A baby rattle toy is one of the first toys many expectant parents will buy for their child.
The gentle ratting sound of a Baby rattle toy could even be described as the soundtrack to life at home as baby begins to explore their surroundings and make more use of their hands.
They're also hugely popular gifts from friends and family because they're often quite cheap to buy and can still hold sentimental value for years to come.
But what makes a good baby rattle? We've put together this guide to help you understand what to look for, and we've got 10 of the best baby Rattles available to buy.
Table Of Contents
Our top three baby rattles
Best overall baby rattle
Bright Starts Oball Easy-Grasp
Best wooden rattle
Manhattan Toy Artful Skwish
Best ring rattle
Joliecraft Woodland Friends Rattle
Why are rattles so good for babies?
Rattles make great toys for newborns, mainly because they provide huge amounts of sensory stimulation. The bright colours, the gentle rattling sound, the different shapes and textures all trigger baby's senses, which makes them really engaging and captures baby's attention.
There are also developmental benefits, too. Rattles help baby learn fine motor skills, like hand eye coordination, as they learn to grasp and hold it, move it around and place it in different places. They support visual development and visual tracking.
Some baby rattles are also brilliant for teething babies. Providing they're made from a suitable material, baby can gnaw on a rattle toy to help sooth sore gums.
Things to consider when buying a baby rattle
Checking the manufacturer's recommended age range is particularly important when it comes to baby rattles, because they so often end up in your child's mouth and present a choking hazard.
Most rattles tend to be suitable from birth. However, some are designed specifically to double as a teething ring or a soother for older babies, and so are only suitable from the age of six months.
Everyone has their own personal preference between wooden rattles and plastic rattles. If you prefer a plastic rattle toy, be sure that it is BPA free and has a non toxic finish.
BPA is a chemical used often used in the production of hard plastic items. Although the risk is relatively low, exposure to BPA can interfere with the endocrine system, which regulates our biological processes.
Traditional rattles will usually see baby hold it in their hand - often a long, thin handle with the rattle toy at one end. There are plenty of variations these days, however. There's everything from ball shapes to rings, as well as the whacky.
However, a relatively recent addition to the market are wrist rattles - small velcro straps that go around baby's wrists (or ankles) with mini rattles attached to them.
Quality is also important to us as parents, regardless of which toys we're buying for our children. However, as we mentioned in the 'Age' section, toys that are often put in a baby's mouth offer choking hazards. Buying rattles highly regarded for their quality will reduce the risk.
Hard, bright plastics might not be your thing - and there are certainly more natural, rustic looking rattles available - however, high contrast colours really do work best for younger babies' visual development.
The 15 best baby rattles
Now you know what to look for in infant rattles, here are 15 of our favourites that are available right now.
1. Bright Starts Oball Easy-Grasp
Editor's Review
“This is hands down my 4 month old son's favourite toy!! He is able to easily grasp and hold it and it immediately goes straight to his mouth."
Every baby I've ever known has had one of these Bright Starts Oball Easy-Grasp. And it's our pick as the 'best overall baby rattle'. The award-winning hollow ball has different sized holes, allowing babies of different ages and sizes grasp it without problems. Three of the holes are fitted with rattles containing multicoloured balls. The frame of the ball itself is made from a soft, flexible plastic making it safer.
Material: Polyurethane
Size: 4x4x4" (10x10x10cm)
Suitable from: 0 months
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2. Manhattan Toy Artful Skwish
Editor's Review
“We love this toy! It's the perfect size for my daughter's hands, and is easy to hang on to. The beads make a pleasant noise, and the toy itself is attractive if it gets left sitting around."
Our pick as the 'best wooden rattle', the Artful Skiwsh from Manhattan Toy is definitely the most eye-catching of the wooden rattles. It uses wooden dowels and elasticated ties to create a geometric shape that will always bounce back to its original position, no matter how many times baby 'swishes' it. The rattling sound (although it's more of a wooden chime sound) comes from the wooden beads attached to each dowel as the slide from one end to the other. There is a rainbow version which has painted dowels and colourful beads.
Material: Wood
Size: 6x6x6" (15x15x15cm)
Suitable from: 0 months
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3. Joliecraft Woodland Friends Baby Rattle
Editor's Review
“My 4 months old loves it! He has played with it every single day since we received it. It has also helped a lot with his teething."
Our choice for 'best ring rattle' is one for the dads who prefer a cute design. The Joliecraft Woodland Friends range of baby rattles see an adorable hand-knitted cotton animal containing the rattles attached to a wooden ring. When it comes to the animals, you have a choice of elephant, lion, bear, bunny, dear or lamb - each as cute as the other. The smooth beech wood ring doubles as a teething ring.
Material: Wooden and cotton
Size: Less than 5.5"/14cm (size varies depending on animal)
Suitable from: 0 months
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