Sensory Bottles are any bottles filled with objects and liquids that engage the senses, foster curiosity and contribute to a calming experience. They provide numerous educational benefits for babies and toddlers and can be adapted as they grow. Let’s explore 5 benefits Sensory Bottles offer to babies under 12 months: Visual Tracking The use of different colours, shapes, and floating objects inside the bottles captivates a baby's attention, promoting visual tracking and focus. Strengthen Neck Muscles An excellent resource for tummy time sessions, sensory bottles can be strategically placed to encourage babies to lift their heads and engage neck muscles. This promotes the development of essential motor skills and strengthens the muscles needed for crawling and later activities. Fine Motor Skills Handling the bottles by grasping, shaking, while exploring help strengthen the muscles in the hands and fingers, supporting the development of fine motor skills. Foster sense of calm and relaxation The slow, rhythmic movement of materials inside sensory bottles has a calming effect, making them a great tool for emotional regulation, helping babies and toddlers self-soothe and manage stress. Focus and Concentration a skill that is foundational for later learning. Babies learn to concentrate on specific stimuli, which is crucial for developing attention spans. It is also important to remember that parents should allow babies (and children) to focus without being interrupted to allow neuropathways and synapsis to form in their developing brain. Important reminder: always supervise your babies while they interact with any objects.
