Best Sensory Toys for Babies & Toddlers of 2025

This toy is music to a baby’s ears (and mom’s too). It plays classical songs rather than annoying sound effects. Best of all, it has a volume control switch.

The handle features colorful, spinning beads that act as a mini-rattle. It is easy for babies aged 3 months and up to grip. The large center button is simple to press, which rewards your baby with lights that dance to the rhythm.

I love that the playlist includes Mozart, Chopin, and Vivaldi. It is a nice break from standard nursery rhymes. This was our go-to toy for car rides because it is engaging without being overwhelmingly loud.

This takes the classic stacking toy concept and adds a literal spin to it. It is mesmerizing to watch, even for adults.

You drop the colorful, star-shaped discs onto the corkscrew pole. Instead of just falling, they spin their way down fast. Toddlers love watching the movement and then lifting the pole to watch all the discs tumble off the bottom.

It is fantastic for hand-eye coordination for 1-year-olds. The discs are dual-colored and have different textures, making them great for tactile exploration.

This ball is a sensory powerhouse for babies 6 months and older. It features chunky bumps that are easy for clumsy little hands to grasp.

When your baby shakes it, the ball makes a gentle rattle sound. The clear plastic bumps contain colorful beads for visual tracking. Other bumps feature high-contrast black and white patterns or squishy textures. It engages sight, sound, and touch all at once.

This atomic-shaped rattle is scientifically designed for grasping. The thin, flexible stems are perfect for newborns and young infants learning to hold things.

It features sliding rings that make a pleasing “clack” sound when shaken. The bright colors grab attention immediately. Because it is free of PVC and BPA, it doubles as a safe teether when your baby inevitably puts it in their mouth.

This adorable dinosaur is a savior for sore gums. Suitable for babies 3 months and up, it comes in bright, engaging colors like cyan and orange.

The dinosaur features various textures, bumps, ridges, and smooth spots, that massage gums and provide tactile feedback. It also includes a 32-page board book about Dibley the Dino. This adds a bonding element, allowing you to combine sensory chewing with storytime.

This musical bus is packed with features for toddlers aged 18 months and up. It is essentially an activity center on wheels.

Your child can press buttons to hear animal sounds, music, and sirens. It helps teach colors and numbers while refining fine motor skills. The chunky design is durable enough to handle enthusiastic toddler play.

This isn’t your average stuffed animal. It is a multi-textured sensory playground.

The elephant features crinkly ears, a rattle ring, a mirror for self-recognition, and a leaf-shaped teether. Babies over 3 months old will love exploring the different fabrics, from soft plush to ribbed corduroy.

It comes with a clip, so you can attach it to a stroller or car seat. If elephants aren’t your thing, Skip Hop offers the same style in fox, giraffe, and unicorn designs.

Babies are obsessed with tags. This toy capitalizes on that fascination. It is a fabric square featuring eight different looped tags for babies to rub and pull.

Inside the fabric is crinkle paper that makes a satisfying noise when squished. There is also a squeaker for added sound stimulation. It is great for babies around 3 months old who are starting to use their hands.

The best part? It is fully machine washable. Just toss it in a mesh bag and wash it with the rest of the laundry.

Traditional wooden blocks can hurt if they topple over on a baby. These soft fabric blocks are the perfect safe alternative.

Each block features different textures, including satin tags, crinkly sides, and interesting knots. They are squishy and easy for small hands to grab. They are suitable for newborns, but they really shine when babies hit the 6 to 9-month mark and start stacking (and knocking down) towers.

A good activity mat is essential for tummy time. This one offers 18 different activities to keep your baby engaged.

It includes a mirror, electronic bird toy with lights and music, and various hanging toys with different textures. You can adjust the arches to change the toy positions as your baby grows.

The mat is machine washable (a must for spit-up accidents). It folds up easily for storage if you need your living room floor back.

Water play is fun, but wet floors are not. This inflatable mat solves that problem. You fill the outer ring with air and the inner section with water.

Babies can push on the mat to move the floating foam fish around. It encourages tummy time and helps strengthen neck and shoulder muscles. The heavy-duty PVC is designed to be leak-proof.

Parent tip: Always drain the water and let it dry out completely between uses. This prevents mold from growing inside the mat.

Simple is often best. This set includes six balls, each with a distinct texture. Some have deep craters, others have raised bumps or spikes.

They are sized perfectly for hands 6 months and older. Rolling them over your baby’s skin provides a gentle sensory massage. They are BPA-free, so it is safe if your baby decides to taste-test them.

This large, 7-inch ball features thick sensory nubs. It is incredibly easy for babies to grip and throw.

The texture invites babies to squeeze it, which helps strengthen their hand muscles. It is durable, phthalate-free, and comes in high-contrast colors. There is even a glow-in-the-dark version for extra visual fun.

If you prefer sustainable materials, this wooden roller is a great choice. It features a wooden ball trapped inside a cage of colorful slats.

As your baby rolls it, the ball strikes the slats to create a rhythmic wooden “clack.” It encourages crawling as babies push it and chase after it. PlanToys uses non-toxic, water-based dyes and sustainable wood, so it is safe for the environment and your baby.

These links are the ultimate multi-taskers. You can use them to secure toys to a high chair or stroller, preventing the dreaded “drop game.”

But they are also great toys on their own. Made from 100% silicone, they are soft, chewable, and feature different ribbed textures. Babies love pulling them apart and gnawing on them. They are safe for ages 0 to 3 years.

Play-Doh is a classic for a reason. It offers tactile, visual, and olfactory stimulation (we all know that smell!).

This set includes 10 small tubs of various colors. It is perfect for toddlers over age 2 to squish, roll, and mold. It builds creativity and fine motor strength.

Note: Play-Doh contains wheat, so avoid this if your child has a gluten allergy. Always supervise play to ensure they don’t eat it.

Building stimulates the mind, and these blocks make it easy. They are soft, squeezable, and feature interlocking nubs that connect on the top or sides.

Babies don’t need perfect precision to make them stick together. They are great for kids 6 months and up who want to build tall towers and knock them over. The bright colors and distinct textures keep them engaged for a long time.