13 Best Sensory Toys, Tested by Babies and Toddlers

This interactive playmat by Fisher-Price, our Best of The Bump-winning interactive sensory toy for babies, was a smashing success with our product tester’s two babies. “My 11-month-old was extremely excited to play with this toy,” she told us. “I think the colors and patterns really excited her, plus she loves piano toys.”

With three different stages for use, the toy grows with your child. It functions as a newborn play gym and tummy time mat, and once baby is able to sit upright they can practice their music skills on the light-up piano (which can also be removed for toddler music sessions on the go). This flexibility was appreciated by Rachel, “I love how the toy can be used multiple ways for different ages and play styles,” she said. “My 11-month-old liked the mirror and the piano, and my 2-week-old liked looking at the hanging toys from the arch.”

“Toys with high-contrast colors that also make noises” are particularly good for little kids, Hamilton says—and this toy checks both of those developmental boxes. It comes with a black and white arch and 10 colorful toys that can be repositioned as needed. Plus, the piano is preloaded with more than 85 songs, sounds and phrases for auditory stimulation. Rachel gave this toy high marks for sensory value, saying, “This toy encourages sensory exploration through sound (music), vision (all the colorful shapes and animals!) and touch (piano and toy grabbing).” She also noted that it helped teach her older daughter about the concept of cause-and-effect, as the piano made sounds when she engaged with it. But the learning opportunities don’t end there! “As she gets older and learns how to recognize shapes, colors and animals and develops her speech, the advanced setting on the piano will help her practice recognition, which I'm super excited about!”

While assembly was “slightly difficult,” once the pieces were put together Rachel found it super-easy to adjust the toy for lay-down or sit-up play. Batteries are included, which Rachel loved—once set-up was complete, her kids could start playing straight away. She also felt the toy was durable and easy to wipe clean. Considering its sturdiness and versatile sensory play offerings, it’s perhaps no surprise Rachel awarded the Kick & Play Piano a perfect 10 out of 10 score for value for money—as she told us, “the quality and the features are well worth the price!”

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: Yes | Assembly required: Yes

Of all the interactive sensory toys for toddlers that we tested, this pick by Vtech bulldozed its way to a Best of The Bump award with a high score across multiple categories. Our product tester Brianna and her 21-month-old daughter took this push toy for a spin and it made a good impression right off the bat. “My child was extremely excited when we received this toy. She instantly ran to it and began ripping it out of the box and asking me to help her play with it.” Brianna awarded it a 10 out of 10 score for ease of use, saying, “The toy itself required almost zero assembly and my child was able to play almost instantly from opening the box.”

Designed to encourage movement, the Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer is packed full of bonus interactive features that stimulate the senses. Loading the balls into the bulldozer is a fun hand-eye coordination task for tots that love repetition. Once it’s ready to go, your little one can push the handle and watch as the balls pop out of the smoke stack and land in the scoop bucket, learning cause and effect. Plus, they can count each ball as it emerges for a quick lesson in numbers. Your kid can also sit and play with the bulldozer by pressing the four colorful number buttons to learn colors, numbers and construction objects and listen to music. “She thoroughly enjoyed the interactive aspect of the toy, and I like the learning and educational part,” said Brianna. “The interactive buttons encouraged her to continue independent play for longer than most toys entertain her,” she added.

Age range: 12 to 36 months | Batteries required: Yes | Assembly required: No

Our Best of The Bump winner for tactile sensory toy for babies was awarded perfect 10 out of 10 scores across the board—no small feat! Holly, our product tester and mom of two, gave this multi-texture toy to her baby and was over the moon with his reaction: “My 5-month-old was as excited as he could be. He’s starting to be more aware of his surroundings and was excited to touch it to engage!” She noted that although he still tends to get overwhelmed by play, the toy “entertained him for about 10 minutes.” (This may seem like a short length of time, but it’s actually quite impressive when you consider that most infants only have an attention span of two to three minutes by the time they hit the 8 month mark!) Better yet, this toy appeals to a range of ages. While Holly said it was perfect for her 5-month-old, she also noted that “my toddler loved the toy and kept trying to show her brother how to play with it.”

Designed in collaboration with Montessori educational experts, this tactile toy can be used in three different ways: Shake the plush ball to hear the rattle sound inside, roll it across the floor to baby or hand over the smooth wooden teether and watch as baby explores the crinkly fabric “leaves” with their mouth and hands. “My son likes the crinkle part at the end the best, where he can touch it and it makes a noise. It got him excited to play with it more,” said Holly. Finally, you can connect the pieces to create a sensory toy that attaches to a stroller or car seat for fun times on the go. The portability aspect really appealed to Holly, who said: “It’s great to take places, especially on walks or when we go somewhere where we can’t get the baby out of the car seat like at a restaurant.”

Aside from the tactile nature of this sensory toy, it’s also visually appealing thanks to the mix of monochromatic and colorful prints on the ball and teether. To sum up her review, Holly told us, “The crinkle noise, the colors [and] the softness of the toy help with all of the sensory skills a little one needs.” High praise indeed!

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: No | Assembly required: No

This Best of The Bump-winning bowling set by Melissa & Doug offers an immersive experience for busy tots. The wacky pins feature a variety of fuzzy, soft textures to touch and explore, while the colorful “monster” styling of each character will capture your child’s visual interest and spark their imagination—not to mention the excitement and physical skill required to roll the “bowling ball” and knock down the beastly pins. These elements offer great developmental support: As Hamilton explains, “varied sensory experiences” result in “a more regulated and well-modulated sensory system, which can carry into later childhood and adulthood.”

Our product tester Noura and her almost 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter enjoyed playing with this toy so much that it got a near perfect score in all categories. In fact, Noura awarded this toy a full 10 out of 10 score when rating her child’s reaction: “When she first saw the toy, she was very excited. The different colors, fabrics and faces on the pins intrigued her!” she said. “The pins are a unique material that typically wouldn’t be seen in a bowling set.” Noura added that her daughter adopted the fuzzy pins as pets (of a sort!): “She petted them like she does our dogs, and started to carry them around like her stuffed animals. I think because they had faces, it made her want to use them in other ways!” How sweet is that?

This unique bowling set also received a high score for learning and skill-building. Although the concept of bowling was new to our tester’s daughter, “she practiced her hand- eye coordination skills, and independent play as she was setting up the pins after each bowl.”

The fun game comes with a mesh bag to keep things together, and Noura felt that the sturdy pieces would “last for several years, even with boisterous play.” However, she disliked the fact that the fabric pins and ball could easily collect dust, dirt and dog hair. Despite this minor inconvenience, our product tester said she would recommend this sensory toy to other parents. “In fact, I have sent it to a friend as a gift idea for her child’s second birthday!”

Age range: 2+ years | Batteries required: No | Assembly required: No

Our product tester Megan loved the variety of colors, textiles and squeaks of these Best of The Bump-winning sensory balls, which were “great for us to expose our child to different textures,” she said. The set comes with eight textured balls, eight stackable blocks and four squeezable animals. One detail that makes these sensory toys particularly good for babies is the size: Each piece is small enough for little hands to grasp without posing a safety risk, which Megan particularly appreciated. She also rated the set highly for durability, and felt the semi-hard plastic pieces would hold up well to rambunctious play without running the risk of hurting a child if they were dropped or chewed on. In fact, the sensory balls have a nobbly texture that teething children will enjoy gumming on.“

At 4 months old, Megan’s son was still developing his grasping skills (which often emerge around 5 months of age), so she felt the sensory ball set may be best suited to a slightly older age group. Still, she said, “This is a great tool for learning and skill- building. Whether matching shapes (eventually), mixing textures or building with the blocks, this will be good down the road.” There are also some creative ways to play with sensory balls with younger infants. “When playing with a newborn, you can shake or bounce a sensory ball during tummy time to get their attention and help them work on extension,” Hamilton suggests. “If baby is lying down, you can use those same components to practice visual tracking and reaching across the body.” We love a quality toy that can

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: No | Assembly required: No

Our favorite sensory balls for toddlers are essentially a scaled up version of those available for infants. Why? Because tactile stimulation and open-ended play never grows old! With the help of her 17-month-old twins, our product tester Evelyn took the Original Sensory Balls for a spin and gave them a 10 out of 10 score for ease of use, durability and, most importantly, her children’s reaction, earning them a Best of The Bump award for best sensory balls for toddlers.

Created by Edushape—the original inventors of the sensory ball, back in 1997—this set includes four balls in two distinct sizes that are perfectly toddler-friendly, according to Evelyn. “[My twins] love that these are portable enough for them to carry with their little hands,” she said. “The big ones aren’t too big and the small ones aren’t too small to get lost under things.” Her twins like playing with them together and independently indoors and in the backyard. Plus, Evelyn added, “they love sitting with them in their laps and also rub their hands over the different textures while they watch TV or listen to me read stories.”

When asked to share her kids reaction to these sensory toys, our product tester described it as “absolute excitement.” They were eager for her to unbox the toys and “as they started to play with the balls, their excitement was pretty high. They kept saying ‘ball’ and tried showing me the different balls they had,” she shared. Although her twins’ have a pretty short attention span when it comes to some toys, our tester said the sensory balls kept them engaged in play for longer periods of time. “These aren’t toys that they play with for a while and then just get sick of—they continue to go for these toys day in and day out.” Sounds like a winner to us.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: No | Assembly required: No

This light-up spinner by Bright Starts, our Best of The Bump winner for best light-up sensory toy for babies, is designed to showcase cause-and-effect in real-time. When baby pushes down on top, the toy comes to life with mesmerizing lights and melodies.

Our product tester Jennifer said her 10-month-old daughter “smiled and grabbed for the toy almost immediately.” The light-up toy isn’t overly complex and her child was able to play with it independently. “I showed her how to press the button once and she caught on fast,” Jennifer explained. She was also happy to discover that her other kids liked it too: “My older son (3.5 years old) and daughter (6.5 years old) were both very intrigued by the toy and wanted to play with it also.” We love toys with universal appeal!

Not only does the Press & Glow Spinner stimulate babies’ visual senses, but it also helped Jennifer’s daughter practice push and pull motions. Even better, it’s a plaything that’s built to last. “The toy is very well built and will definitely withstand a baby’s wear and tear,” she said. “I think the toy would last years amongst many children”—perfect for folks that like to pass along hand-me-downs.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: Yes | Assembly required: No

Inspired by finger-painting (without the mess), this drawing tablet from Crayola encourages tactile, hands-on play, since kids need to use their fingers to doodle. But it’s the light-up options that really won us over: The drawings are illuminated in 12 different colors that stand out against the blue gel background. Our product tester Emily, a mom of three, said her kids were fans of the background’s “squishy texture” and glowing colors. Adding to the sensory fun, toddlers can activate six different songs on this doodle board to jam to while making their light-up art.

Emily’s daughters range in age from 6 months to 4.5 years old, but that didn’t stop them from playing with this light-up sensory toy together. “All three girls of different age groups were very interested in the toy for different reasons and did really like playing with it,” explains Emily. (It’s important to note that this toy is suitable for ages 2 and up.) In particular, Emily’s two eldest kids loved it—she told us that “they have fun drawing on it, seeing the lights and dancing to the music,” adding that her 2.5-year-old daughter relished in pushing the button to change the songs. (While Emily isn’t the biggest fan of musical toys, her daughters loved this auditory element, and she appreciated that there is an “off” button at the back.)

The toy also offers plenty of learning opportunities, as Emily noted that her daughters used it to “practice writing letters and numbers with their fingers” and said the names of the colors out loud as they appeared. She also liked the “mess-free” nature of this toy, saying that it’s “nice to have a creative drawing toy without markers or clean-up involved.”

Age range: 24+ months | Batteries required: Yes | Assembly required: No

This sensory toy got a perfect score of 10 out of 10 across all testing criteria, earning it a Best of The Bump award for best sensory book for babies. Our product tester Laurie said her 4-month-old daughter was “extremely excited the first time she saw the book and heard the crinkles” (and noted that her older toddler likes to play with it too!). And thanks to the multiple sensory features—including crinkle pages, ribbon ties, a baby-safe mirror and high-contrast prints—this toy has staying appeal. “She can play with this for a good 5 to 10 minutes straight and will listen to the crinkle, look at herself in the mirror and put the book in her mouth,” Laurie gushed.

The book’s fold-out, high-contrast visuals are perfect for capturing baby’s attention and supporting baby’s visual development. “Babies are typically drawn to high-contrast colors with lots of variation,” Sarno says. “Initially, they see black and white. As their vision develops, they respond to primary colors, and later, more specific shades.” Laurie can attest to this: “My baby likes tracking the black and white pictures as I move the book around,” she said. Another great visual feature is the child-safe mirror, which tends to fascinate little ones as they work up to recognizing their own reflections.

Thanks to this sensory book’s small size, you can easily tuck it inside a diaper bag or stroller caddy. “I’ve been taking this everywhere—tummy time, car rides, stroller rides—it’s a hit wherever she plays with it!” Laurie told us. She also noted that the book was very durable with no loose parts: “I think we’ll get use even for the next baby out of it no problem!”

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: No | Assembly required: No

Thought sensory toys for toddlers were a newfangled invention? Think again. Originally published in 1940, Pat the Bunny is the original—and, in our opinion, best—touch-and-feel book, earning itself a Best of The Bump award 84 years after it came out! Elias says this book offers a wealth of sensory stimulation. “More than just reading a ‘2-dimensional book,’ kids love the texture that goes along with the words,” he says. “They feel the bunny, the scratchiness, smoothness, etc.”

It also proved a hit with our product tester Monica, who awarded it a 10 out of 10 score for ease of use, durability, value for money and her 13-month-old’s positive reaction. She told us that her son smiles and reaches for the book every time: “He's always excited to flip the pages and play with the different elements on each page,” she said. And we’re not surprised by his reaction, as the book has tons of interactive features, including scented flowers, pop-up surprises and even a child-safe mirror, not to mention the iconic bunny rabbit complete with soft, strokable fur. Monica said her son was “immediately engaged” with the book but his favorite was the “peek-a-boo” page. “He lifted the cloth flap and smiled so big. Each time we hand him the book, he goes straight for that page,” she says.

Monica was also a fan of the spiral-bound pages, which her son can easily flip through on his own, and are proving to be durable. “[My] toddler has been playing with this book pretty consistently for a couple of weeks, both inside and outdoors, it's holding up perfectly!” she said. It’s even proven to be a welcome distraction during diaper changes, an event that her son isn’t usually a fan of: “He will hold the book and engage with the touch features like the furry bunny, peek-a-boo and the mirror without getting bored,” Monica reported.

Pat the Bunny is also a favorite in The Bump offices. Daniel Carroll, associate director of e-commerce content and dad of one, says, “My daughter loved this book so much. We have so many fond memories of reading it to her that 10 years later it’s sitting in our baby memory box, alongside her first shoes and the newspaper we picked up the day she was born.”

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: No | Assembly required: No

The Play Box by Lalo is a stage-based subscription service curated for baby’s age and developmental capabilities, with different packages of playthings arriving every two to three months. Our product tester Mackenzie gave it a high score across multiple testing criteria. “This set of toys encouraged open, Montessori-style play, which I loved and so did my child,” she told us. Lalo’s Play Box stood out from its competition thanks to the versatility and longevity of the included toys, earning Lalo a Best of The Bump award for best sensory toy subscription for babies.

Play Boxes are available for newborns up to 2-year-olds, and Mackenzie used the 5-6 month kit with her 5-month-old daughter. This particular subscription box included a roller toy, tactile block, wooden car, tissue box, rattle socks and a board book, collectively designed to boost sensory and cognitive development, all while refining baby’s motor skills. “The toys were great for independent and involved play, as we were able to use them in different ways to build out her skills focused on grasp and tummy time core strength,” says Mackenzie. For example, the roller toy is great for visual tracking and has a hidden chime to perk up baby’s ears, while the rattle socks help build core strength as they reach out to grab their feet. While Mackenzie said her child was “delighted” to receive all of the toys, she immediately gravitated towards the soft block—which she was able to “squish, use it as a rattle and chew on”—and the tissue box toy, which “my child really enjoyed,” Mackenzie said, as “it encouraged grasping and fine motor skills.” (It can also be used as a prop for a quick lesson in object permanence!)

In addition to the multi-use toys, the subscription kit comes with a handy play guide. “I enjoyed the detailed explanation to encourage her to utilize the toys in a manner that encourages skill development; e.g., using the toy car during tummy time for reaching,” Mackenzie reported. In terms of value for money, she said, “this is a very high quality item and so it does have a high price tag to match.” But as the toys are durable and can be used in many different ways, she added that it would be well suited to a family with multiple children.

Age range: 0 to 24 months | Batteries required: No | Assembly required: No

The Bump editorial team has been recommending Lovevery play kits for years, and with good reason. The stage-based play kits are filled with top-quality toys designed by child development experts, with an impressive breadth of toy types and sensory experiences—so you can rest assured that your child is getting the very best with this Best of The Bump winner.

Lovevery Play Kits are available for newborns up to age 4, and our product tester Cam used the “Helper” play kit, aimed at 25 to 27 months, with her 2-year-old daughter. The results? A 10 out of 10 score across almost all evaluation criteria (her only complaint was that there were lots of loose pieces that may get lost over time). Cam noted that her child was “super excited about the kit from the moment I brought it into the house.” Regarding ease of use, it took about 10 minutes to set up and Cam appreciated the fact that batteries were included. “My daughter jumped right into each toy without needing my assistance, which is really amazing,” she said.

The “Helper” kit features a well-rounded offering of toys that encourage various types of play and skill-building activities. It comes with a felt flower toy, a double-sided wooden puzzle, a color-matching game, a board book, art supplies, routine cards, an informative play guide for parents and even a functional sink. While our junior tester had a lot of fun with each of the toys, the sink was the real star of the show. “She played with her sink for about an hour, going between washing her dishes to washing her hands,” Cam says. It’s made from 54 percent bio-based plastic derived from sugarcane, and the water recirculates to reduce waste, so it’s a sustainable choice too. When she wasn’t playing wash-up, our 2-year-old tester enjoyed using the puzzle and the color-matching game. “The learning elements were super fun and my daughter definitely got the most of each toy included.”

Age range: 25 to 27 months | Batteries required: Yes | Assembly required: Yes

We’re always fans of multi-use products that grow with your child, including this Best of The Bump-winning rocker-bike combo. Suitable for use for children as young as 12 months, this toddler bike attaches to a stationary base, so newly minted tots can build balance skills and core strength by rocking back and forth. Then, once they’re ready to hit the road, it detaches from the base and functions as a regular balance bike. How cool is that?

Very cool, was the verdict from our product tester Katt, a mom of five with a 13-month-old and an almost-3-year-old who each got a rocking bike to take for a test drive. She gave the bikes a perfect 10 out of 10 score for play and entertainment value, and said her kids use them frequently. Her older son likes to rock and jump on the baseboard and was “thrilled” to take his bike out on the road for the first time. As for her 13-month-old, his reaction speaks for itself: “Once we put him on the rocker for the first time, he screamed with joy! He absolutely loves it. He was very excited to rock next to his big brother.” These playthings won over kids and adults alike. “I personally love how many ways my children can play with these bikes,” Katt told us. “From rocking, to jumping, to balancing on their own, to being pushed by Mama and Daddy.”

In terms of the sensory experience, Katt said, “The 2-in-1 rocking bike does help develop the vestibular system and proprioceptive system”—meaning they stimulate senses linked to physical movement, balance and spatial awareness. Katt added that the rocking board also helped her daughter with stimming, which is when kids use a repetitive sensory movement to cope with emotions or sensory input.

The bikes also earned a top score for skill-building. Katt’s kids were able to work on their confidence and balance skills while using the bikes in rocker mode, which helped our tester’s older son feel more comfortable once he removed the base and used it as a balance bike. “It also helps strengthen my 13-month-old’s legs and is seeming to help him start standing on his own and hopefully soon walking,” Katt said.

Katt did find it difficult to assemble the rocker base, explaining that “it takes quite a bit of force to put together.” However, she said that the bike itself was easy to put together and was assembled within 15 minutes. And, once assembled, the bikes were very user-friendly: “My 2-year-old can easily get on with no help. My 13-month-old can be put on one and rock all on his own (with supervision of course).”

Another area in which the Strider shined was durability. “As a mama of three boys and five children total, I do not take durability lightly,” Katt said, giving the bikes the highest possible score for this category. Despite the fact that the bikes and rocker bases have been “dragged, thrown, jumped on and dropped,” she hasn’t noticed a single scratch or any loose parts thus far. Let’s just say these road-worthy toys are ready to be put through the paces!

Age range: 1 to 5 years | Batteries required: No | Assembly required: Yes