Baby toys, particularly educational baby toys, can cost a lot of money. Unfortunately, babies tend to grow tired of their toys or outgrow them so quickly that you may think you’ve bought them for nothing. Plus, so many manufactured toys can be harmful and contain chemicals and other materials that just aren’t safe for your little one. The solution? Homemade baby toys, of course!
Being crafty and enjoying DIY projects can even filter into the nursery. I’ll bet you didn’t know that you could make a learning toy for little ones with an old baby wipes container, did you? I’ll also bet that you are going to love all of the baby toys in this list. They are all homemade so you know exactly what materials are being used and they’re easy for you to make. They make wonderful gifts for an upcoming baby shower, too. Any new parent is going to adore a handmade baby toy. Take a look at these 30 DIY Sensory Toys and Games to create the ultimate sensory playhouse.
There are some of the most adorable toys in this collection and many of them are great for learning purposes, too. From an alphabet sorter to many sensory toys and a great box that is designed to help babies develop fine motor skills, you’re going to find the perfect baby toy project in here. Since babies do outgrow their toys quickly, it makes sense to DIY baby toys to save money, right? Once they’re outgrown them, you can gift them to charity and you’re not really out anything. And speaking of outgrowing things, check out these 20 upcycling projects for baby clothes. There are some wonderful things that you can make when your little ones outgrow their little outfits.
So, if you worry about the toys that your little one plays with or you just really have a DIY itch and want a neat little project, check out these 30 different baby toys that you can make in your spare time. You’ll find something that you and baby will love and things that are perfect for anyone you know that is expecting soon. Try one or try them all. You can make everything on the list in no time at all and have an entire collection of homemade baby toys to keep your little one happy for a couple of years – until they grow into more technical type toys like video games, that is.
16. Handmade Crocheted Monkey
These little monkeys were such a hit when my kids were younger and they still have them to this day. The crocheted design makes them really soft and pliable and little ones from birth to pre-teen are going to adore them. This is the perfect gift for an upcoming shower if you want something that the new baby will treasure for years to come. You can get these on Etsy if you don’t feel like crocheting one yourself.
Source/Tutorial: etsy.com
17. DIY Matching Game With Felt And Wood
Wooden discs, which cost less than a dollar each at your local craft store, and some felt combine to make this really fun – and really cheap – DIY matching game. This is a great memory and cognition game for toddlers and it’s so very easy to make. Even younger ones – around six months old or so – will love stacking the colorful discs and when they get older, they can learn the matching aspect of the game.
Source/Tutorial: babycenter
18. DIY Little Felt Book Of Shapes
That leftover felt from other projects will be put to good use in this little felt book of shapes. You just cut the squares for the book and then add felt shapes, sewn on to make the secure. Once you’re finished adding all your shapes, use a ring to hold all of the felt book pages together. Even little babies will love the colors and softness of this book.
Source/Tutorial: plainvanillamom
19. DIY Toy Truck From Felt
Felt really is the best material for making baby toys. It’s soft, easy to work with and really inexpensive. That said, here’s another great little felt toy project for your tiny ones. This is a toy truck that is completely made from felt. This is an adorable little truck that is perfect for the new son of a truck driver. What a wonderful baby shower gift! Plus, it’s really easy to make and did I mention that it’s adorable?
Source/Tutorial: makeit-loveit
20. Fun DIY Finger Puppets
Finger puppets are a baby favorite and you can make your own with leftover fabric scraps and a few other key supplies. They are really quick and easy to put together and you can use your imagination to create an entire zoo of little finger puppet animals. Now, just perfect your creature voice to go along with the puppets and keep baby entertained for hours with his own little private puppet show.
Source/Tutorial: makesewbaby
21. Sensory Stimulating Fleece Toys
These little fleece toys are really adorable and they’re perfect for tactile stimulation with their ribbon tags sticking out from all angles. Babies will adore them and since they’re really soft, it’s ok if they stick them in their mouths. Fleece makes them soft and touchable for babies and ensures that you can wash them from time to time to keep them clean and germ free.
Source/Tutorial: mayarts
22. Baby’s First Football – Crochet Project
This little football is really cute and it’s the perfect project for you to practice your crochet. You don’t need to know any complicated stitches, which makes it perfect for beginners. Plus, it’s a football and what little boy doesn’t want a soft and cuddly football? This one works up really quickly and is a great gift for an upcoming shower for a new baby boy.
Source/Tutorial: nattyknitter
23. Colorful And Fun Glitter Bottle
Did I mention how much I love upcycling projects? Well, here’s another one. This little glitter bottle is sure to keep babies happy for hours on end and you can make it from upcycled water bottles. Those smaller bottles work really well for little ones so grab one – or however many you want to make – and then fill with water and add any number of glittery or otherwise exciting small toys. For really little ones, I recommend gluing the lid on to keep it from coming loose.
Source/Tutorial: pinkpistachio
24. Soft And Cuddly Glove Monsters
Turn old gloves into these adorable little glove monsters that babies will love playing with. They’re soft so there’s no worries of them harming themselves and you can make them from mismatched gloves so technically, this qualifies as an upcycle. If you’re sewing on button eyes, be sure to make them really secure, particularly if your little one still puts things in her mouth. These are also great for toddlers who may just want to help you create them.
Source/Tutorial: craftaholicsanonymous
25. DIY Fine Motor Development Tugging Box
This is possibly the easiest DIY toy on the list and it’s perfect for helping babies to develop their fine motor skills. Babies are amazed by things that they can pull and tug and this box is built just for that. You just need a somewhat sturdy cardboard box and then things to tug like yarn, pipe cleaners, ribbon and other things. Just attach them to the box through holes and then they can pull and push them all they want.
Source/Tutorial: laughingkidslearn
26. DIY Sensory Play Rainbow Shaker Bottles
Babies develop through learning and they learn by using all of their senses. Sensory play toys are vital for helping your little one to develop key skills. These rainbow shaker bottles are perfect for that and they’re just so much fun for little ones. Toddlers and older children can even use them as homemade instruments to create their own music and they’re made from plastic bottles that you upcycle so this really is a win-win project.
Source/Tutorial: mylittle3andme
27. Fast And Easy Ribbon Wands For Babies
Babies love lots of color which is what makes these ribbon wands perfect. They’re filled with color and little ones are going to adore watching and playing with them. You can make these in about five minutes and you don’t need too many supplies. Washi tape helps to design the handle and keeps the ribbons in place – you’ll need colorful ribbon of course. These are great for entertaining little ones or letting toddlers entertain themselves.
Source/Tutorial: becomingmartha
28. Easy Scrap Bunny Softy Baby Toy
This little bunny is made from scrap fabric, which makes him really appealing to babies since the designs are all different. Plus, it gives you a chance to use up those fabric scraps from other projects. He’s really soft so he’s perfect for little ones and you can have it put together in no time. This is a great homemade baby toy to give as a shower gift. If you have enough scrap fabric, you can make an entire family of little bunnies.
Source/Tutorial: 733blog
29. Soft Stacking Ring Toy
n though for little ones, and this soft stacking ring toy is perfect. It’s made from fabric so it’s great for little bitties to play with and they can chew on the pieces and you don’t have to worry about cuts or bruises on their gums. This is a really easy project to sew and would be perfect for new parents.
Source/Tutorial: raisin-toast
30. All Natural Baby Teething Toy
Teething is not an enjoyable time – for babies or for parents. This little all natural teething toy however, may just make it a bit more bearable. It’s made in a bunny ear pattern which gives babies two places to chew and the top is made from absorbent terry cloth which you can wet and freeze to help soothe those sore gums. The ring is unfinished maple hardwood and the entire thing is really adorable. You can get this one on Etsy for $6.
Source/Tutorial: etsy.com
Tom Hanks says