Warning - this is a major parent post. If you have more exciting things to do than read about entertaining a small human then please do go and do that instead of reading this!

Baby treasure baskets are typical of the sort of thing that will pop up in my Pinterest feed these days. Don’t worry – I do still find time to lust over house interiors, blueberry muffins and balayage inspiration during the odd 3am night feed, but there is also a fair amount of parenting posts creeping their way in.

If your little one is sitting but not yet moving, and you would like to buy yourself 10 precious minutes to call a friend, make (and drink!) a cup of coffee or even check your emails, then listen up. Like any activity, you do need to keep your eye on your baby whilst they are playing. However, the treasure basket is something that they can enjoy on their own. Doing it themselves is all part of the fun. You are not handing them toys to enjoy and showing them how to play with them – they are in control and discovering it all for themselves. I have found with Belle that it is the discovery aspect of the basket that keeps her engaged and entertained far longer than her regular toys.

A baby treasure basket isn’t anything fancy: it is essentially a basket of random things for your baby to feel, touch, chew and explore that is not limited to baby toys but equally is safe enough for them to be playing with. This one below is my friend’s, but I have now made one for B at home and she loves it.

Once your baby is sitting unaided then they are ready for their basket. All that you need is a low basket or bucket and a tiny bit of creativity. In case you are stuck for ideas I have put together a starter list of things that you can find around your home and put in:

• Wooden spoon
• Hair brush
• Empty baby food jar filled with dry pasta (lid on tight!)
• Silicon cake case
• Fabric samples (wash cloth flannel is ideal)
• Ribbon (not too long)
• Pastry brush
• Plastic biscuit cutter
• Empty hot chocolate powder tin
• Sieve
• Nail brush (clean!)
• Wooden rolling pin
• Baby safe mirror
• Large ball
• Water bottle
• Loofah

You get the idea… and when they are used to their box and starting to get bored, just mix it up a little. Once you are thinking about it you will come across new things to add to it.

Belle’s changes all of the time (mainly because I often have to steal back something when I need to use it) but this is hers at the moment…

She loves sitting and working her way through her little basket, and until she masters crawling it is a great way to keep her entertained.

Leave a comment if you have any good ideas for bits to add into a treasure basket or any suggestions for other at home sensory activities that I could try.  I would love to hear!