Sensory bottles are easy to make and serve a variety of purposes: exploration, discovery, sensory input, and calming. This mega list of sensory bottles can serve as a how-to or just spark your imagination to come up with your own ideas.

To make a sensory bottle, fill an empty water bottle with the materials you’ve chosen and replace the lid. You will most likely want to secure the lid using a hot glue gun. This is especially important if younger children will be using it. Below, find a video detailing how to make a calm down bottle.

Sensory Bottles For Anytime:

Smelling Sensory Bottles from Things to Share and Remember

Pretty Princess Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Water-Bead Sensory Bottles for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers from Living Montessori Now

Lilac Sensory Bottle from Parenting Chaos

Light Saber Sensory Bottles Star Wars Activity for Kids from Little Bins for Little Hands

Superheroes Sensory Bottle from here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Batman Sensory Bottle from Growing Hands-On Kids

Sensory Bottles that Glow in the Dark from Fun-a-Day

American Girls Sensory Bottle from here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Minion Sensory Bottle from Little Bins for Little Hands

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Sensory Bottle Activity by Little Bins for Little Hands

Rice Sensory Bottle from Mama Instincts

Water Bead Sensory Bottles from Parenting Chaos

Despicable Me Minions Sensory Bottle from here at The Chaos and The Clutter

Learning Sensory Bottles:

Money Sensory Bottle for Math Unit from here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Alphabet Calm Down Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

Sensory Bottles Used to Explore Shapes with Printables from JDaniel 4’s Mom

Alphabet Sensory Bottle from Parenting Chaos

STEAM Camp: How to Make a Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle from Left Brain Craft Brain

Science Discovery Bottles for Sensory Learning from Little Bins for Little Hands

Nature Inspired Sensory Bottles from Rhythms of Play

Farm, Zoo, & Ocean Animal Sensory Bottles from Living Montessori Now

Zoology Sensory Bottles by The Kavanaugh Report

Rust Resistant Magnetic Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

Sensory Bottle Biomes for Kids by Parenting Chaos

Exploring Liquid Density with Sensory Bottles from Buggy and Buddy

Magnetic Discovery Bottles from Preschool Inspirations

Arctic Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Calm Down Sensory Bottles:

Slow Motion Calm Down Sensory Bottle by Childhood 101

Butterfly Sensory Calm Down Jar from Rhythms of Play

Slow-Falling Beads Sensory Bottle by Teaching Mama

Glitter Bottle Calm Down Tool Sensory Play from Little Bins for Little Hands

Magic Two Ingredient Sensory Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

Easy Glow in the Dark Beads Sensory Bottle from Mom-Inspired Life

Silver and Gold Glitter Sensory Bottles from Fun-a-Day

Seasons & Weather Sensory Bottles:

Season Sensory Bottles from Mama.Papa.Bubba.

Spring Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter

Spring Flower Sensory Bottle from Kids Craft Room

DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle by Rhythms of Play

Simple Fall Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter

October Fall Sensory Bottle by Teaching Mama

Windy Fall Leaves Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play

Weather Sensory Bottles for Circle Time by TwoDaloo

Sky Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Sun and Rain Sensory Bottles from Creative Family Fun

Melted Snowman Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter

Penguin Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama

DIY Frozen-Inspired Snowstorm Sensory Bottle by Rhythms of Play

Snowman Sensory Bottle Snowman by Little Bins for Little Hands

Snowflake Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Ocean Sensory Bottles:

Ocean Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter

At the Beach Sensory Bottle from here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Glittery Mermaid Sensory Bottle from here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Shark Sensory Bottle from Stir the Wonder

Glittering Mermaid Tail Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play

Mini Aquarium in a Bottle: Ocean Sensory Play from A Little Pinch of Perfect

Ocean in a Bottle with 3 Simple Ingredients from Happy Hooligans

DIY Sea Shells Sensory Bottle Calm Down Jar from Rhythms of Play

Sky & Outer Space Sensory Bottles:

Outer Space Discovery Bottle by Artsy Momma

Space Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter

Slow Falling Star Discovery Bottle from Growing Hands-on Kids

Glow Sticks Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama

Gorgeous Rainbow Sky Sensory Bottles from Kids Craft Room

Galaxy in a Jar by Lemon Lime Adventures

Star Gazing Discovery Bottles by Pre-K Pages

Colours & Rainbow Sensory Bottles:

Rainbow Loom Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama (because we all have hundreds of those still lying around our houses!)

Rainbow Rainfall Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter

Mini Rainbow Sensory Bottles by The Kavanaugh Report

Rainbow Button Sensory Bottle by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Rainbow Sensory Bottle with Baby Oil from Ryan and Marsha

Color Mixing Sensory Bottle by Preschool Inspirations

Kindness Potions Sensory Bottles from the Imagination Tree

Amazing Rainbow Sensory and Discovery Bottles from Preschool Inspirations

Holiday Sensory Bottles:

New Year’s Sensory Bottle for Kids here on The Chaos and the Clutter

Christmas Ornaments Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Valentines Sensory Bottle by Little Hands for Little Hands

Valentines Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter

Floating Hearts Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter

4th of July Discovery Bottle from Growing Hands-On Kids

4th of July Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama

Halloween Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama

Monster Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter

Christmas Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama

Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle from Stir the Wonder

Christmas I-Spy Discovery Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter

Materials to make Sensory Bottles:

When it comes to making sensory bottles, the only limit is your imagination! You can use such a variety of materials. You need to start with an empty water bottle and filler (such as water, warm water mixed with clear glue or glitter glue, gel, hand sanitizer, sand, or rice).

Next, can add whatever you want. Any type of confetti, small toys, objects found in nature, craft supplies, beads, erasers, or sequins work well. The figures in Toobs work well in most sensory bottles, though not all the figures are small enough to fit through the hole in the bottle top.

Voss Artesian Still Water 4x500ml Plastic BottlesSafari Ltd Insects TOOBSafari Ltd Pets TOOBSafari Ltd Space TOOBSafari Ltd Rainforest TOOBSafari Ltd Flowers TOOBSafari Ltd Fruits & Vegetables ToobMini Construction ToysSea ShellsElmer’s Liquid School Glue, ClearElmer’s Liquid Glitter GlueHand SanitizerCreative Converting Swirls ConfettiWater Beads Rainbow PackFishbowl BeadsGlow In The Dark Pigment PowderBe Amazing Insta-Snow JarPerler BeadsStar BeadsSequins and Spangles Shaker JarGlitter PowderPompoms

Looking for sensory play ideas and answers to all your questions about sensory processing? Check out Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators. 

What makes this beach sensory bottle unique is that we made it using kinetic sand. This ensures that the sand stays separate from the water. We used shells that the kids picked at the beach on Vancouver Island a few years ago, making it a nice way to tie memories into their sensory play. We love Vancouver Island. One of our sons was born there so vacationing there always creates special memories.

At the Beach Sensory Bottle

Materials needed:

• water bottle (I used a Voss bottle)
• water
• blue food colouring
• kinetic sand
• blue glass beads or sea glass
• seashells
• optional: hot glue

Empty the water out of the water bottle. I know that seems backwards since you’ll be adding water back in, so you can pour it into a measuring cup to use in the bottle afterwards. Fill the bottle about a third of the way with the kinetic sand. Using a funnel makes this easier to do.

Kinetic Sand – Beach SandVOSS Water Plastic BottlesSea Glass

Mix two drops of food colouring into the water and fill the bottle most of the way to the top with the blue water. Drop in the water beads and seashells. Put the top back on the sensory bottle. If you want to, you can secure it in place with hot glue.

The kinetic sand creates a lovely beach effect when a child tips the bottle or shakes it up. This beach sensory bottle is a nice way to bring the beach home with you, particularly if you use seashells that your child gathered in the sand themselves.

Are you looking for other easy sensory activities that can actually be created at home? Join me for a free 5 part email series Sensory Solutions and Activities (just pop your email into the box below) and get a printable list of 175 Great Sensory Ideas.

Ocean Sensory Bottle

Squishy Shark Sensory Bag

Are your girls as obsessed with mermaids as mine are? Ever since they got their Fin Fun Mermaid Tails, they have been swimming like mermaids, reading about mermaids, drawing mermaids, and pretending to be mermaids. I made them a squishy mermaid sensory bag which they really enjoyed, so I decided to make them another mermaid themed sensory item. This glittery mermaid sensory bottle creates a wonderful calm down effect.

Mermaid Sensory Bottle

Materials needed:

• water bottle (I used a Voss bottle)
• mermaid-like glitter
• blue flower sequins
• liquid hand soap
• pink mermaid scale looking washi tape
• optional: hot glue

Empty water out of the sensory bottle and fill most of the way with liquid hand soap. Drop in the sequins and a lot of glitter. The key to making this sensory bottle look like a mermaid tail is to use a lot of glitter. Add more than you think you should! Put the lid back on the sensory bottle, securing it with hot glue if you want it to stay in place. Give it a good shake.

Mermaid, Extra Fine Poly GlitterVOSS Water Plastic BottlesLiquid Hand Soap

Wrap some of the washi tape around the lid. I only put one piece, but if you wanted to, you could cover the whole lid for a different look.

I used many of the same items to create a squishy mermaid sensory bag. My girls were big fans!

Join me for a free 5 part email series Sensory Solutions and Activities (just pop your email into the box below) and get a printable list of 175 Great Sensory Ideas.

Ocean Discovery BottlePretty Princess Sensory Bottle