20+ Easy DIY Sensory Bottles for Toddlers
Use any of these homemade DIY sensory bottles ideas to make a fun sensory jar or calming bottle for your toddlers!
If you’re a parent, caregiver, or teacher, you’re probably always on the lookout for fun and educational activities to keep your little ones engaged and entertained.
Sensory bottles are a great way to do just that, providing a fascinating and interactive sensory experience that can help children develop their cognitive, emotional, and physical skills.
In this blog, I’ve found some of the coolest sensory bottle ideas that use simple and affordable materials that you can find at home or in your local craft store.
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Materials for Sensory Bottles
Making sensory bottles doesn’t require much. Here are a few of the main materials you might need to make simple sensory bottles:
- Empty water bottle (VOSS water bottles are great!)
- Glitter
- Water
- Oil
- Floating materials (beads, jewels, toys, beans, etc.)
- Food coloring
- Glue (regular and glitter glue)
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20+ Sensory Bottles for Toddlers
Here are tons of homemade sensory bottle recipes for your toddlers to enjoy! Find one that your child will love and make it with them!
1. Element Inspired Sensory Bottles DIY
These glitter sensory bottles DIY are made with hair gel, glitter, and sequins to create a fun jar. It is inspired by Avatar, but can be made for just about anything!
If you want to learn how to make a sensory bottle with gel, this is the recipe for you!
2. Easy DIY Shake the Rainbow Sensory Bottle
This is one of the sensory bottles that isn’t made with one particular color in mind. You can use these ones to teach about colors or just to have a fun rainbow sensory jar!
If you are wanting to make your sensory bottle with oil, this is the recipe for you to use!
3. Alphabet Sensory Bottle
If you need sensory bottles for preschool aged kids, this alphabet sensory bottle would be perfect! It has letters to help teach your kids. You can sing the alphabet song or have your preschooler shout out the letters they see and know.
This recipe uses corn syrup and water and large letter beads.
Thi4. Ocean in a Bottle
Create an Ocean in a Bottle with this DIY sensory bottle idea! It is perfect for babies and toddlers. Use it in your homeschool to teach about the ocean animals or just for fun.
This recipe uses water beads and water in a safe way so your babies and toddlers can enjoy this sensory jar.
If you love making sensory bins and bottles for your toddlers, you will love all these sensory play ideas!
5. Monster Eyes Sensory Bottle
Make this Monster Eye Sensory Bottle for Halloween or just for fun! It shows how you can easily use an empty water bottle to create your own homemade sensory bottle.
It uses baby oil, water, and colored glitter, along with googly eyes.
6. Exploring Liquid Density with Sensory Bottles
If you are wondering how to make sensory bottles with oil, you will love this sensory bottle recipe. They even teach you how to make this a fun science activity!
Plus, there is a free printable at the end too!
7. Light Saber Sensory Bottles
Does your little ones love glow in the dark fun? Make this cool Light Saber Sensory Bottle! While it looks like a light saber, you can even just make it a fun glow and the dark one instead; it doesn’t HAVE to be Star Wars if you don’t want.
All it takes are glow sticks and glitter glue!
8. Space Sensory Bottle
Once you start teaching your kids about space, why not make this fun Space Sensory Jar with them?
All you need is some clear glue, confetti stars, and space toys and you are all set!
9. Fall Leaves Glitter Sensory Bottle
For another easy sensory bottle, try this fall-themed one. Doesn’t it just look mesmerizing?
You can even find everything at the Dollar Tree, making it an affordable sensory bottle your kids will love to make as they see the leaves changing outside.
10. Preschool Turtle Theme Sensory Bottle
Does your toddler love turtles? Then they will love this turtle themed sensory bottle!
It is a great way to teach about turtles all the while having fun with your kids!
11. Glittery Sensory Bottle
This is another dreamy sensory jar DIY I absolutely love. It is perfect for Valentine’s Day or just for fun.
For this recipe, it uses red glitter glue, water, and heart glitters and is just so magical; I want to create one for myself!
12. Patriotic Sensory Bottle
For a fun 4th of July activity, try making these sensory water bottles! All you need is clear glue, water, and star glitters.
13. Easy Halloween Sensory Bottle
For another fun Halloween sensory jar, use some pumpkin erasers, food dye, hair gel, water, and glitter. Your kids will love making these with you and will have fun creating their own special jar to have for all of October.
14. Glowing Sensory Bottle for Bedtime
This is one of my favorite calming bottles DIY! It is perfect for your bedtime routine and will help keep your toddlers calm all throughout the night.
To make this one, you use hair gel, glitter glue, and glow in the dark paint. The best part is that you also use glow in the dark stars so it glows all night long!
15. Christmas Sensory Bottles
These are a bit different from the rest of the DIY sensory bottles so far because most of these bottles don’t even use glitter, oil, or water!
Here you will find not one, but three different Christmas-themed sensory bottles your babies and toddlers will love to have.
16. Galaxy in a Jar Calming Sensory Bottle
For another calming bottle, try this recipe. It truly does look like a galaxy in a jar and is so pretty to look at, it is instantly calming!
17. Loom Band Sensory Bottles
Instead of using glitter and a bunch of colors, try this Loom Band Sensory Bottle. Your child will have fun playing with it and watching each color band as it floats up and down.
It gives you a variety of sensory bottles DIY to have around too!
18. Calm Down Bottle
These DIY sensory bottles for babies are perfect when your little ones need help calming down. It is a different recipe than most and shows you how to use hand soap instead of glue or oil!
19. Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottles
Try a different glow in the dark sensory bottle! This one uses moonstones, which aren’t too heavy and perfect for a night time sensory jar for toddlers.
20. Rainbow Water Bead Sensory Bottle
Isn’t this Rainbow Sensory Bottle just beautiful? I love how it incorporates all the different colors of the rainbow and is so relaxing to look at.
It uses water, water beads, and glitter. While it probably won’t always stay in separate colors, it is so fun to make and see!
Here is another fun and easy rainbow craft for toddlers too!
21. Baby Oil and Water Sensory Bottle
This is such an easy sensory bottle to make that uses baby oil, water, and food coloring. It is so relaxing and calming, perfect for your bedtime routine!
22. Sensory Bottle with Hair Gel
While it is another 4th of July themed sensory bottle, it is an easy-to-follow recipe that uses hair gel to show you how to make a calm down jar with affordable items from the Dollar Store!
23. Unicorn Sensory Bottle
If you have a little one who loves all things unicorn like my toddler, make this unicorn sensory bottle together! It is super cute and again super easy to make.
Since you probably don’t already have unicorn beads, you might have to buy a couple of things but it is so worth it!
24. Under the Sea Sensory Bottle
This under the sea sensory bottle is so much fun and is really easy to make! All it takes is some water, clear glue, and sea life beads!
DIY Sensory Bottles FAQs
What materials do I need to make sensory bottles?
You can make sensory bottles with a variety of materials such as plastic bottles, water, glitter, beads, small toys, and glue. You can also add food coloring or other items to customize the bottles to your child’s preferences.
Are sensory bottles safe for toddlers?
As long as the bottles are made correctly and the lids are securely glued on, sensory bottles are generally safe for toddlers to use under supervision.
What are the benefits of using sensory bottles for toddlers?
Sensory bottles can provide numerous benefits for toddlers, including developing fine motor skills, encouraging sensory exploration and curiosity, promoting calmness and relaxation, and helping with emotional regulation and focus.
How can I use sensory bottles with my toddler?
You can use sensory bottles in various ways, such as a calming tool, a visual distraction during diaper changes or car rides, or as part of sensory play activities. You can also incorporate them into learning activities by using different colors, shapes, or objects to promote language and cognitive development.
How can I clean sensory bottles?
Sensory bottles can be cleaned with warm water and soap. Be sure to dry them thoroughly before using them again, and check for any signs of wear or damage before each use.
DIY Sensory Bottles Wrap-Up
If you want to make your own sensory bottles, use these ideas for sensory bottles and get creative! Each of these sensory bottle recipes are unique and so much fun for your children.
DIY sensory bottles are an excellent tool for engaging toddlers in sensory play while also promoting their cognitive and emotional development.
By creating your own sensory bottles at home, you can customize them to your child’s interests and needs, and provide them with endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Whether you’re using glitter, beads, or water, sensory bottles offer a mesmerizing sensory experience that can help calm and soothe toddlers while also stimulating their brains.
Have fun experimenting with these DIY sensory bottles and watch your child’s curiosity and creativity flourish!
