The absolute game-changer purchases for my neurodiverse family over the last four years? Sensory toys.
What Are Sensory Toys Used For?
In our house, they’re simply known as fidgets—and we’ve tried a lot of them. This has been a big learning curve since my son’s autism diagnosis and his preferences for different sensory toys have evolved over time. You can read more about my tips for after an autism diagnosis here.
With tried sensory toys in all shapes, size colours, and (most importantly) prices, they really have become lifesavers for us. From fidget poppers to slimes & sensory putty, we’ve tested just about everything to help regulate emotions.
Sensory toys stimulate the senses by engaging sight, touch, sound, and even smell. (Yes, we’ve had our fair share of scented squishies and that one regrettable stinky slime. IYKYK.) These toys help calm, regulate emotions, and provide essential sensory input. Finding the right one is a bit of trial and error, but once you do, it’s a game-changer.
I’ll be sharing where to buy UK sensory toys for autism, toddlers, children, and adults (on a budget!) I’m even diving into DIY sensory toys (wish me luck!).
Who Can Use These?
Literally anyone. They can help with anxiety, focus, and emotional regulation and provide a great distraction for busy minds.
Are Sensory Toys Good for Babies?
Absolutely! They introduce little ones to different sensations and help their brains engage with new experiences.
When my daughter was a baby she had a LaLa Teletubby toy that lit up in a soft, calming glow. It also played soothing nursery rhymes when you pressed its belly. She was mesmerised by it.
Back then, that was the closest thing I’d seen to a sensory toy. Fidget toys and sensory aids are becoming more mainstream, and I’m noticing their benefits more than ever. Or maybe I’m just more aware of them now. Either way, as an SEN parent constantly searching for new tools to support my child, this shift is amazing.
Can Adults Use Them Too?
Yes, yes, and YES.
Both my sister and I keep fidget toys at our desks to fiddle with during online meetings (just don’t get caught!) or as focus tools to power through work.
If you get anxious when you’re out and about, I highly recommend mini keyring poppers or squishy fidgets that attach to your bag. I’ve used them on stressful London Underground trips and even theme park queues at Disney World—perfect for managing that mix of excited adrenaline and nervousness before a rollercoaster.
Plus, these fidgets are small and discreet—easy to tuck inside your bag when you don’t want them to be obvious.
How to Make Sensory Toys at Home
Coming soon—stay tuned for my DIY attempts which I will document on the blog, it could either be brilliant or a total disaster!
I’ve already had several failed attempts at making fluffy slime at home (make sure to use proper slime activator)—not the wet, gooey kind (we quickly learned that none of us could handle that texture). My daughter, in particular, had a rather unfortunate incident involving slime and her hair…
Let’s just say, if you take one thing away from this post, let it be this:
TIE. YOUR. HAIR. UP. WHEN. PLAYING. WITH. SLIME.
Trust me, you do not want to know what happens when you don’t.
While slime-making may not be my strong suit, our sensory toy collection is vast, and both kids have their favourite types. I’m planning a follow-up post with my daughter, where she’ll share her top fidget recommendations.
But for now, let’s focus on sensory toys for toddlers—simple, engaging toys that excite all the senses.
Different types of fidgets
Sensory Toys with Lights
There are so many amazing light-up sensory toys, but one that’s an absolute family favourite (especially for winding down before bed) is this Astronaut Galaxy Projector. It fills the room with glowing stars and a rolling galaxy effect, which can be changed to different colours. My son loves it—almost as much as the dinosaur shadow puppets we make on the ceiling while it’s on.
Another winner in our house is this wooden busy board. My son is obsessed with flicking light switches on and off, so this keeps him entertained without turning our actual house into a strobe-lit rave. It’s packed with different textures, buttons, and switches, offering endless sensory engagement while helping develop fine motor skills. Plus, it’s small and lightweight, making it perfect for car journeys, restaurant visits, or days out when we need a portable, screen-free distraction. A great choice for little hands that love to stay busy!
Sensory Toys with Music
One of my son’s favourite musical sensory toys is, oddly enough, a Disney Christmas snowglobe from Primark that plays festive tunes. Yes, we listen to Christmas music all year round—and no, I have no regrets.
My daughter also really enjoyed a dancing robot from Fisher Price, Beatbo as a toddler, packed with lots of glowing lights, songs, she had great fun practicing dance moves.
Sensory Toys with Water
It’s fair to say my son’s ultimate passion in life is sea creatures—from sharks to his lifelong obsession with Finding Nemo. So, when his childminder got him a light up fish mood lamp with bubbles as a toddler (and later, his school’s breakout room had one too), he was instantly drawn to it.
These bubble tanks are sold on Amazon and quite often on discount at B&M around Christmas. If you get one, I highly recommend buying brackets to attach it to the wall—because if your child is anything like mine, they’ll want to hug the fish, and let’s just say… these tanks aren’t designed to withstand that level of enthusiasm.
Where Can I Buy Fidget Toys?
As I mentioned earlier, sensory and fidget toys are now much easier to find in UK stores—which is great news for anyone who needs them! But a word of caution when buying online: some retailers inflate prices purely because they’re marketed for Autism or Neurodiverse needs. Always check around before you buy!
Right now, my top budget-friendly places for fidget finds in the UK are B&M, The Works, and even Primark. These are my daughter’s go-to shops when she’s ready to whip out her GoHenry card and spend her pocket money on the latest trendy fidget.
Our top picks
- B&M fidget range– a wide selection (instore) at great value. We recently spotted a mega 35-pack of fidgets for just £5! That’s under 15p per fidget—ideal for sensory-friendly party bag fillers or classroom rewards.
- The Works – mega sensory fun box for £5 which includes 8 large fidgets. I loved that some had keychains attached too so are perfect to clip on bags for when you are out and about.
- Also, as a family we love this light up popper game for just £2.50! Fun for all the ages, but watch out this can become quite surprisingly addictive, if you are a particularly competitive parent!
The Works really does have a great selection of affordable fidgets, as well as mini puzzles—which are a must-have for us when traveling. My son is obsessed with puzzles, so naturally, one ended up in my basket (because I have no self-control when it comes to sensory toys).
Obviously, with such a growing collection of fidgets, we’ve had to come up with a system for how to store sensory toys (because believe me, stepping on a spiky fidget ball is up there with LEGO-level pain). If you’re also drowning in poppers and squishies, check out our future blog posts, where I’ll be sharing my top tips for organising your sensory toy collection!
What are your favourite toys?
I’d love to know where you shop for fidgets and sensory toys—drop your recommendations in the comments!
We’ve also just discovered a new online brand called FlexiFidgets and signed up for their monthly fidget box. Keep an eye on our social media channels for our review—and don’t forget to follow along to join us on our sensory journey!