Stimulating baby's senses is essential to support his development. Besides rattles and other traditional toys, you can also bet on other sensory games to create yourself. Here we explain how to make one of them with a minimum of material: the sensory bottle.
What is a sensory bottle?
The sensory bottle is a little game from Montessori pedagogy that emphasizes the importance of the manipulation of objects in the awakening and motor skills of young children. As simple as they are, games are essential for the motor and intellectual development of infants. The sensory bottle is one of the toys that stimulate the young child. It's a simple transparent container that you fill with small objects that make noise and possibly with liquid. At the sensory level, the bottle aims to stimulate baby's hearing and sight, who will have fun shaking the bottle to listen to noises or watch the movements of objects. You can give your baby a sensory bottle from the age of 3 months.
© Mamzelle Funny / Pinterest
How to make a sensory bottle?
While there are brands that offer ready-made sensory bottles like Petit Boum, you should know that the creation of this object is completely suitable for DIY and allows you to recycle a whole bunch of everyday objects. To make a sensory bottle, you can empty your cupboards by inserting into your container different elements such as buttons, beads, sand, a thimble, shells, sequins, stars … in short, you have the lots of choice. Do not hesitate to multiply colors and shapes in your sensory bottles. You can also half-fill the container with liquid such as oil or colored water. This will amuse baby who can watch objects floating and thus stimulate his eyesight. The version without liquid will instead strengthen his hearing.
Some ideas for designing a sensory bottle
Containers: plastic bottle, dishwashing liquid bottle, perfume bottle, antibacterial gel bottle, container for travel cosmetics, tube … Attention, the container must be shock-resistant (the ideal being unbreakable glass) and above all not present no risk of being able to open. The cap must be perfectly closed.
Liquid: water, syrup, oils and gels of all kinds, transparent or colored soap, dishwashing liquid, glycerin …
Objects to insert for a bottle without liquid:
- For the base: pasta or rice grains tinted with a few drops of food coloring, sand,
- To decorate the bottle: shells, buttons, multicolored stars, beads, feathers, elastic bands, pompoms, bells, pieces of wood, corks, colored beads …
Objects to insert for a bottle with liquid:
- For the base: water, glycerin, transparent soap
- To decorate the bottle: sequins, shells, buttons, multicolored stars, beads, feathers, pieces of wood, stoppers, colored beads …
Here you are, you now have all the cards in hand to create pretty gifts for your toddlers!
Some bottle inspirations seen on Pinterest
© etsy
The added tip: an activity idea for the whole family
If you have other older children, you can make this little toy with them. A good idea for them to indulge in creative hobbies while giving a gift to their little brother or sister.