The Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers, According to a Child Development Expert

reviewed mark Medically Reviewed by Micah Resnick, M.D., F.A.A.P.  | October 29, 2021
Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers 2021

The toy world can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to choose from. But sensory toys — toys or items that offer children a way to play using their senses — go back to basics. “Instead of just being entertained by a toy, sensory toys allow a child to really be engaged and have impact on the materials,” explains Jennie Monness, an early childhood educator and co-founder of Union Square Play, a parenting community and play space. “Sensory play provides opportunities for children to learn about the world around them by seeing the impact they can have on their surroundings. It helps young children make early connections, especially when they can truly experience a material versus watch it.”

Sensory toys are particularly helpful in terms of childhood development. “You can watch a YouTube video on cooking, but you learn much more by actually cooking along with it,” explains Monness. The same goes for sensory play with infants and toddlers. “You can show a toddler pictures of a river but you can also fill a shallow bin with water and stones and have them actually touch, feel, splash and sit in it. The impact of experiencing play, especially play that uses more than one sense, is huge and makes the learning more comprehensive.” 

Sensory play also incorporates a lot of cause and effect, Monness says. For example, your child will begin to learn that when she moves her hand in water, she can see ripples and splashes, and hear them too, Monness explains.

While any child can enjoy sensory toys, “materials used for sensory play are especially beneficial for children with disabilities because they call for exploring with more than one sense,” says Monness. “For instance, a set of plain wood blocks may not be as beneficial for a child with sensory challenges, however if these blocks had different textures, we'd be able to see which texture this child gravitated to, learning what input from the environment was more optimal for this child.”

Different types of sensory toys

When it comes to sensory toys and products, there are all different options on the market and sensory toys can be categorized in a variety of ways. (Some of them don’t always look like traditional “toys,” either, as you’ll see from the list below.) Monness suggests grouping sensory toys by the experience they provide as well as who a child is. 

“Sensory materials are incredibly valuable because they allow children to act on urges they have as they are exploring the world,” she explains. “These tendencies in play are formally called schemas.”

One schema that a child can act on using sensory materials, for example, is “transforming schema,” aka discovering how a material can change property. “This is often why a child will get very messy with sensory materials — they are figuring out the unique properties of something like slime and how it oozes, pours, plops and changes depending on how it changes shape depending on how it's used.”

Monness notes that some materials and types of sensory toys include:

  • Sound-making sensory toys: These allow a child to see the effect they have on the environment ("when I shake this, it makes this noise!" or "When I bang this, it makes this noise, but when I bang that other toy, it doesn't make as loud of a noise").
  • Water sensory play: Children see how they create splashes, how things sink in water or float, how they can pour, dump, or splash. 
  • Baking activities: These use touch, smell and taste, allowing children to compare the differences at each step of the process. 

Staying safe while enjoying sensory toys

As far as sensory toys go, there are always precautions to take in terms of safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that toys should be large (larger than your child's mouth to prevent choking), sturdy, nontoxic, not too loud and age-appropriate. The group has a full list of guidelines on its site to consider before purchasing a toy.

Monness notes that seeing where a child is developmentally and monitoring closely is also important. “Children are a lot more competent than we believe them to be,” she says. While safety always comes first, sometimes nervousness, she notes, can indicate, “‘I don’t trust you,’ and then they don’t really learn to trust themselves.” That said, there are instances where you should always intervene for your child’s safety, such as if she starts to throw sand (which can get caught in her eyes) or tries to put stones, marbles or other small toys in her mouth (which are choking hazards). 

How to choose the right sensory toy for your specific needs

When choosing a sensory toy for your child, start by observing your child: What is she constantly trying to get her hands on? What seems irresistible to them? With that in mind (as well as the other above-mentioned considerations), Monness suggests purchasing items that match her interests to make a play station just for her. 

If your child fixates on cleaning and wiping, for example, you might give her a sponge and some bubble bath and let her clean play dishes. Monness suggests creating “yes” experiences out of “no” experiences — which most likely involves sensory play because children often want to get their hands on something.

Other factors Monness suggests considering when buying sensory toys:

  • Material (metal that clanks or sand that slips through fingers, for example).
  • What senses the material stimulates.
  • What interests your child. (For example, if your child enjoys playing with toy cars, incorporating kinetic sand can help her see how her cars mold and mark the sand.) 

How we picked the best sensory toys for toddlers

To choose the sensory toys included in this piece, we consulted with Monness, scoured What to Expect’s community boards to see what products you love and researched top sensory toys.

Why Trust Us?

What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.

Best Overall Sensory Toy for Toddlers

Kinetic Sand Beach Sand

Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers original Kinetic sand
Pros
  • Manageable sand play without the mess
  • easy zip bag
Cons
  • Doesn’t come with a container to play in
  • some buyers report sand is sticky
Why We
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Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Sand is a sensory experience like no other, thanks to its unique texture and infinite malleability. But if you don’t want to transform your kitchen into a beach, the original Kinetic Sand is the next best thing. Inspiring independent play with endless options and ways to play (use metal cups, toy cars or tools like toy shovels in the sand), Kinetic Sand keeps multiple different senses engaged. But unlike actual sand, it sticks to itself, making for easy cleanup. Plus, the sand is non-toxic and hypoallergenic. The sand also comes in different colors and even scents for more fun play opportunities.

Recommended age: 3 years and up

Weight: 3 pounds

Community Reviews
  • My 2-year-old plays independently often. He loves sensory bins with kinetic sand or rice, 'washing' dishes or toys at the sink, kitchen, building with magnatiles, train tracks or bristle blocks."

Best for Sensory Play Beginners

Rubbermaid Commercial 2 Gallon Food/Tote Box

Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers Rubbermaid 2 gallon clear food storage box
Pros
  • Affordable and versatile base for different kinds of sensory play
Cons
  • Plastic (for those looking to avoid)
Why We
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Why We Love It

Whether your little one wants to give a baby doll a bath or you’re looking for a DIY way to contain the mess inherent with many sensory toys, this simple clear bin (a top “non-toy toy” from Monness) fits the bill. Its see-through nature allows children to observe what they’re doing from all different angles so that they can more easily understand cause and effect. Fill it with water or kinetic sand and toys, and let the fun begin. It can also double as toy storage when playtime is over.

Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 3.5 inches; 2 gallon capacity

Community Reviews
  • Water sensory bin! Measuring cups, spoons, toys, etc & towels. This activity kept my babe busy for an HOUR.

Best for Musical Kids

Nutty Toys 8-Pack Pop Tube Sensory Toys

Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers Nutty Toys Pop Tubes
Buying Options
Amazon
Amazon
$9 for eight
See Now Opens a new window Walmart
Walmart
$13 for eight
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Pros
  • Affordable
  • versatile
Cons
  • Some users report material wears easily
Why We Love It

Your kid will love stretching, connecting, bending and shaking these fun tube toys in seemingly endless ways. The BPA-free plastic tubes are lightweight and easy for kids to hold and manipulate. Use them in a sensory bin, blow into them like a trumpet or connect them together to make shapes and letters. (And according to parents, you might have a blast playing with them, too!) However, the soft plastic might not always stand up to rougher play.

Recommended age: 3 months and up

Dimensions: 8.2 inches long, stretches up to 27.5 inches

Best Multi-Purpose Sensory Toy

Modern Innovations Stainless Steel Pint Cups

Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers metal stainless steel cups
Buying Options
Pros
  • Durable
  • easy to clean
Cons
  • Can be hard to separate when stacked
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Sound-making, dumping, pouring and stacking, all with one toy! This set of five stainless steel glasses is technically for beverages, but serves another purpose as a perfect sensory toy for little ones. Use them alongside kinetic sand, for water play or just on their own. Your child will love banging them together, scooping, measuring and more. (Bonus: They’re dishwasher-safe, making for easy cleanup.)

Dimensions: Holds 16 ounces of liquid

Community Reviews
  • We did old-fashioned rolled oats in a tub with various kitchen utensils the other day. Used some metal measuring cups/spoons, hard plastic spoons, silicone basting brush and silicone whisk so she’d be okay chewing on them.

Best for Artsy Kids

Koltose by Mash 21 Rock Painting Rocks

Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers smooth painting stones
Buying Options
Amazon
Amazon
$25 for set of 21
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Pros
  • Smooth
  • come in a variety of different sizes
  • versatile
Cons
  • Some people say their rocks were broken on arrival
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

If your child loves to collect rocks, paint, line things up or stack items, these rocks suit a variety of different needs. Smooth to the touch, they are fun for small hands to feel, and they’re easy to decorate. You can bring them in the bath, use them as a part of a sensory bin or play with them on their own around the house or outside. However, they’re not appropriate for children who are still putting toys in their mouths — as your child may choke on the small rocks — so save this option for older kiddos.

Dimensions: 2-3.5 inches

Community Reviews
  • Landscaping rocks! We go outside and sit on the patio and he picks up and drops the smooth river rocks in our landscaping. Over and over and over and over.

Best Sensory Toy for Older Kids

Li'l Gen Water Beads Set

Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers lil gen water beads
Pros
  • Bright colors
  • fun texture for kids to touch
Cons
  • Squish easily
  • can be messy
  • not for younger kids
Why We
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Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Looking for an activity that will delight your child for hours? Just add water to a few teaspoons of these reusable, non-toxic beads and let them sit. After they expand — up to the size of a dime — put them in a bin with some other toys and let your child delight in squeezing, squishing, sorting and scooping the fun beads. The set also comes with scissor-shaped scoopers and tweezers to help kids play. But parents note that younger kids are often very tempted to put the beads in their mouths, which is a choking hazard. Save this toy for older children and supervise their play closely. The beads can also be challenging to clean up, especially if thrown on the floor.

Suggested age: 3 years and up

Weight: 8 ounces (dry)

Community Reviews
  • Water table is a huge hit still at almost 3, to mix it up I do foamy soap, water beads, colored water etc in it.

Best Subscription With Sensory Toys

Lovevery Subscription Toy Kits

Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers love every the helper play kit
Buying Options
Lovevery
Lovevery
$80-120 every two to three months
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Pros
  • Convenient
  • age-appropriate curated toys
  • interactive for parent/child
Cons
  • Expensive
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Lovevery’s subscription toy kits take the guesswork out of what to do with your children whether they’re only a few months old or a few years old. The educational toys company just expanded to provide kits through age four and also just released a Montessori-inspired toy shelf to display toys. Each kit comes with a variety of age-appropriate play things (think: a play sink with dishes and cups) and a short packet explaining childhood development, when to introduce certain items and how to engage your children in certain activities. If you’re hesitant to spend $80-$120 every two months on toys, check out the brand’s more affordable offerings at Target —some of which are sensory toys.

Recommended age: 0-4 years

Community Reviews
  • We love it! It is a lot of money but this is my first and I really am not sure what is developmentally appropriate for each month so this subscription has really guided me! It gives activities to do with your little one as well as toys and books! You could probably research and get similar toys for cheaper on Amazon but I love the convenience of it!