Easter Basket Stuffers - 5 Sensory Friendly Ideas for Babies
Since Eli was born I have found that all holidays seem to be a little bit more magical, and Easter is no exception. I’ve already started scouring the internet to find Easter basket stuffers, especially sensory friendly ideas for babies!
To be honest with you guys, Fall is my favorite time of year. The smell of bonfire, a good scarf and hot cider make my soul happy. And in my opinion the absolute best part of fall is Halloween! That being said, since moving to Michigan three years ago I have also fallen in love with Spring - the light at the end of the dark tunnel that is a Michigan Winter. Spring means the snow is starting to melt, the weather is warm enough to get outside, and I can look forward to some color returning to the world.
With Spring nearing, I’ve been spending time searching high and low for Easter basket ideas and bunny ears and I’ve started imagining all of the cute pictures I can take of E wearing his “Sunday Best.” I know very well that being only be four months old he will never remember what was in his first Easter basket, but I can’t help it! I have to get him at least a few things to fill it with. Anytime I buy something for my son I run through my check list in my head: Is this something that he will actually be able to use? How long will he be able to use it? Is it safe to go in his mouth? As any Mom knows, everything goes in the mouth! With these questions in mind I hopped (pun intended) online and started the search for the best baby Easter Basket stuffers that aren’t candy and, more specifically, are sensory friendly..
Working in a pediatrics clinic I get parent questions everyday. One of the most common questions I get, especially around the holidays, is “what toy do you suggest for my kid?” A lot of parents are unsure about what toys are: age appropriate, challenging, sensory friendly, focus on gross motor or fine motor and, most importantly, fun! So when I began the hunt for Easter Basket stuffers for my little guy I was inspired to create a list of items 5 Sensory Friendly Easter basket ideas that would be great not only for him but also items that parents could use for older kiddos.
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The Teething Egg
The first one is a no brainer, it’s literally shaped like an Easter egg! The Egg teether is made of organic food safe plastic, helps soothe teething babies and acts as a rattle to provide extra stimulation. On top of that it comes in super cute spring colors. The shape and size of the egg makes it easy for little ones who struggle with their grasp to hold onto it and helps kids work on hand eye coordination. Buy this direct on their website or get one of their bundles on Amazon
Itzy Ritzy Silicone Teether
I know, it’s another teether, but this one is very different and comes in so many cute colors and shapes! The design of the Itzy Ritzy teether allows for baby to work on fine motor skills and grasp it from any angle and the durable BPA free silicone holds up to any tough chewer. The added textures on the back side of the material also offers nice sensory input. Eli is a big fan of the dinosaur teether and Rayland is obsessed with his fox.
Sensory Friendly Hoppy the Bunny
Hoppy the Bunny has been a staple of our play gym since we got him and what’s more appropriate for Easter than a bunny? The bright colors and differing patterns on the bunny help to develop visual perceptual skills. The squeaker and bell offer auditory stimulation and help kiddos develop an understanding of cause and effect, and taking the carrot in and out of the bunny’s pouch helps them develop hand eye coordination. This toy is soft and squeezable and I could see it become a long term lovey for any kids of love stuffed animals.
Chalk
Chalk! This was almost always included in my Easter basket as a child and I want to continue this tradition with my little one as he grows. Chalk is one of the most affordable options, available at most dollar stores, and is so versatile! Chalk can help younger kids work on color recognition, encourage grasping and drawing skills, and parents can work on letter and number recognition. Older kiddos can use chalk to draw hop scotch and perfect their gross motor skills hopping like a bunny. The best part about chalk? It’s easy to clean! No scrubbing hard to wash it off in the bath, no stains on little clothes, and no permanent marks on walls or tables. Regular chalk works, but this festive pack would be fun too!
Jump Rope
Last but not least, another classic: the jump rope. Jump ropes are great for older kiddos to build leg strength, balance and coordination, but did you know you can also have jump rope fun with your little ones? For new walkers jump ropes can be used to work on all kinds of gross motor skills. Encourage your little one to step over the jump rope to work on single leg balance or crawl under for increased spatial awareness. Pull in your kiddos imagination and pretend the jump rope is a snake - gotta get bit!
Let us know in the comments below - What did we miss? What are some of your favorite sensory friendly Easter basket stuffers for kids?
