How To Make Taste-Safe Foam For Sensory Play

Use this recipe to make taste-safe foam for toddlers and preschoolers. It is so easy to make and is truly the perfect sensory base for young kids who put everything in their mouth!

If you want to do sensory-based activities with your little one, but worry that he or she puts everything in their mouth, then this recipe is for you! I had the same worry! Making foam out of dish soap or shaving cream simply isn’t safe, but everything changed when I discovered that you could make a foam using bean water (you read that right!)!

The Magic of Aquafaba

What is aquafaba? It’s a fluffy foam created from whipped up bean water. The translation is literally, “bean water.” People who are allergic to eggs use this as an egg replacement in food recipes.

Aquafaba is also used to replace shaving cream and dish soap in sensory bins so that toddlers can dig right in without any worries of toxicity.

Skills: Sensory Play

Ages: 12 Months +

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Watch the Video to See the Foam in Action

Once I made the foam (see the how-to below!), I added it to one bin, and then added water to the other bin. My little girl enjoyed playing with it – scooping, splashing, and squeezing. Having the water nearby allowed her to wash her hands if they felt too icky!

Watch the video and you’ll see how much this foam looks like soap foam or shaving cream! Best part, of course, is she can stick her fingers in her mouth without me worrying!.

Watch the Video to See the Foam in Action

Once I made the taste-safe foam (see the how-to below!), I added it to one bin, and then added water to the other bin. My little girl enjoyed playing with it – scooping, splashing, and squeezing. Having the water nearby allowed her to wash her hands if they felt too icky!

Watch the video and you’ll see how much this foam looks like soap foam or shaving cream! Best part, of course, is she can stick her fingers in her mouth without me worrying!.

How to Make Your Own Taste-Safe Foam

This is going to be something you use for lots of other sensory-based activities, so bookmark it!

All you need to make this foam is a can of beans. If you only have dried beans, then soak 1 cup of dried beans in 2.5 cups of water overnight and use the liquid the beans soaked in. I have found the can of water works best though.

One thing I love about this foam is how safe it is for the environment. I don’t feel bad dumping it out in the yard or letting it go down the drain – it’s just water from beans.

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Materials

Water from 1 can of beans, I’ve found chickpeas work best!
Electric Mixer

All Natural Food Coloring
Optional: Cream of Tartar

Water from 1 can of beans, I’ve found chickpeas work best!
Electric Mixer
All Natural Food Coloring
Optional: Cream of Tartar

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Place the water from the can of beans in a bowl.

Step 2

Whip up the water with an electric mixer.

Step 3

Keep whipping for 3-6 minutes or until stiff peaks form in the water.

Step 4

If you want a firmer texture, add a dash of cream of tartar.

Step 5

Color the foam with food coloring for some vibrancy!

Step 1

Place the water from the can of beans in a bowl.

Step 2

Whip up the water with an electric mixer.

Step 3

Keep whipping for 3-6 minutes or until stiff peaks form in the water.

Step 4

If you want a firmer texture, add a dash of cream of tarter.

Step 5

Color the foam with food coloring for some vibrancy!

Educational Benefits of Sensory Play

What I love about this taste-safe foam is that it allows my toddler to engage safely in sensory play, while learning that sensory materials aren’t to put in her mouth. In other words, adults do not have to worry if a child does put the foam in their mouth, but they should use this as an opportunity to teach the child that sensory materials aren’t for the mouth.

Sensory play is so educational for toddlers. When they feel different textures, they are actively interacting with their environment. This causes their mind to create new connections and grow. Anytime you want to set up sensory play for your little one, don’t forget about the power of bean water!

It is also the very first steps of scientific curiosity. They begin to wonder, “what is this” and explore it. Toddlers use all 5 senses to understand what it is. That’s why it’s so important to give them a safe way to explore when they play.

Educational Benefits of Sensory Play

What I love about this taste-safe foam is that it allows my toddler to engage safely in sensory play, while learning that sensory materials aren’t to put in her mouth. In other words, adults do not have to worry if a child does put the foam in their mouth, but they should use this as an opportunity to teach the child that sensory materials aren’t for the mouth.

Sensory play is so educational for toddlers. When they feel different textures, they are actively interacting with their environment. This causes their mind to create new connections and grow. Anytime you wan to set up sensory play for your little one, don’t forget about the power of bean water!

It is also the very first steps of scientific curiosity. They begin to wonder, “what is this” and explore it. Toddlers use all 5 senses to understand what it is. That’s why it’s so important to give them a safe way to explore when they play.