Have you tried creating tummy time sensory bags for your baby yet? This cheap and easy activity will supercharge your infant’s play. And help their learning and development. Want to know the best bit? They only take a few minutes to make. And they’re suitable for 6 month olds, 7 month olds, 8 months old and over.
Homemade tummy time sensory bags are easy to make. But the biggest danger is that they can leak. This can leave your baby with unsafe liquids on their hands and leave you with a big mess to clear up!
But our squishy bag tutorial is here to help. We’ll share step by step instructions on how to make a tummy time sensory bag. Including a list of all the different liquids, you can use. As well as interesting treasures you can add. So that your little one can safely touch and feel the bag until their heart’s content.
But before we share the tutorial, let’s look at how your baby will benefit from this simple activity.
What Are the Benefits Of Tummy Time Sensory Bags?
Tummy time sensory bags stimulate your baby’s sense of touch and sight in a mess free way.
Infants as young as 6 months old will benefit from playing with one because it’s around this age that little ones become more curious. So they’ll want to reach out and touch the bag. Being able to lift their head and chest well during tummy time, as well as resting on their forearms will also help them play with the bag too.
Here are a few other 6 month old milestones this homemade toy will help your baby reach.
- Stares at small toys or objects that are 15-30cm away
- Expertly reaches for things
- Follows an adult pointing towards an object
Now you know the benefits of tummy time sensory bags, let’s look at the different liquids you can add to one.
What Liquid Do You Put In Sensory Bags?
You’ll find that lots of popular tummy time sensory bags are filled with hair gel. It has a squishy feel to it. And the treasures within the bag move slowly when they’re poked.
But, you can easily create your own homemade squishy bag using other liquids too. Here are some fillings that also work well:
- Dish soap
- Clear glue
- Jelly / Jello
- Shaving cream
- Paint
- Baby oil
- Vegetable oil
- Hand sanitiser
- Playdough
You can fill a DIY sensory bag with water. But we’d recommend using a ready-made inflatable water mat for this instead. The plastic is a lot thicker. It’s 100% leak-proof and your baby will even be able to lay on it!
What Do You Put In Sensory Bags?
You can also add interesting fillers to the liquid in your sensory bag. They’ll fascinate your baby and give them something to focus on. Here’s a list of things that work well:
- Water beads
- Foam shapes
- Glitter
- Sequins
- Googly eyes
- Pom poms
- Buttons
- Leaves
- Confetti
Make sure you don’t add fillers with sharp edges as they could pierce the bag. Like pipe cleaners for example. It’s best to add these to a sensory bottle instead.
How to Make Tummy Time Sensory Bags For Babies and Toddlers
It only takes a few minutes to make this homemade craft for your little one. Here’s what you will need:
- A ziplock bag
- Strong tape (like Duck tape)
- A liquid
- Fillers/treasures
Once you have everything you need, follow the squishy bag tutorial below.
- Prepare your bag. Tape the bottom and each side of the bag
- Fill your bag with 2 cups of your chosen liquid
- Add in treasures or fillers
- Seal the bag and tape the top shut
- Lay it on a flat surface or tape it down
- Let your baby play
Tips For Making A DIY Sensory Bag
Use nail varnish remover on a cotton pad to remove any markings on the bag. Remember to wipe the bag with hot soapy water after.
Don’t overfill your bag, it could cause it to burst. And try to remove as much air as possible before closing the bag. It makes it easier for babies to touch and feel it.
Don’t add essential oils to the liquid, they could cause the bag to leak.
Double bagging your sensory bag will provide extra security and help to prevent leaks. Especially if you’re using runny liquids like dish soap or paint.
Check your baby’s nails before letting them play. Sharp nails could cause the bag to tear.
Conclusion
Tummy time sensory bags are good for 6 month olds+ to touch and feel. They also make for a great activity for toddlers too.
Remember to use strong tape on every side of the bag to make it leak proof. Double bag it if necessary. And always check regularly for leaks or holes.
Make sure you supervise your baby when they’re playing. And put it out of reach once they’ve finished using it.
Interesting obejcts that have a flat surface work well when added to a tummy time sensory bag. Like foam shapes and confetti. But you can experiment and add other things too. Just check to make sure they don’t have sharp edges that could pierce the bag.
Looking For More Sensory Bag Ideas and Examples?
Check out our Pinterest board.
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