5 Messy Sensory Bins for Babies and Toddlers

Baby and Toddler Safe Messy Sensory Play

Creating sensory bins for babies can be tricky since everything goes in the mouth.  A few months ago I wrote a post about 5 Simple Sensory Bins for Babies and Toddlers, and it has been one of my most popular posts ever.  Today I am sharing five more ideas for sensory bins for babies and toddlers.  This bins are also simple and easy to put together, but beware they are messy!

You might be wondering why anyone would bother putting together messy sensory bins when there are mess free options?  There is a lot of value to messy play, and I wrote about it in my Child’s Play 101 series.  These early explorations help children become more creative and therefore more intelligent.  I am not always up for messy sensory bins.  Some days we stick to the tried and true bins that are easy to clean.  For suggestions about messy play including ways to minimize the mess and choose a time of day that is best for you, read my Tips and Tricks for Messy Play.

These five sensory materials are my favorite for baby and toddler sensory play.  They are all safe for a taste, but I wouldn't recommend allowing your child to eat large amounts.  Ultimately you know your child best.  While my twins taste everything they do not eat large quantities of any sensory material.  Know your child and use your best judgment when choosing sensory materials, and of course do not leave children unsupervised. 

Messy Activities for Babies and Toddlers

1.  Cloud Dough

Cloud dough is made up of two common household items, flour and oil.  I first read about cloud dough on Flights of Whimsy and followed the recipe exactly.  After that first experience I switched to using cooking oils, because they can be safely ingested.  Please do not use baby oil with babies and young toddlers.

Ingredients:

• flour
• cooking oil

Directions:
Combine 8 cups of flour for every 1 cup of oil.  For a smaller bin cut the recipe in half.

Cloud Dough Heart Cakes

Sensory Bins to Teach Day and Night

Two Ingredient Multisensory Cloud Dough

Scented Cloud Dough Recipe

Candy Cane Cloud Dough

Frozen Lake Small World Play from Rainy Day Mum

2.  Oobleck
Oobleck is also made using a common pantry staple.

Ingredients:

• cornstarch
• water

Directions: 

Combine equal parts of cornstarch and water, or slightly more cornstarch than water.  I add water to cornstarch slowly until I get the consistency I want.  I can always add more water, but I usually have a set amount of cornstarch on hand.  You don’t want the Oobleck too runny.  Mix well with your hands until you can scoop a handful of Oobleck and almost make a ball.  The ball quickly turns to a liquid and drips through your hands.  The Oobleck should feel solid in your hands for a second.

Cranberry Dough and Oobleck

Oobleck and Coloring Mixing in the Play Pool

Baby Safe Cloud Dough from Fun at Home with Kids

Pumpkin Spice Latte Oobleck

Frozen Lemon Oobleck

Pumpkin Oobleck 

Super Easy Sensory Play with Cornstarch from Fun at Home with Kids

Color Mixing and Oobleck

Watermelon Oobleck

Erupting Chocolate Oobleck

Stuck in the Gloop from Rainy Day Mum

3.  Coffee Grounds

This one might sound crazy, but we love using old coffee grounds for sensory play.  Of all the messy sensory bins this is the messiest!  The easiest way to get coffee grounds for sensory play is from your local Starbucks or other coffee company.  Most Starbucks have a bin of grounds packaged and ready for you to take home.  If you don’t see a bin, ask the barista. 

The nice thing about coffee grounds is that they don't taste great, so after one small taste, I can't imagine too many little ones would go back for more!

Sensory Bins to Teach Day and Night

Dirt and Worms Sensory Bin from Fun at Home with Kids

Insect Sensory Bin 

4.  Cooked Pasta

Cooked pasta is one of the easiest and safest ways to make a sensory bin for babies who are old enough to eat solids.

Ingredients:

• pasta
• food coloring

Directions:

Cook pasta according to directions.  You can choose to add food coloring to the water while boiling or add food coloring to the pasta after cooking and mix well.  Store the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge to reuse for up to a week.

Exploring the Sense of Touch

Raspberry Spaghetti from The Imagination Tree

Rainbow Spaghetti Sensory Play from Fun at Home with Kids

Baby Play - Sensory Spaghetti from Rainy Day Mum

5.  Jello

Jello is so easy to make and clean!  We limit jello play to avoid the artificial ingredients and sugars, but it is fun to bring out once in awhile.  Jello is squishy, colorful, bouncy, sticky, and it has such a sweet scent.  I like using Gelatin, so I can color and flavor it myself.

Ingredients:
Jello or Gelatin

Directions:
Cook according to package instructions.  Add colors or spices as desired.

Jello Ocean Sensory Play from House of Burke

Ocean Small World Play from Rainy Day Mum

Jello Sensory Bin

Gelatin Play from Fun at Home with Kids

Edible Eyeballs from Fun at Home with Kids

Autumn Jello Sensory Bin

St. Patrick's Day Fruit Jigglers from Modern Parents, Messy Kids

Edible Glowing Gelatin Play from Fun at Home with Kids

For more baby and toddler safe activities follow me on Pinterest.

With messy play comes messy clothes. I wrote a post on Laundry Tips to keep clothes stain free and to avoid faded colors.

If messy play isn't for you, these 5 Simple Sensory Bins for Babies and Toddlers involve less set up and clean up while still providing plenty of sensory stimulation for little ones.

More Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

Sticky Table Art for Toddlers ~ Simple Water Play with Balls ~ Two Ingredient Baby and Toddler Safe Paint