Organic Cotton Cuddly Doll Rattle by Keptin Jr
There are many baby rattles on the market but are they safe? Most of them are made from hazardous materials such as plastics and toxic paints; add the small beads which are inserted inside them and that is a lethal combination. It’s only natural that babies love to suck on things, so you would want to make sure that the rattle they are using is not going to be harmful to them. Young babies wildly swing their arms around as they haven’t mastered control over them yet. So the rattles would be constantly hitting against their cots/cribs and no doubt nearly knocking themselves out. That is the reason why baby’s first rattle should be a soft one.
- Choose 100% organic cotton with 100% sheep wool filling. Check out ‘Keptin Jr‘ on Amazon.
- The beads inside should be all natural and non-toxic; reinforced so the stitching will not come undone.
- Steer clear of buttons for ‘eyes’ and ‘nose’. As they are choking objects.
- If the rattle has been dyed make sure it has been dyed with plant, soy and vegetable based dyes. Being able to wash these types of rattles is a must because of bacteria. Wash in a mild eco-friendly detergent.
Different Types of Rattles
Now, when your baby is a little older and has control over their movements there are other types of rattles which you can introduce to them.
- All natural wooden rattles which have been hand-sanded and finished with bees wax are a great option. Natural woods, such as Walnut Wood is naturally shaped. It’s texture, color and grain shows up beautifully in the rattles which are made from it.
- Natural Rubber Woods make great rattles and are sold on Amazon.
- Beware of wooden rattles which are made from Camphor Laurel or rattles which have been treated with varnish. These are very toxic for your baby.
- If the rattles have been glued, you need to find out whether the glue used is non-toxic. Also check out what types of ‘beads’ give out the sound to that particular rattle. Once again, they need to be totally natural and non-toxic.
- To disinfect, clean wood with a solution of 50/50 organic vinegar (stored in a glass bottle) and filtered/distilled water. Wipe over with a clean dry cloth and let dry. Vinegar is a natural anti-bacterial and is completely safe for your baby.
Natural Wood Maracas by Tycoon Percussion
Toddlers love to ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ too. So why not introduce them to Maracas. There are some lovely non-toxic wooden Maracas for children on Amazon.
You might also like to read about Natural Baby Teething Rings.
