We all have our "things" that we like and don't like. Certain words, sounds, smells and how things feel to the touch. That goes for babies to toddlers to adults.
The fashion industry is picking up on that. 
I recently read Abby Lebet's article in Bustle about sensory friendly clothing and how neurodivergent people can have reactions to fabrics that are overstimulating.
"Different textiles have the potential to provide support, and create a channel to engage in healthy coping strategies, research showed."
As a mom, and co founder of Inklings Baby, I immediately could relate.
Introducing different textures and sounds to babies and toddlers during play benefits brain development. It is also fun. When we receive notes from parents of children who play with our plush toys, they often say that their baby "loves the crunch in Ollie's wings" or "Gus's purple rope tail."
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are many benefits of sensory play:
- Fine Motor Skills
- Cognitive Growth
- Calming Effect
"Sensory play plays an important role in your child’s development from birth to early childhood. It helps build nerve connections in their brain’s pathways, which can help your child complete complex tasks."
We designed Inklings with sensory play in mind. And it has me thinking, why don't we include sensory details into other areas as children grow into teens and adults?
Who hasn't had a sweater that is so soft that everyone loves to touch it?
I have a niece who "loved tags" as a toddler. She would hug you and reach up behind your neck to touch the tag of your shirt. You just hoped that you "had a good tag." 🤞
Below are some examples of Ollie and the sensory details that we included in Ollie's design to take a typical plush toy and pump it up to be a sensory playground for your baby.
Let us know what other sensory features you would like to see in your baby's world and beyond.