• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Mess for Less
  • Recipes
    • breakfast
    • lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Snacks
    • Appetizers
    • Crock Pot
  • Cooking with Kids
  • Crafts
    • Art
    • Winter
    • spring
    • Summer
    • fall
  • Kids Activities
    • Baby and Toddler
    • Preschool
    • Elementary
    • Sensory
    • Fine Motor Skills
    • Learning Activities
      • literacy
      • Math
      • science
  • Family
    • Family
    • Pets
    • parenting
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Browse Categories
  • Kids Activities
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Sensory » Calming Bottles and Sensory Bottles

    Calming Bottles and Sensory Bottles

    Published: Sep 30, 2019 · Modified: Apr 4, 2022 by Vicky

    Pin90K
    Share349
    Tweet
    Yum3
    90K Shares

    These Calming Bottles and Sensory Bottles are so simple to make. You can make them yourself in a few minutes or have a toddler/preschooler help with the process. We made these when my kids were younger and they often helped to calm a stressful situation. This calm down bottle is a great way to help settle anxious children.
    Sensory bottles - these calming bottles are great for little ones to explore and for preschoolers to use during a cooling off period. #sensorybottles #calmingbottles #mindfulnessjar
    Jump to:
    • Why these sensory bottles are awesome
    • Supplies needed to make a calm down jar
    • How to make DIY calming jars
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Make a healthy lifestyle easier
    • Related posts

    Why these sensory bottles are awesome

    For a younger child with big emotions, these glitter jars make a great sensory toy. Kids get enthralled watching the glitter swirl around. If your kids are a little older, the bottles can be used in conjunction with a time out or cooling off period. Preschools often use these jars for that purpose. The child simply shakes the bottle up and watches all of the glitter fall to the bottom. This takes approximately 2 ½ minutes to occur. Even just making the calming bottles provides sensory input for kids.

    Supplies needed to make a calm down jar

    • 16 oz plastic bottles with water or you can use these sensory bottles
    • Glitter glue (we bought ours in a 3 pack at the dollar store - each bottle is 3oz)
    • Glitter (normal glitter or fine glitter will work)
    • Jewels
    • Glue gun
    how to make glitter jars

    How to make DIY calming jars

    This first part should be done by an adult. You will want to be sure anytime you are using small objects that you supervise your child carefully and keep these away from kids who are likely to put things in their mouths.

    Open up your water bottle and pour out a small amount, equal to a sip of water. If the bottle is full it will overflow when you start to add the glitter glue. You can see in the photo above that mine is not quite filled to the top.

    Now it's time for the kids to have some fun creating their glitter sensory bottles. Give your child an open bottle of water and some glitter glue. Have them start squeezing the glitter glue into the bottle. Little hands love helping with this step.

    child making a glitter bottle

    You will want to use at least ¾ of a 3oz bottle of glitter glue. This is a great fine motor activity for kids as they use their small hand muscles to squeeze all the glitter glue out.

    If you don't have glitter glue, you can use clear glue instead and just add loose glitter to the bottle.

    fine motor activity of squeezing glue

    When your child is done squeezing the glue into the bottle, they can choose their favorite colors of loose glitter to add to the bottle. Dad helped with this step as it can get messy. Next, have kids add the jewels.

    You can use a funnel to help with this step.

    adding glitter to a sensory bottle

    What follows was my kids' favorite part - shaking up the mixture. My daughter shook up, down, sideways and every which way.

    shaking sensory bottles

    When you first start shaking, the glitter glue with break into small clumps. But steady, vigorous shaking will break up the clumps and mix the colors of glitter.

    creating calming bottles

    The final step in the process is to use a hot glue gun to hot glue the lid to the bottle so your child will not be able to open it up. This is an adults only step. Even with the cap glued on the bottle, you should still supervise your child when they are using it. Some kids out there seem to possess super human strength!
    Calming bottles - these sensory bottles are great for little ones to explore and for preschoolers to use during a cooling off period.

    These homemade sensory bottles make great a mindfulness jar and sensory play activity. As kids watch the glitter settle in a glitter water bottle they are practicing being in the present moment. I hope your kids enjoy these as much as mine did back in the day!

    Frequently asked questions

    What can I do if my child adds too much glitter to the sensory bottle?

    I often think there is no such thing as too much glitter, but feel free to dump some out and add more water to the bottle.

    Can you make calm down bottles with glass jars?

    Yes, you can, but I don't recommend it since these jars will be used by kids and kids often drop things. I know many people create sensory jars using a Voss bottle, but since they are glass, I avoid them.

    So these sensory bottles make a mess?

    The only mess will be made while you are making. Since the cap is glued onto the bottle, this keeps the mess under wraps.

    Make a healthy lifestyle easier

    If you are looking for ways to create and sustain a healthy, beautiful home you must try Grove Collaborative. Grove Collaborative is a scheduled delivery service that ships natural home, beauty, and personal care products directly to your door!

    Every product sold is nontoxic, effective, sustainable, and cruelty free. Everything you buy from Grove is good for you, your family, your home, and the planet.

    To help you maintain healthy choices, Grove recommends monthly shipments and product refills that you can edit or move at any time. No monthly fees or commitments are required.

    Click here to learn more and get your FREE Mrs. Meyer's Set which ships free and includes a free trial of Grove's VIP shopping option.

    Related posts

    • Bubbling Glitter Paint
    • Sensory Bags for Babies and Toddlers
    • Glowing Sensory Bottle
    • Simple Sensory Bin Ideas
    Pin90K
    Share349
    Tweet
    Yum3
    90K Shares
    « Apple Cookies
    Today is Great Comes Out Today »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni Barsi

      January 06, 2014 at 12:49 pm

      I made one of these when my daughter was 2, and it was great until the day it broke open. You're not kidding about the super human strength! I was sucking blue glitter out of the carpet for ages!

    2. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      January 06, 2014 at 3:46 pm

      Toni, I can so see that happening to me. I have them stored away when the kids aren't using them, since we have enough glitter all over our house. LOL!

    3. Bethany

      January 07, 2014 at 4:53 am

      When do the jewels get put in? The article doesn't say. Do they go in with the glitter?

    4. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      January 07, 2014 at 3:46 pm

      Yes, Bethany, it goes in with the loose glitter.Thanks for stopping by!

    5. Shecki Grtlyblesd

      January 11, 2014 at 1:58 am

      We made these this summer! Even my teens love them. 🙂 I have one in my room, and my 13 year old has a couple in hers, too.

    6. Linda Ortiz

      January 12, 2014 at 7:07 am

      I will try this with my kids...just looking at the picture make me calm....really after a stressful homeschooling day....Thanks for the post.

    7. Linda Ortiz

      January 12, 2014 at 7:13 am

      Thanks a lot I will try this with my kids!!!

    8. Christi Parker

      January 22, 2014 at 3:48 am

      I have now tried this twice and my glue just turns into a lava lamp looking thing. When I leave it overnight, it clumps at the bottom and then won't break apart. Does this happen with you too? I'm wondering if it is just the Elmer's Glitter Glue I'm using or the Smart Water. Thanks!

    9. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      January 27, 2014 at 3:14 am

      Love hearing they work with teens too Shecki. I will have to remember that!

    10. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      January 27, 2014 at 3:26 am

      Linda, thank you! I adore your blog and reading about your adventures with your family.

    11. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      January 27, 2014 at 3:28 am

      Christi, I have to think it's the Elmer's glitter glue. I have only done this with the glitter glue from the dollar store and it is probably a different ratio of glitter to glue. I used plain tap water and the dollar store glitter glue if it helps.

    12. Cathy Vey

      February 08, 2014 at 11:03 pm

      What works best for retarding stuff growing on the inside of the bottles. I have done sensory bottles before and after awhile end up with weird clumpy looking algae or something inside.

    13. Cathy Vey

      February 08, 2014 at 11:05 pm

      What is the best thing to use to retard growths inside the bottle. I have done these before and eventually had strange things growing inside the bottles....

    14. Kristi Burton

      March 10, 2015 at 4:28 pm

      How exactly do you glue the lid onto the bottle? I tried a couple of times, putting the glue into the lid and putting it on top but the lid does not go on straight and is not secure. Is it better to put the glue on the neck of the bottle, where the threads are? Or on the very top of the neck and then put the lid on? Thanks!

    15. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      March 11, 2015 at 7:40 pm

      Kristi, I had success with putting some glue in the lid and some on the threads.

    16. Dawn Garcia

      November 10, 2015 at 8:21 pm

      I tried the calming bottle and it leaks. I used a glue gun, then white glue, and tape. It still leaks badly.

    17. Vicky

      November 16, 2015 at 11:19 am

      That is a bummer Dawn. We had our for months and months and they never leaked once. Sorry it didn't work out for you.

    18. rebecca speer

      June 28, 2016 at 11:05 am

      I have read that you should use just clear glue. but if you want to use glitter glue you must use boiling water with it. hope this helps 🙂

    19. Steph

      November 08, 2016 at 11:53 am

      I've also used clear packing tape on the top of the lids. I've used this with my 3-5yr olds with Autism, and they loved it!

    20. Jessica

      January 25, 2017 at 9:28 pm

      I wish I could take credit for this great idea as well! So simple, but so great. Thank you for sharing, I think i'll make one for myself.

    21. Trivia Games

      October 29, 2020 at 7:25 am

      Wow! I made it for my center and my students. It's good! I even made trivia games on this topic for the best of the users.

    Trackbacks

    1. How to make a calm down jar: 17 DIY calm down jar recipes we love says:
      May 25, 2017 at 10:29 am

      […] Bottle | Best Toys 4 Toddlers 16. 6 Ways to Make a Calm Down Jar | Preschool Inspirations 17. Calming Bottle | Mess for […]

    2. How to Make a Calming Bottle – Child Care Consultations says:
      June 7, 2017 at 2:27 pm

      […] Calming Bottles […]

    3. 13 Teacher Tips for a Great Summer! - Teaching Made Practical says:
      June 30, 2017 at 6:49 am

      […] have any for your classroom yet, now is as good of a time as any to prepare for next year. Learn how to make your own glitter calm down bottle here. Or, if you aren’t a “Pinterest-y” type person, you can also buy some for your […]

    4. Week 5 – Part One – Pintrest for One Year says:
      July 10, 2017 at 7:20 am

      […] I also found calming glitter bottles.  […]

    5. Parents: What’s Your Best Trick For Soothing A Fussy Baby? | Babel Buzz says:
      July 23, 2017 at 9:04 am

      […] messforless.net […]

    6. What’s Your Best Tip For Soothing A Fussy Baby? – Celebrity Gossip Gal says:
      July 23, 2017 at 5:00 pm

      […] messforless.net […]

    7. What’s Your Best Tip For Soothing A Fussy Baby? | CelebDiscover says:
      July 23, 2017 at 5:01 pm

      […] messforless.net […]

    8. What’s Your Best Tip For Soothing A Fussy Baby? – IntelliViral says:
      July 23, 2017 at 5:01 pm

      […] messforless.net […]

    9. What’s Your Best Tip For Soothing A Fussy Baby? - SpotFamous says:
      July 23, 2017 at 10:09 pm

      […] messforless.net […]

    10. Hero Break » What’s Your Best Tip For Soothing A Fussy Baby? says:
      July 24, 2017 at 12:01 am

      […] messforless.net […]

    11. What’s Your Best Tip For Soothing A Fussy Baby? | DashAce says:
      July 24, 2017 at 7:00 am

      […] messforless.net […]

    12. What’s Your Best Tip For Soothing A Fussy Baby? – Friendly Hero says:
      July 24, 2017 at 7:00 am

      […] messforless.net […]

    13. Do you need a calming center in your classroom? - Grade School Suzy says:
      July 17, 2020 at 7:45 pm

      […] […]

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Vicky, founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find it at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

    Spring Recipes and Activities

    • No Bake Twinkies Cake for Spring
    • Spring Meringue Recipe
    • Cupcake Wrapper Butterfly Craft
    • DIY Seed Starter for Kids

    Popular Recipes

    • Crack Chicken Casserole
    • 15 Amazing Recipes for Toddlers
    • Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole with Cauliflower
    • Spinach Stuffed Shells

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy and Disclosure
    • About Me

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for our newsletter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit
    • Advertise

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 MessForLess