Image: MomJunction Design Team
Babies learn about the world around them through their senses. Hence, you need to engage them with the best sensory balls for babies. Sensory balls are good engaging toys to let babies play with. They can squeeze, throw, roll, or do just about anything with these balls. These balls also come with light and sound effects, making them further exciting for your little one. In this post, we bring you a comprehensive list of the best-selling sensory balls that can help stimulate your child’s various senses and give you a few tips on choosing the best sensory balls for babies. So, keep scrolling to explore these time-tested options.
Benefits Of Sensory Balls
Some benefits of sensory balls for babies are as follows:
- Improve the sense of touch: Multi-textured balls help recognize different textures and facilitate sensory exploration. When babies try to squeeze the ball, they can feel the rubber stretch.
- Improve fine and gross motor skills: When babies try to throw or catch the ball, they crawl and hold or grasp the ball tight, thus improving their hand-eye coordination and motor skills in the process. It is the first step towards independent movement.
- Enhance social interaction: Babies or toddlers try to interact with their playmates when they toss or roll the ball across the floor, encouraging social-emotional learning.
- Develop memory: Playing with different textured, colored, and shaped balls make your little one register that particular object in mind and encourage their memory.
- Relieve stress: You can use a few sensory balls under the baby’s feet or on their back to massage them for a calming sensation.
Top Picks
11 Best Sensory Balls For Babies
1. Best Textured: Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set
Infantino textured multi ball set consists of six balls, of different textures and colors. Each ball is soft and has varied sizes and shapes. These textured toys for babies are BPA-free and are suitable for little ones aged six months and above. The multi-ball tactile toy set helps develop tactile senses. Check out this product testing video by a reviewer to explore the unique features of the Infantino textured multi-ball set.
Pros
- Easy to grab
- Easy to wipe clean
- Promotes sensory learning
- Attractive colors
- Easily recognizable
Cons
- Not a bath toy
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product boasts 9,421 reviews on Amazon, and many buyers have said they would purchase the product again.
2. Best For Honing Gross Motor Skills: Edushape See-Me Sensory Balls
Edushape’s see-me sensory balls are translucent and made from safe BPA- and phthalate-free plastic material. These sensory balls encourage babies to roll, squeeze, kick, throw, and play. The see-me balls are ideal for developing a baby’s tactile senses and gross motor skills. The nubby texture of the plastic balls encourages massage therapy and can be used to massage a baby’s back and feet to stimulate the senses.
Pros
- Easy to grasp
- Attractive color
- Encourages physical activity
- Soft to touch
- Encourages color recognition skills
Cons
- Similar texture
"My toddlers adore these textured balls, and they are correctly sized for their little hands. I love that it boosts their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and balance. My only issue is that it needs a pump for inflation, which can be a bit cumbersome. Still, they are pretty decent!"
CautionWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has earned its stripes, with over 1,718 reviews on Amazon.
3. Best For Tactile Development: Edushape Glow In The Dark Sensory Baby Ball
Edushape glow-in-the-dark sensory ball is soft and stimulating. The bright and glowing design engages visual senses and stimulates color recognition. Bouncing, rolling, gripping, and tossing encourage gross motor skills in your little one. The strong nubbly surface enhances tactile development. These baby sensory balls are durable and made from BPA-and phthalate-free plastic material.
Pros
- Soft textured
- Glow in dark
- Easy to hold
- Well-finished
Cons
- Comes in standard size
"This sensory ball has been a fun choice for my 6-month-old. It is pretty lightweight, and the size is easy for him to grip. He spends hours catching, throwing, and bouncing it. The glow-in-the-dark feature is a bonus, and he also seems to love the texture."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Do not miss out on this product that has earned 583 positive reviews on Amazon.
4. Best With Bold Patterns:Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball
The tried-and-trusted Sassy developmental bumpy ball is crafted with high-contrast colors and bold patterns to develop your little one’s vision and early color recognition. The different textured and easy-to-grasp chunky balls and rattle sounds stimulate the baby’s sensory development. Moreover, this bumpy sound ball is made as per ASTM, EN, and CPSC standards for safe use.
Pros
- Improves fine motor skills
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Improves dexterity
- Safety-tested
Cons
- May be larger than expected
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is a hit with users, evidenced by the 29,156 fine reviews on Amazon.
5. Best For Visual Development: Hahaland Sensory Balls
The concave and convex textured sensory balls encourage tactile and gross motor skills, develop fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, social interaction, and support language development. They are soft, well-finished, and engage visual senses. Squeeze the balls of different shapes for squeaky and rattle sounds and attract the baby’s attention. This ball set is ideal for gifting your babies and is suitable for three months and above. The set has a nubbly surface ball that aids in massaging your baby or toddler’s back and feet.
Pros
- BPA-free
- Phthalate-free
- Non-toxic
- Textured balls
- Bright colors
- Lightweight
Cons
- Balls are hard to clean
"These teethers and rattles have charmed my baby with their fun shapes and colors. I found them easy to maintain, and the size is also appropriate. Most importantly, they have been very helpful during car rides and hospital visits."
6. Best For Hand-Eye Coordination: Caaocho Rubber Sensory Ball
Caaocho rubber sensory ball comes with six different textures for tactile exploration. The bright color of the ball encourages visual stimulation. Holding the ball, chasing after it, squeezing it, and rolling it can help improve your toddler’s sensory response, hand-eye coordination, and gross motor skills. The soft and flexible material of the ball encourages tiny hands to hold it conveniently. The baby toy ball is dyed with food-grade, plant-based material for safe usage.
Pros
- BPA-free
- PVC-free
- Environmental-friendly
- Durable
- Bright colors
- Offers a multisensory experience
Cons
- Paint might chip off after soap wash
"My toddler really enjoys this textured ball. Its sensory goodness adds to her playtime, and I love that it is safe for teething because she's at the age where she tends to put everything in her mouth. The squeaky feature is a bit loud but seems to delight her, so I would say it's been a good buy."
7. Best For Massage: Playkidz Super Durable Sensory Balls
Multi-color Playkidzs super durable sensory balls are ideal for developing tactile senses and motor skills. The balls help improve hand-eye coordination and socialization skills. These sensory balls are suitable for massage stimulation – you can massage your baby’s back and feet. Each ball in the set has a varied texture that helps in pattern recognition. These soft and durable balls are ideal for babies from one year and above.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to grasp
- Non-toxic
- Large size allows easy interactive play
Cons
- Might offer a strong peculiar odor
"These sensory balls resonate well with my kids and have supported their developmental milestones, from teething relief to enhancing their fine motor skills. They are also easy to grasp and clean. They have been a valuable addition to my kids' toy collection."
Did You Know?8. Best Safe Ball Set: Rohsce Stress Relief Sensory Balls
Rohsce stress relief sensory balls are designed as per safety standards and are CPC- and ASTM-certified. The sensory balls have different textures that are helpful for tactile exploration and sensory development of the child. These anxiety relief balls are ideal for babies from six to 12 months. In addition, your baby can enjoy the creaking sound of squeezing the ball. The ball set is suitable for gifting your baby and is effective in visual stimulation and imagination.
Pros
- BPA-free
- Phthalate-free
- Non-toxic
- Dishwasher-safe
- Hypoallergenic
- Attractive colors
Cons
- Balls are a bit harder
"The varied textures and perfect size of these sensory balls keep my baby engaged for hours, boosting his motor skills. He loves the bright colors and squeaky sounds; overall, they've been a joy for sensory exploration."
9. Best For Indoor Play: TickiT Sensory Reflective Balls
TickiT sensory reflective balls are made of stainless steel, especially for indoor play. Your babies can see their reflection on these mirror spheres as they are made of stainless steel material. The balls promote motor and language development. The sensory reflective ball set comes in four sizes. These balls are hollow with no holes that indicate there is no bacterial growth inside. Learn more about this sensory integration toy in this review video where little ones play with the toy.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Non-porous
- Bacteria-resistant
- Rust-free
- Lightweight
- Different sizes
Cons
- May be slippery
"These mirrored balls have mesmerized my little ones with their reflections and have become a staple for playtime. I have also used them to make bath times easier. So far, they have kept up with my enthusiastic toddlers, and I'm impressed by their quality."
10. Best Easy-To-Grasp: Plush Creations Sensory Fabric Balls
Plush sensory fabric squishy balls are designed with eight different fabrics, textures, patterns, and sounds. This fabric ball strengthens hand-eye coordination, improves tactile awareness. The rattle, squeak, and squishy sounds of this auditory toy stimulate hearing skills. Rough, smooth, stripes, solids, and crinkle fabric offer diverse sensory stimulation to the little one. It makes a suitable occupational therapy toy.
Pros
- Non-toxic fabric
- Easy to grip
- Machine washable
- No batteries
Cons
- Some may find it smaller
11. Best Spinning: Baivyle Twirl Sensation Sensory Balls
The twirl sensation sensory balls develop hand-eye coordination, sensory learning, fine motor skills, tactile exploration, audial learning, and visual development. Each ball can spin, is filled with rattling beads, and comes with soft rubber tops that feature vivid textures. This interactive musical and visual toy for sensory play experience is ideal for babies from six to eleven months. Bright colors of the rubber balls stimulate the visual senses and are suitable for a baby’s imagination.
Pros
- Attractive bright colors
- High-quality material
- Varied textures for diverse sensory experiences
- Easy to grasp
- Lightweight
Cons
- High battery consumption
"Despite an initial hiccup with the battery cover, this toy has been great at entertaining my daughter. It is vibrant and engaging, and the features amuse and support my baby's developing coordination and cognitive abilities. Overall, it has been a worthwhile purchase."
How To Choose The Right Sensory Balls For Babies?
Here are some important factors to keep in mind while choosing the best sensory ball for babies.
1. Firmness: Babies have sensitive and delicate skin. Any tough texture of the balls will be harsh for the sensitive skin. Choose a ball that is soft, well-textured, and easy for their skin.
2. Size: Pick a ball that your little one can hold comfortably, throw, catch, and play.
3. Color: Babies get attracted to bright colors. It also makes it easy for them while playing and also improves their visual ability. They tend to recognize their balls even from a farther distance.
4. Material: Sensory balls are made of high-quality BPA-free plastic and other natural materials to ensure durability. Look for a ball that is non-toxic and made from phthalate-free material.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose is a diligent writer and reviewer of gifts and toys for children. She has scrutinized several best-selling products and user reviews to bring you this list of the best sensory balls for babies that will help them learn in creative ways. These tried-and-tested balls come in different designs. You may have a better understanding of every product as you go through its specifications and pros and cons. Priti has also provided a buying guide to help you select the right product.
Sensory play is crucial to babies’ mental and physical growth. They learn important life skills such as language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, and social interaction. Our list of the best sensory balls for babies includes balls made from different textures and sizes that encourage them to roll, squeeze, kick, throw and play with them and allow them to meet necessary growth milestones. However, before choosing the right set of balls, ensure they are soft, well-textured, skin-friendly, and made from non-toxic, BPA-free materials for optimal safety.
Infographic: How Do Sensory Balls Help A Child?
Sensory play toys can help enhance the child’s motor skills, language skills, and problem-solving abilities. But there’s more to these textured globes. Check out the following infographic to learn more about how having fun with sensory balls can benefit your child in multiple ways.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Cognitive development and sensory play
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/cognitive_development_and_sensory_play
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