DIY Water & Oil Sensory Bottles: Calming & Stimulating Fun for Babies & Toddlers

Looking for a simple and engaging way to stimulate your baby or toddler’s senses? DIY sensory bottles are a fantastic solution! These mesmerizing bottles, filled with captivating materials, provide visual stimulation, promote fine motor skill development, and offer a calming effect. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of sensory bottles and provide easy-to-follow instructions for creating a captivating water and oil sensory bottle, as well as a simple water sensory bottle.

What are Sensory Bottles?

Sensory bottles are bottles that have different things in them to stimulate a baby’s senses. They can be filled with things like water, glitter, beads, or small toys. Most are clear or see-through so you can see what’s inside. They are often used to help calm and entertain babies. They can be used at home, in a daycare, or in a classroom, among other places.

Benefits of Sensory Bottles for Babies and Toddlers:

• Visual Stimulation: Bright colors and moving objects capture and hold a child’s attention.
• Fine Motor Skill Development: Reaching, shaking, and manipulating the bottles strengthens hand and finger muscles.
• Sensory Exploration: Exploring different textures, sounds, and movements enhances sensory development.
• Calming Effect: Sensory bottles provide a soothing distraction, helping to calm fussy or upset children.
• Encourages Curiosity and Exploration: These bottles stimulate curiosity and promote cognitive development.
• Promotes Focus: Sensory bottles can help children practice focusing their attention.

Sensory bottles are a great way for kids to use their senses to explore and learn, just like all other kinds of sensory play. They can also help kids improve their fine motor skills and language and social skills if they help make the bottles or share them with other kids or adults. But I love sensory bottles most as a way to calm down. A sensory bottle can help a child who is having a hard time calming down by giving them something to focus on or do.

DIY Water and Oil Sensory Bottle (Valentine’s Theme Inspired)

I made two variety of DIY sensory bottles for my 6 months old. Both I made keeping Valentine theme in mind. I got this double sided sensory bottle from dollar tree store. It’s a great way to keep the baby from getting bored. I’ll explain the process to make both the sensory bottles as both are super fun.

Bottle 1: Water and Oil Sensory Bottle

Materials for Water and Oil Sensory Bottle:

• Plastic bottle with a secure lid
• Water (1/2 full)
• Baby oil or vegetable oil (1/2 full)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Glitter, beads, sequins, or small toys

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Bottle: Clean and dry the plastic bottle thoroughly.
2. Combine Liquids: Fill the bottle with equal parts water and baby oil or vegetable oil.
3. Add Color (Optional): Add a few drops of food coloring to the oil for a vibrant effect.
4. Add Sensory Items: Introduce glitter, beads, sequins, or small toys to the mixture.
5. Seal and Shake: Secure the lid tightly and shake the bottle gently to combine the contents.
6. Supervise Play: Always supervise babies and toddlers during sensory play.

When babies and young children use homemade sensory bottles, it’s important to always keep an eye on them.

Bottle 2: Water Sensory Bottle

Materials for Water Sensory Bottle:

• Plastic bottle with a secure lid
• Water (3/4 full)
• Glitter, beads, sequins, or small toys

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Bottle: Clean and dry the plastic bottle thoroughly.
2. Fill with Water: Fill the bottle approximately 3/4 full with water.
3. Add Sensory Items: Add glitter, beads, sequins, or small toys to the water.
4. Seal and Shake: Secure the lid tightly and shake the bottle gently to mix the contents.
5. Supervise Play: Always supervise babies and toddlers during sensory play.

Safety Precautions:

• Always ensure the bottle lid is securely fastened.
• Supervise children during playtime to prevent choking hazards.
• Use non-toxic materials.