Easy DIY Sensory Bag with Ocean Theme

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This Ocean Sensory Bag is a fun way to experience the deep blue sea for little hands. Babies and toddlers will delight in the squishy sensory bag that is filled with ocean creatures, sparkly sea and cool-to-the-touch feels. Kids of all ages can help make this ocean squish bag for baby!

Ocean Sensory Bag (text) blue, watery finished ocean sensory bag with 3 red starfish, a stingray, sea turtle, shark with sparkles and blue water like scene - Kids Activities blog — Let’s make this simple sensory bag!

Make an Ocean Sensory Bag for Baby

My toddler loved squishing the bag and feeling the animals inside. Sensory bags are great because they keep the mess contained. While we love our sensory bin, sometimes it just isn’t practical to have colored rice where my toddler can dump it on the floor.

Related: Check out a big list of DIY sensory bags you can make

And the gel in this sensory bag is really fun. What kid doesn’t love something this squishy?

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Supplies Needed to Make Sensory Bags

Gallon-sized ziplock bag
Hair gel – clear, blue or any light color
Blue food coloring – if your hair gel is not blue
Glitter
Sea animal toys
Packing tape

How to Make an Ocean Sensory Bag for Babies

Watch our video tutorial how to make a sensory bag

Step 1

Squirt the hair gel into the ziplock bag. Our bottle of hair gel was already blue, but you can add blue food coloring if you want to give it a bit more color. You can see the color of mine:

Ocean Sensory Bag - color of blue "water" inside the sensory bag — The blue gel inside the sensory bag will look like water.

Step 2

Ocean Sensory Bag - add glitter to the sensory bag - shown ziploc bag with child's hand

Add glitter to the bag, along with the animal toys.

Step 3

Seal the ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.
Use the packing tape to secure the seal.
You can even line the edges of the ziplock bag with the tape to prevent it from leaking.

Finished Ocean Sensory Bag DIY with child's hands on the sensory bag

Now, your ocean sensory bag is ready for play!

Our Experience Making Ocean Sensory Bag for Toddlers

We made this sensory bag for our son who was 3. While sensory bags are generally used with ages 0-2, older kids love to play with them too.

Related: More fun ocean crafts for kids or download these fun ocean coloring pages.

We had recently been on a trip to the ocean and creating this ocean sensory bag together was a great way to bring back memories of our trip to Starfish Point in Grand Cayman, when he held a starfish in his hands.