Sensory Play Mat Activities for Babies
As parents, we are always seeking ways to engage our babies in fun and interactive activities. Sensory play mat activities for babies can be a wonderful addition to your daily routine. For parents of babies with hearing loss, sensory activities for babies 6-12 months can play a significant role in positively impacting your baby’s development.
Sensory play mat activities can also provide opportunities for babies to explore new textures and colors. These activities allow babies to learn and develop their five senses.
From exploring different textures to learning cause and effect relationships, sensory play mat activities are an excellent addition to any baby’s routine.
Sensory Play mat Activities for Babies
If you’re looking for a fun and engaging way to keep your little one entertained, then sensory play mat activities for babies are definitely worth considering!
But before you dive in, there are some things to keep in mind.
First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that any toys or activities you choose are age-appropriate for your child.
Additionally, it’s important to take the necessary safety precautions when setting up your play gym, such as ensuring it’s stable and secure.
And finally, don’t forget the importance of parent involvement in sensory play!
Whether you’re showing your baby how to use a particular toy or simply playing alongside them, being present and engaged is key to making the most of these fun and educational activities.
And if you really want to take things to the next level, why not create your own DIY sensory play gym at home?
With a little creativity and some basic materials, you can easily put together a space that your baby will adore!
Tummy Time Play Mat Activities
One of the most important activities that babies should do during their playtime is Tummy Time. Babies can do this by laying on their tummies on top of their play mat.
This simple activity has a lot of benefits for infants, like promoting neck and back muscle development, preventing flat spots on the head, and improving motor skills.
But just laying on their tummy can get boring for babies after a few minutes. It’s important to engage them in some fun activities during Tummy Time!
Some ideas include song activities, using toys and objects with different textures, and playing peek-a-boo games.
Using a fun water mat for tummy time also makes the activity more sensory friendly for babies.
This water mat is like a water bed for baby! Your baby can squish the toys and see the fish swimming around inside of the mat while they build their back muscles.
You can also use the toys on the baby play mat to encourage your baby to reach for the toy. This will also help with developing fine motor skills!
All 3 of my kids loved their baby play mat until they were about 18 months old!
In fact, it’s my favorite gift to give new moms because of the learning potential for babies!
Our favorite baby play mat is the Lovery play mat. It was created after my kids were too big for play mats, but I’ve given this exact play mat to many expecting mom friends!
What I love about it is that all of the materials are organic and safe for baby to breathe- in and chew-on.
I also love that this play mat can actually turn into a tent, so kids can use it from newborns until they are 3 years old. You get a lot of bang for your buck with this play mat!
You can also get a less expensive fisher price play mat, which is very similar to the play mat that we used with all 3 of our kids!
Mirror Play Sensory Activity
Mirror play is a fantastic way to engage your little one’s developing brain and provide a sensory experience that’s both educational and entertaining.
Studies have shown that babies as young as six months old can benefit from mirror play activities.
With a sensory play mat, there are plenty of activities you can do with a mirror to keep your baby engaged and learning.
For example, you can use a mirror to help your baby develop their hand-eye coordination by encouraging them to reach out and touch the reflection.
our babies laying on the play mat and fixated on the mirror in front of them!
You can also place your baby in front of a mirror and help them mimic different facial expressions, Their face will light up with excitement as they explore their reflection!
Or, you can create a “peek-a-boo” game by hiding behind the mirror and making silly faces.
For our babies we used a similar mirror for tummy time that also had wheels so that the babies could roll the mirror towards them.
Whatever activity you choose, mirror play is a great way to help your little one develop their cognitive and social skills while having fun.
Textured Toys for baby sensory activities
As parents, one of the most joyful moments is watching our little ones grow and learn new things.
And when it comes to sensory play mat activities for babies, textured toys can be extremely beneficial.
These particular toys offer an array of textures that help babies explore their sense of touch.
I recommend these sensory bean bags for babies becuase they offer a fun sensory experience and are small enough for little hands to easily grasp!
Babies can look at and feel the toys, as well as throw them and roll them around all while sitting or laying on their play mat.
This helps babies understand cause and effect and keeps them entertained with new things to explore.
Whether your little one is just starting to explore the world around them or is a seasoned explorer, textured toys are a great addition to any sensory play mat activity.
Sensory play mat activities for babies with hearing loss can have a tremendous positive impact on their overall development.
These activities can aid in the development of their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, cognitive skills, and self-esteem.
By incorporating sensory play mat activities into their daily routines, parents and caregivers can help promote their child’s growth and development.
These activities are not only beneficial but also easy to incorporate, making them an excellent addition to any daily routine.
Don’t forget to download your free Sensory Play Guide!
more resources
Sensory Song Activities for Babies
Sensory Balls and Blocks for Babies
This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a comission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn comission from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products that I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.
