Have you made a sensory bottle with glitter for your baby yet? This cheap, DIY toy will help improve your infant’s tummy time sessions as well as their vision.
A sensory bottle with glitter is super easy to create. And our recipe has a secret ingredient that will make the glitter float to the bottom in slow motion. Want to know the best bit? It’s something that you already have in your cupboard! And nope, it’s not clear glue, glitter glue, oil, paint or food colouring!
But before we share our secret ingredient, let’s talk about why sensory bottles are good for babies.
Why Are Sensory Bottles Good For Babies?
Sensory bottles are great for your baby’s visual development. Their eyes will follow the glitter as it floats to the bottom. This is known as visual tracking and happens at around 3 months old. They’ll also learn to judge if the bottle is closer or further away from them too.
This homemade toy also helps your baby’s learning by:
- Teaching them cause and effect
- Improving physical skills like grasping
- Helping their hand-eye coordination
- Improving tummy time and makes it fun and enjoyable
Our sensory bottle with glitter can also be used as a calm down jar for toddlers. This time out tool will distract them when they’re having a tantrum and help them deal with their big emotions.
How Do You Make a Glitter Sensory Bottle?
There are so many glitter sensory bottle ideas and recipes out there. Some involve using just water and glitter. Whilst others use liquids like clear glue or oil.
But, our DIY glitter sensory bottle recipe is a little different. It’s much easier and you won’t need to buy anything special to make it. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A see-through bottle with a screw-on lid
- Washing detergent/liquid – the kind that you use to wash clothes
- Water
- Glitter
Now you have everything you need. Here’s how to make your homemade discovery bottle.
- Fill ¼ of your bottle with washing detergent
- Now fill the rest of your bottle with warm water
- Add ½ a teaspoon of glitter
- Screw on the lid as tight as you can
- Shake
Tips and Tricks For Making a DIY Sensory Bottle With Glitter
Rinse the outside of the bottle with water and dry it before letting your baby play with with.
Screw the lid on as tight as you can to prevent leaking. You can also glue it on just to be sure. Or use duct tape to make it extra secure.
Test your bottle for any leaks before you give it to your baby. Place it on a paper towel and lay it on its side for a couple of hours to double-check.
The washing detergent helps the glitter move in slow motion. Use more to make it fall even slower. Or less to make it fall quicker.
Don’t have glitter? Make a simple sensory bottle with coloured water instead. Check out our blog post – How to Make Fun sensory Bottles For Infants, for instructions.
How Can I Use My Sensory Bottle For Baby Activities?
Once you’ve made your sensory bottle with glitter, it’s time to play! Here are some ideas you can try with your baby.
First, lay your baby on their tummy. Then shake the bottle and put it down in front of them so they can watch the glitter fall. They’ll find it reassuring if you lay next to them.
Knock the bottle over and encourage your baby to do the same.
Lay the bottle on its side. Place it close to your baby, but just out of reach. Encourage your infant to grab the bottle and roll it. It’s a great way to help them strengthen the muscles needed for crawling!
Add your baby’s sensory bottle to a treasure basket. They’ll love sitting down to explore the bottle. As well as the other everyday, household items that are in their basket.
Sit the bottle on top of a push light. This helps the glitter to sparkle even more and your baby will be able to see it better.
Sit your baby on your lap. Shake the bottle and hold it in front of their face. Talk to them about the colours, glitter and what is happening. They won’t be able to understand everything you’re saying. But talking to them will help their language development!
Conclusion
You can make the perfect glitter sensory bottle or calm down jar without glue! All you need is washing detergent, water and glitter.
This easy homemade toy will last for weeks. Your baby will love watching and exploring the bottle. And it’ll keep them entertained longer than it took you to make it!
Older siblings will enjoy playing with your new sensory bottle with glitter. So why not encourage them to play? You can also get them involved when making it too. Just don’t let them touch the washing detergent!
Remember to always supervise your little one when they’re playing with their bottle. Always put it out of reach when they’re not using it. And make sure you regularly check it isn’t leaking and that the lid is secure.
Looking For More Simple Sensory Bottle Ideas Your Baby Will Love?
Check out our Pinterest boards.
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