Gentle Sensory Activities for Babies & Toddlers: Using Dry Brushing, Vibration and Nervous System Sensory Play
Supporting Healthy Development Through Touch, Smell & Vibration
Supporting your baby’s sensory development can be simple, gentle, and fun. As parents, we’re always looking for ways to nurture our child’s growth in a safe and gentle way. Sensory play isn’t just fun, it helps build strong foundations for feeding, breathing, communication, and overall nervous system regulation. Here are some easy, practical tools you can use at home to support your baby or toddler’s development. These techniques can help your child’s nervous system regulate, improve oral motor skills, and support healthy sensory processing.
Dry Brushing for Infants & Toddlers
Dry brushing is a technique that gently stimulates the skin and nervous system using a soft-bristled baby brush. It can calm, organize, and help babies become more aware of their bodies.
Benefits of Dry Brushing:
Supports sensory integration and body awareness
Promotes relaxation and calming before sleep
Enhances circulation and lymphatic flow
Provides gentle input for children who are sensitive to touch
How to Dry Brush Your Baby:
Choose a soft natural-bristle baby brush (link here).
Make sure baby is calm, cozy, and preferably with skin exposed (diaper on).
Use light, firm strokes (not tickling) starting at the hands and feet.
Always brush toward the heart, working up the arms, legs, and back.
End with a gentle stroke across the belly and chest.
Keep the session short — just 2–3 minutes is plenty.
Cranial Nerve SENSORY PLAY with a Makeup Brush, Vibratory Tool or Inhaler
The cranial nerves control important functions like facial movement, swallowing, and tongue coordination. Gentle stimulation with a makeup brush or vibratory toothbrush/Z-Vibe pen can help wake up these pathways and support feeding, speech, and sensory regulation.
Smell Stimulation: The Olfactory Nerve
Stimulating the olfactory cranial nerve (sense of smell) adds another powerful layer of sensory support.
How to do it with infants:
Hold a baby-safe scent (like an orange peel, lemon peel, or a gentle essential oil inhaler stick) near one nostril until you see a small flare, sneeze, or reaction.
Repeat on the other nostril.
-Never apply oils or acidic foods directly to baby’s skin.
For toddlers:
Make it a fun “Guess the Smell” game! Have your child close their eyes (or gently cover with a soft blindfold) and bring a scent under their nose — like cinnamon, vanilla, or fruit peels — and let them guess.
Benefits: Stimulates brain development, strengthens the suck-swallow-breathe reflex, builds airway resilience, and helps children become more aware of their environment.
Intraoral Vibratory Stimulation (for toddlers or babies ready for oral play)
Only attempt this if your child is comfortable and used to having tools in their mouth. Always supervise.
Palate Stroke → Place the tool on the palate (roof of the mouth) starting from the back, stroking forward three times. Look for a natural gag or swallow reflex.
Tongue Elevation → Stroke the tongue from back to front, encouraging it to lift toward the palate for a swallow.
Cheek Massage → Inside the cheeks, use a side-to-side “windshield wiper” motion.
Vestibule Play → Run the tool between the lips and cheeks (vestibule) in small circles — three clockwise, three counterclockwise.
Child-Led Exploration → If they’re old enough, allow your child to hold the tool and explore their mouth safely, especially under the tongue and along the cheeks.
Step-by-Step Facial Stimulation:
Midline Sweep → Run the brush/vibrator gently down the middle of the forehead to the nose.
Eyebrow Sweep → Glide over one eyebrow, then the other.
Cheek Whiskers → Make outward “whisker-like” strokes on both cheeks.
Under the Chin & Neck → Light strokes under the chin, then down one side of the neck and the other.
Nasal Stimulation → Trace along one side of the nose, then the other, noticing if the baby’s nostrils flare or they giggle.
Around the Mouth → Circle just around the lips (not on them) three times clockwise, then three times counterclockwise.
On the Lips → Repeat the same motion, this time gently circling on the lips.
Whole Body Vibration for Babies & Toddlers: A Gentle Guide to Sensory Play
Don’t stop at the face! Babies often love vibration on their hands, feet, legs and arms.
Tip: Start distally (hands or feet) before moving to the face — this helps your child adjust to the new sensation.
Whole body vibration is a simple, playful way to stimulate your child’s nervous system, help regulate their body, and support healthy development. When done gently and appropriately, vibration can feel both calming and energizing for babies and toddlers.
Benefits of Whole Body Vibration
Supports sensory integration – helps the brain process touch, sound, balance, and movement.
Encourages body awareness – babies learn where their body begins and ends.
Stimulates circulation & muscle tone – gentle vibration wakes up small muscles and tissues.
Calms the nervous system – vibration can help regulate fussiness or overstimulation.
Supports oral-motor development – vibration on the face and mouth may strengthen tongue, lips, and jaw, supporting suck–swallow–breathe patterns.
Fun bonding activity – introduces playful, safe sensory experiences between parent and child.
How to Do Whole Body Vibration with Your Baby or Toddler
1. Choose Your Tool
A vibratory toothbrush (with a soft tip),
A Z-Vibe or sensory pen,
Or even a handheld mini-massager (set on low, non-heat, non-percussive).
2. Start Distally (farther from the face)
Begin on the hands or feet so your child can get used to the sensation.
Lightly touch the vibrating tool to their palm or sole.
Watch for giggles, curiosity, or pulling away — always follow their comfort level.
3. Move Up the Limbs
Slowly trace vibration up the arms and legs.
Use short “on and off” touches, like a game.
4. Add the Core
Gently tap or trace across the tummy, chest, and back.
This helps wake up the trunk muscles and builds awareness of posture.
5. Include the Face & Mouth (if tolerated)
Trace vibration gently along the cheeks, chin, and around the lips (never directly on the eyes).
Offer the tool to their mouth: babies may mouth it naturally, toddlers may explore under the tongue or along the gums.
This supports oral-motor skills, airway strength, and feeding.
6. Make It Playful
Turn it into a game: “tickle toes,” “buzzing bee,” or “magic wand.”
Use a mirror so toddlers can watch and laugh at the vibration.
Safety Tips
Always supervise.
Keep sessions short (2–5 minutes).
Avoid broken skin, eyes, or high-power settings.
Stop if your baby shows distress, pushing away, or becomes overwhelmed.
Adding gentle whole body vibration into your child’s sensory play routine can help them feel more comfortable in their body, support oral and airway development, and create joyful bonding moments.
Bonus Sensory Play: Texture Books
In addition to touch and smell, explore textures with a sensory book. Babies can feel different fabrics with their hands or feet, which further builds body awareness and supports sensory integration. Babies love exploring the different textures and this also helps build sensory tolerance and curiosity.
Final Thoughts
Dry brushing and cranial nerve stimulation are gentle, safe, and fun ways to help your infant or toddler’s sensory system thrive. With just a few minutes each day, you can support your child’s development while also creating bonding moments filled with trust and comfort.
Why This Matters
Stimulating the cranial nerves through touch, vibration, and smell supports:
• A strong suck-swallow-breathe reflex (key for feeding and speech).
• Healthy oral-facial development (jaw, tongue, palate).
• Strengthened airways and easier breathing.
• A calm, regulated nervous system.
These activities are gentle, simple, and designed to empower parents in supporting their child’s natural growth.
Are you interested in this supportive care for your child’s physical well being with gentle chiropractic care? Book a chiropractic appointment for your little one at our office, Focus Chiropractic. Located in Pasadena, California, our office specializes in pediatric care as well as pregnancy and postpartum care.
