What types of rattles are there and which model to choose for a newborn?

One of the first toys given to babies is a rattle, and it’s important for their early development. Choosing the best option can be difficult with so many options available. There are several advantages to each kind of rattle, ranging from improving motor skills to awakening a baby’s senses.

There are many different kinds of rattles, such as multipurpose, soft, and teething rattles. Since every design meets a different set of needs, it’s critical to know which one is best for your child.

This post will discuss the various kinds of rattles and offer advice on how to choose the best one for your baby to ensure their enjoyment and safety.

Type of Rattle	Best for Newborns
Soft Fabric Rattles	Gentle and safe for newborns; easy to grip and make soothing sounds.
Teething Rattles	Good for newborns starting to teethe; combines a rattle with a soft teething surface.
Plastic Ring Rattles	Lightweight and easy to hold; bright colors and sounds engage babies.
Wrist and Foot Rattles	Attach to baby"s wrists or feet to encourage movement and play.

A little history

Although the rattle was created a very long time ago, it is impossible to pinpoint when people initially thought to create toys like this for kids. The truth is that initially, this kind of object served a totally unrelated purpose and had nothing to do with raising kids. It is well known that rattles were used in religious ceremonies in ancient Greece. Although their use is documented, it is reasonable to presume that other prehistoric tribes around the world used similar devices.

Russian customs state that a rattle is frequently thought of as a musical instrument that can be attached to festive costumes or horse harnesses, or used in addition to a drum. Rumbling is still a common way for many Russian small peoples to accompany dances or religious ceremonies. At first, a rattle served as a toy and symbol of protection against evil spirits for children.

Knowing the various varieties of rattles is essential when selecting one for a newborn. There are traditional rattles that sound when shaken, plush rattles that are soft and pleasant to the touch, and rattles for teething that are meant to calm gums. For extra stimulation, some rattles come with lights and sounds as well. The baby’s age, safety features like non-toxic materials and smooth edges, as well as the model’s size and weight for small hands to easily handle, should all be taken into account when choosing the best model. A well-selected rattle can stimulate a baby’s senses and aid in their early growth.

Benefits and harms

• By listening to the sound of a rattle and examining it, a child begins to grasp the pattern between where the noisy object is and its location. It is thanks to rattles that we adults understand where the sound is coming from.
• A newborn is initially unable to focus his gaze for a long time even on a static object, but a rattle, making noise, attracts the baby"s attention. If parents move it, the child learns to follow moving objects, increasing their own concentration.
• In the future, the child will be able to hold small objects in his hands, and a rattle will be one of the first. By holding it in his clumsy hands, the baby develops finger motor skills, thanks to which his grip becomes more confident and stronger.

A decent rattle shouldn’t cause any harm; the only exception would be extremely loud ones that might frighten the child or keep his parents awake.

From what age should you buy?

Toys almost universally have a label indicating the minimum age at which they are intended for use. Even though rattles are the most basic kind of toy, babies can’t always use them right away.

It should be mentioned that while it is important to start teaching attention and coordinated motor skills from birth, not all rattles are appropriate for this. A newborn lacks the full motor control of his limbs necessary to grasp such an object in his hands. If the object is out of sight, he is not even able to turn to the side.

For this reason, it is advised to get hanging rattles for the younger children since they are constantly visible.

Rattles that closely resemble toys can be used starting at three months of age. Although the infant cannot lift these objects at this time, he can already move them on his own if they are within reach. Because the child must touch the object in order to make a sound, these gifts also help the child develop his tactile skills.

You can use the most intricate rattles—like the ones that are fastened to the dining table—once the infant is six months old. With this solution, the child can play and grow even while eating, but the toy can’t be thrown off because of the suction cup. An additional worthwhile choice would be a teether with a rattle feature.

When does a baby start to react to a rattle?

A baby benefits from rattles practically from birth, but it takes time to show that he understands the object and responds to it. This is due to the baby’s incapacity to express his reaction in addition to the nervous system’s inadequate degree of development.

Nonetheless, research has shown that a newborn can roughly identify the direction of a sound by trying to turn his head and look in that direction as early as the fourth week of life.

When does he start to hold it in his hands?

A baby finds rattles fascinating during the first few months of life, but he lacks the strength and dexterity to hold a toy like that in his hands. The recommendation against using hand-held toys before the age of three months is not without reason. At this point, the child finally gets to the point where he can freely touch objects that are close to him.

The precise moment at which a child starts to grasp an object in his hands is dependent upon their unique developmental traits. Using rattles with suction cups is advised starting at 7 months, as the child can already intentionally push objects off horizontal surfaces at this age. Generally speaking, the infant can now hold tiny rattles in his hands.

Models and types

Despite the rattle’s seemingly straightforward design, producers have created at least a dozen different styles of it. Their target audience’s age is another difference between them besides appearance.

Rattles that hang on strollers, cribs, and car seats are typically bought for newborns. This is useful because the developing object is attached here, and a baby can only look up during their first few months of life. The baby hears the sound produced by such suspensions and stretchers during a car ride or gentle rocking.

For younger children, an alternative would be a bracelet worn on the arms or legs. Furthermore, in order to fully utilize this gift, you must be able to see the source of the sound clearly and have somewhat developed motor skills.

Parents should use caution when using bracelets to ensure that the fasteners do not pinch their child’s limb.

Furthermore, there exists an extensive assortment of alternative kinds of rattles that are intended for kids aged three months and up.

• Starting from 3 months, the child gradually begins to be interested in the surrounding objects, trying to reach them. A rattle attracts increased attention, so it can become an excellent trainer for grasping reflexes. In this situation, a mace or maracas are perfect, and special cute socks with a noise function are bought for the legs. A good gift will also be light knitted amigurumi toys with bells.

• After another three months, you can give your baby rattles that have other useful properties. For example, it is during this period that the baby begins to cut teeth, causing him discomfort. You can look in children"s stores for teethers, that can make noise when shaken. In addition, at this stage, the child increasingly leaves the cradle and can even play on the floor, so a rattle rug will not hurt him either. At the same time, it will help mom hear whether the child has crawled away somewhere to the side.
• A few more months later, you can gradually start buying educational rattles, for which the noise function is already only an additional one. These include various puzzles and books. You should not worry that the child is still infinitely far from being able to read independently. If the book has beautiful pictures, and even it can make noise, the stable interest of the young “reader” will be guaranteed.

Furthermore, customized rattles are available in stores, which is crucial when raising multiple infants in a single household.

Types of materials

It’s no secret that a lot of content is deemed inappropriate for kids for a variety of reasons. These days, rattles are typically constructed from four distinct materials, each of which has unique qualities.

• Plastic toys for babies are the most popular among the manufacturers themselves, since this material is inexpensive, but allows designers to not limit their imagination. High-quality plastic samples are completely safe and have bright colors. In addition, such a rattle is very convenient to wash, because it does not absorb dirt.

However, you should exercise greater caution when making your selection, as many buyers select these kinds of products due to their low cost, which frequently denotes the use of hazardous and low-quality raw materials.

• Wooden rattles have been in fashion longer than any other – several centuries ago, their predecessors were also made of birch bark and wood. Wood is completely safe for a child, its production does not pollute the environment, and the surface of the product is also pleasant to the touch. But wooden rattles are quite heavy for a baby"s hands, and are also dangerous – you can hit yourself painfully with them.
• Textile and knitted soft rattles look very attractive, are weightless and impossible to injure yourself. Their appearance is so elegant that one of the varieties of such toys, amigurumi, is rapidly gaining popularity even among adults. Such dolls are even used for room decoration.

• Felt toys provide the child with pleasant tactile sensations, stimulating additional interest in the subject. The price of such products is also relatively low, but there is one drawback: the fabric easily absorbs dirt, so it will have to be washed with unenviable regularity.
• Silicone rattles It is more correct to call them teethers, since the latter are made only from this material. The main advantage of choosing silicone is the ability to combine the functions of two items at once. At the same time, there is usually a liquid inside the teether that softens the baby"s suffering from teething, so you should carefully monitor the integrity of the product.

Popular brands

A lot of parents don’t have the time or want to learn about all the nuances involved in selecting rattles. As a result, they would rather choose well-known brands that create tried-and-true goods.

It is best to select products from Western manufacturers in terms of quality. These consist of, for instance, Israeli Tiny Love and Italian rattles Chicco. Although there may be a negative cost impact from a distance delivery, the product’s quality is guaranteed.

Naturally, domestic producers’ products are in high demand among Russian consumers because they are the most reasonably priced and conveniently located. Mir Detstva and Stellar are two Russian brands. Reviews of these products range widely, from utter amazement and admiration to total bewilderment over how someone could possibly purchase something similar twice.

We must not overlook Chinese goods, which are steadily taking over the global market. Rattles are no different. Price-wise, this purchase will be even less expensive than its Russian equivalent; however, there isn’t a single manufacturer that stands out in this regard because their models are too similar.

Tips for choosing

Children’s products need to be chosen very carefully because babies put everything in their mouths and their bodies aren’t ready to withstand many problems just yet. It is crucial to research a few more pointers on avoiding purchasing a potentially dangerous item for your child in lieu of an educational toy because of this.

• The quality requirements for rattles are so high that such products can even be specially certified. For this reason, it is not recommended to buy rattles at markets. You should only trust large children"s stores and pharmacies.
• An unpleasant smell coming from the product is a 100% reason not to buy it. As a rule, it indicates the use of low-quality raw materials or dye.
• Perfect smoothness of the surface is a mandatory requirement for a rattle. Each chip or sharp corner can cause injury to the baby.
• Children like everything bright, but in nature there are practically no safe dyes of "poisonous" shades. In addition, it is better to train the visual apparatus on natural colors.
• Before buying, you must definitely evaluate the sound made by the toy. The noise should be pleasant and in no case sharp, otherwise there is a risk of scaring the baby. Then he will not be interested in the rattle.

• Scientists have found that infants are not able to lift an object weighing more than one hundred grams. Therefore, the rattle should weigh less, otherwise it will not contribute to the development of fine motor skills of the hands.
• When choosing a teether, you need to make sure that the product is intact, otherwise the liquid filler may leak. Then the purchase will turn into a shapeless and useless silicone case.
• For more variety, you can buy a whole set of rattles for your baby, but you should understand that he does not need too many. In the first months of life, even one toy for 5 minutes a day can "load" his little brain. At an older age, he will already need more diverse entertainment.

Selecting the ideal rattle for a newborn baby is an exciting and crucial choice for parents. With so many varieties to choose from, including vibrant plastic rattles and soft, plush ones, it’s simple to find a model that meets your baby’s requirements and tastes.

Think about things like safety, the materials it’s made of, and the sound it produces when choosing a rattle. Toys that are easy to hold, lightweight, and produce calming noises are highly favored by babies. The correct rattle can aid in your child’s development of vital motor skills in addition to providing entertainment.

The ideal rattle is ultimately the one that ensures your baby’s comfort and safety while keeping them interested and content. Parents who look at the various options can find the ideal fit for the early months of their child’s life.

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