60+ Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Fillers for Babies & Toddlers (2024)

Home » Activities » Sensory » Sensory Bins » 60+ Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Fillers for Babies & Toddlers


Published: October 31, 2023 · Updated: December 13, 2023 by Sacha

Do you have a young child at home who still likes to put everything in his or her mouth? Check out these 60+ taste-safe sensory bin filler ideas for kids! These edible sensory play ideas are perfect for babies and toddlers who want to safely explore a variety of different textures… and flavours.

60+ Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Fillers for Babies & Toddlers (1)

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclosure for further information.

JUMP TO…

Sensory bins are a fantastic way to support your child’s development and to allow them to explore the world around them. But if you have a baby or toddler at home, you may be worried that some of the items that typically go into sensory bins may be too dangerous for them.

If that is the case, using taste-safe sensory bin fillers is a great way to allow you child to explore in a way that is safe and appropriate for them. That is why we’ve gathered 60+ ideas that you try the next time you’re prepping a DIY sensory activity for your child!

Related: Non-Food Sensory Bin Fillers for Kids

Important Safety Notice

While all of the sensory bin fillers listed below are taste-safe or edible, not all of them are suitable—or safe—for every age group.

If you have a young baby at home, you’ll want to skip any items that are small and round, as they could pose a choking hazard.

Likewise, if you think your child is likely to eat large quantities of whatever is in their sensory bin, you’ll want to stick with food items that are truly edible (like marshmallows or applesauce) rather than items that are simply taste-safe (like salt).

Please use your judgement when deciding which activities to try with your child, and only use sensory bin fillers that are appropriate for their age, personality and level of development.

GRAB OUR 12 BEST SENSORY RECIPES!

Subscribe to our email newsletter to receive 12 of our most popular sensory recipes in PDF format as a welcome gift:

Already a subscriber? Don’t worry, you won’t be subscribed twice. By submitting your email address, you are agreeing to the terms of our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.


60+ Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Filler Ideas

Worried that your child will try to eat the contents of their sensory bin? Try filling it with some of these items instead:

  • Water (this is the ultimate sensory bin filler that works for all ages—feel free to throw in some fruit, herbs, pasta or anything else you think your child would enjoy!)
  • Ice cubes
  • Clean, freshly fallen snow (if you live in a Northern climate)
  • Peas (fresh or frozen)
  • Corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
  • Popcorn (I don’t recommend giving this to babies as it can be a choking hazard)
  • Citrus slices (e.g. orange, lemon or lime)
  • Fresh cranberries (you may want to skip these for very young kids as they are small and round)
  • Fresh berries (e.g. blueberries, raspberries or strawberries)
  • Fresh herbs (e.g. basil, rosemary, mint or parsley)
  • Frozen or partially thawed fruit
  • Melon balls
  • Apple peels (or any other kitchen scraps you end up with while cooking, like carrot or potato peels)
  • Applesauce
  • Pumpkin guts
  • Spaghetti squash
  • Fruit purée
  • Vegetable purée
  • Shredded cucumber or zucchini
  • Yogurt (add some cornstarch to turn it into yogurt silly putty!)
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Whipped cream
  • Cool Whip
  • Cream of wheat
  • Baby cereal
  • Oatmeal
  • Dry oats (plain or rainbow coloured)
  • Quinoa (raw or cooked)
  • Coucous
  • Cooked pasta or spaghetti (try dyeing it with food colouring to make rainbow spaghetti)
  • Cooked orzo
  • Cooked rice noodles
  • Cooked rice
  • Cooked or canned lentils and beans (please note that uncooked lentils and beans are not safe to eat, but the canned ones are safe since they are pre-cooked)
  • Cooked or canned chickpeas
  • Aquafaba (whip it up into a foam to create some taste-safe play foam for your child)
  • Cooked tapioca pearls (use the jumbo ones to make edible water beads)
  • Cornmeal
  • Cereal (play around with different textures, like Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Cocoa Puffs or Shredded Wheat)
  • Graham crackers (crush them up to make taste-safe play sand)
  • Oreo cookie crumbs
  • Crackers
  • Potato flakes
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Hard boiled eggs
  • Croutons
  • Bread crumbs
  • Flour (keep in mind that raw flour is not safe to consume and that you’ll need to heat treat it in order to kill harmful bacteria)
  • Cornstarch (I don’t recommend using cornstarch on its own since your child might inhale it, but mix it with water and you’ve got oobleck!)
  • Shredded coconut
  • Sprinkles
  • Marshmallows
  • Jell-O or regular unflavoured gelatin
  • Pudding
  • Chocolate sauce
  • Sugar cubes
  • Brown sugar
  • Custard
  • Basil seeds
  • Chia seeds (ideally soaked in water for a few hours—they are technically safe to eat raw, but they can be a choking hazard if your child tries to eat a whole handful at once)
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Salt (salt should not be consumed in large quantities, but a small taste should be fine—consider colouring it with food colouring for added fun!)
  • Baking soda and vinegar (once again, baking soda should not be consumed in large amounts, so you may want to skip this if your child is very young)

Have any other ideas for taste-safe sensory bin fillers? Let me know in the comments!

60+ Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Fillers for Babies & Toddlers (3)

Related Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Ideas

Looking for more taste-safe or edible sensory activities to set up for your kids? Check out these articles:

  • Easy Rainbow Dyed Oats
  • Taste-Safe Chia Seed Sensory Play
  • Edible Cheerio Sand
  • Taste-Safe Moon Sand for Kids

Join my mailing list using the form below to receive 12 of the most popular sensory recipes on my site in PDF format! You’ll be the first to know when I publish new recipes, and you’ll also gain access to my free printables library, which is filled with lots of printable activities for kids.

GRAB OUR 12 BEST SENSORY RECIPES!

Subscribe to our email newsletter to receive 12 of our most popular sensory recipes in PDF format as a welcome gift:

60+ Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Fillers for Babies & Toddlers (4)

Already a subscriber? Don’t worry, you won’t be subscribed twice. By submitting your email address, you are agreeing to the terms of our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

60+ Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Fillers for Babies & Toddlers (2024)

FAQs

Are sensory bins safe for toddlers? ›

Short answer: yes. Creating sensory bins for toddlers allows them to build skills and understanding through play-based, hands-on learning. Sensory bins are easy, in-expensive, and effective for supporting toddler in their growth and development – but (spoiler alert) they don't have to be messy to be fun.

What age should you start sensory bins? ›

Sensory bins are good for children over 18 months of age. Before they're 18 months old, sensory bins are not developmentally appropriate because the possible hazards outweigh the benefits.

How much rice do I need to fill a sensory table? ›

1) Decide how much rice you want to make. If you only want to fill a small bin, 3-5 lbs. will work. If you want a larger sensory table, use about 15-20 lbs. of rice.

What are the taste safe sensory bins for toddlers? ›

Some of the most popular sensory bin fillers include water, sand, dry rice, dry beans, popcorn kernels, water beads and shaving cream. These items are great to use in sensory bins for toddlers once they can understand not to eat them.

What toys are not appropriate for toddlers? ›

Watch for Toy Dangers
  • Sharp edges and sharp points. Toys for older children may have sharp points or edges that can hurt a small child. ...
  • Small toys and toys with small parts. ...
  • Loud noises. ...
  • Cords and strings. ...
  • Toys that fly or shoot objects. ...
  • Electric toys. ...
  • Toys with magnets.

Are dried beans safe for sensory bin? ›

These foundational benefits will serve your children well into adulthood. However, the sensory materials used within the bins can either be helpful or harmful for children. For example, sensory bin beans are unsafe because raw or undercooked beans are toxic, while the benefits of rice sensory play are numerous!

How long should you do baby sensory for? ›

All babies can benefit from early sensory stimulation and each activity has been researched and developed to be appropriate for newborns through to 13 months.

What are the learning outcomes of the sensory bin? ›

By engaging their senses, these bins provide children with valuable hands-on experiences that promote cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development. From exploring different textures to enhancing fine motor skills, sensory bins offer endless opportunities for growth and discovery.

How long does sensory bin rice last? ›

It usually dries to the touch in about 1 hour. My kids LOVE helping to shake up the rainbow rice and they are so excited to wait as it dries. The good news is: once you make a batch of this, it will last you for years as long as you keep it sealed in a bag or container.

How do you color pasta for sensory bins? ›

Keep adding drops of food coloring until you get the color you like! Add the food coloring and vinegar mixture to the resealable bag with the pasta. Seal the bag and mix well by shaking the bag until all of the pasta is covered in the color. Once it's all mixed, place the pasta onto parchment paper so it can dry.

How do you dye rice for a sensory bin? ›

Add 1 cup of uncooked rice to a small plastic baggie and add a few drops of food coloring to the bag. If using gel coloring, you'll only need a tiny bit. Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar to the bag, seal the top, and shake up the bag to mix the color around the rice.

How do you make sensory bin fillers? ›

Here are some of my favorite Taste-Safe Sensory Bin Fillers:
  1. Cornmeal.
  2. Oatmeal.
  3. Yogurt and cornstarch mix makes edible playdough.
  4. Homemade finger paint (mix equal parts flour and water and add food coloring)
  5. Cloud dough (flour + baby oil or, infant rice cereal + coconut oil)
Aug 9, 2021

What containers are best for sensory bins? ›

You could also use dish tubs or shoebox storage containers. Water tables would be perfect outside if you are using messy materials and want easy clean-up. You can even find sensory tables that have two side-by-side tubs that would be good if more than one child at a time is using it.

Are sensory bins good for 3 year olds? ›

Children learn so much during unstructured free play – problem solving, emotional regulation, imitation, social skills, language, fine motor skills, the list is endless. So giving them new experiences in the form of a sensory bin will help them develop and hone so many new skills, all while having a blast!

How are sensory bins developmentally appropriate? ›

Sensory bins provide children with the opportunity to explore and learn through hands-on tactile play that engages their senses. These bins encourage and support various types of development and are great activities to have in your home. Sensory bins can be themed for holidays, seasons and academic skills.

Are sensory bins good for kids? ›

Sensory bins are a great way to allow children to explore multiple senses at the same time in a fun way. This includes touch, smell, sight, and even sound. Learning to engage with and stimulate several senses at once in a healthy way is incredibly beneficial and loads of fun!

Are sensory toys good for toddlers? ›

"Sensory toys are beneficial to all ages and abilities and not limited in use," Dr. Dry says. "They may be used to activate or to calm, to encourage engagement and hand-eye coordination, and to increase participation and turn-taking.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 6176

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.