Let your little one squish and mix around the paint using their fingers.

Sensory Bin

The Dollar store has a lot of great things to put in a sensory texture bin. I try to find items with unique textures and different sizes to make it more fun and really stimulate your baby’s brain. This activity is easy to assemble, and you can store it and bring it out anytime. It is great to also switch items out every now and then to keep it interesting.

1. You can use a simple plastic bin or cardboard box.
2. Fill the box with items like pom poms, Feathers, small toys, pipe cleaners, or any other fun textured materials you find.

Messy Play Sensory Ideas

You might be thinking.. ehh, I would rather not have to clean up a mess.

Messy play plays an essential role in your little one’s brain development. In the first year, your child’s senses are really developing, and letting them make a mess is a wonderful way to explore those senses.

I love to do messy play before bath time, so it’s easier to clean my baby up.

Colorful Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is perfect to play with since it is edible and ok for your baby to eat.

This was one of the first activities I did with my daughter when she was around 6 months, and she enjoyed it very much. She loved to squish the yogurt with her little fingers and mix it up, and yes taste a little.

You can also give your little one different objects to play with in the yogurt, such as a wooden spoon, a straw, little animal toys, etc.

1. Use 2-3 bowls to mix the different yogurt colors in.
2. Add a drop or 2 of a different food coloring to each bowl.
3. Mix the yogurt with the coloring.
4. You can put the 3 different colors of yogurt straight on the high chair tray or in a divided silicone suction plate.

Rainbow Spaghetti

Rainbow spaghetti is a surprisingly simple activity with a unique texture. This sensory activity is perfect for young children as well.

1. Cook spaghetti following the instructions on the box.
2. Drain spaghetti.
3. Each color will use its own Ziploc bag.
4. Add a handful of spaghetti to each bag.
5. Add a couple of drops of food dye to each bag.
6. Shake bags until spaghetti is completely covered.
7. RINSE spaghetti, so you don’t get food dye all over the baby. (very important step)
8. You can combine all the colors together in a bin or put each color in different little bins.

Foam Cupcakes

Foam Cupcakes are one of my daughter’s favorites. When she was an infant, I would use a cupcake tray to make it fun and easy for her to use sitting in her highchair. You can upgrade to a large plastic bin as your baby gets older. (You will just need to make a lot more)

Gather little toys your baby enjoys, like little rubber animals, bath toys, a baby spoon, etc.

You can use dish soap or baby bubble bath soap. I usually go with baby bubble bath soap if I have it on hand.

1. In a mixing bowl, add 2 tbsp of desired soap. (bubble bath soap or dish soap)
2. Add a 1/4 cup of water.
3. Use a whisk beater to blend the soap and water for a full minute until thick.
4. Add 2-3 drops of food color.
5. Mix well until the color is thoroughly blended and fluffy.
6. Scoop mixture into cupcake tray.
7. Repeat the directions to mix a second color.
8. Put different play items in a few of the cups.

Ice Cubes And Water

this sensory activity is fun to do on a summer’s day. It’s a great way for them to experience textures as well as temperatures.

1. Use a large mixing bowl.
2. Fill it halfway with warm water. (NOT HOT)
3. Add a couple of handfuls of Ice.

Final Thoughts

These sensory activities for infants are so fun for them, and as a parent, it’s an absolute joy to watch them explore their senses. These activities are easy to do and highly educational! A Baby’s first year is an important one. You are helping them learn and exercise their brain by providing them with these beneficial activities.

I would love to hear which activities your little one loved. Leave a comment below.

This Post Is All About Sensory Activities For Infants That You Can Do On A Budget

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