Sensory Toys

Every new texture, rustle or click is information for a growing brain. A baby who squeezes a soft block, shakes a rattle or spins a suction toy learns that their action has a result. Sensory play trains grasping, hearing, sight and hand-eye coordination, and it is calming too: many babies settle down when they can explore something soft or gently rattling.

• From birth. Light ball rattles and teethers with loops, fox and UFO shaped teethers, and the Tooky Toy Montessori sensory box for 0–6 months.
• From 6 months. Soft squeeze blocks, a sensory tag ball, activity cubes with animals or a xylophone – toys to squeeze, chew and turn over.
• From 12 months. Squeaky matching blocks, a tissue box toy with fabric wipes, suction spinners, a toy phone with sounds and wooden activity cubes and tables from Classic World and Viga.

Look at the age on the product page first, then at what your baby enjoys right now: chewing, shaking or pulling. Soft toys should be easy to wash, and teethers should be large enough and free of small detachable parts. A few well-chosen toys rotated every week keep curiosity alive better than a full basket.

See also rattles and teethers, developmental baby toys and all baby toys. Toys for the first year are gathered in toys for 0–1 year olds.