All about rattles: what should a baby's first rattle be?

The role of a rattle in a child's life

External stimulation is a very important element of learning in the life of a baby. It is essential for physical, sensory, emotional and social development. The first toy in a baby’s life is a rattle; it functions as an external sensory stimulus.

The benefits of rattles for a child

It is common to think that baby rattles entertain the baby. In fact, they serve not only for entertainment, but are of great benefit in the development of the baby’s intelligence:

1. Stimulates emotions. You can use a rattle to attract your toddler's attention by making sounds, and then play with him. When a child begins to respond to the rattles that his mother plays with him, he tries to smile, an emotional connection is formed between the baby and his parents;
2. Stimulates the development of sense organs. The baby hears sounds. The bright, beautiful colors of the toy do not leave him indifferent and contribute to the development of the visual organs, different textures of the surface of the products - the organs of touch;
3. Improve coordination. The child wants to take a bright object that he sees, for this he needs to coordinate his eyes and hands. Each time he takes the toy more and more confidently;
4. Develop memory. Different rattles are associated with different sounds, the baby remembers and learns to distinguish between them. In addition, you can use different toys before different routine events, for example, some before feeding, others before bathing. In this way, the child can remember what event will follow the game with a specific object. This improves memory and helps the baby feel safer.

Benefits of rattles

Playing with your baby using rattle toys is good for him. This way of spending time with your baby helps:

• their perception and discrimination of sounds;
• recognition of colors and shapes;
• improvement of hand motor skills after 6 months;
• development of the grasping reflex;
• improved vision.

Rattles contribute to the development of initial skills, which in the future will help the baby develop and explore the world.

Important! It is better to buy toys for children in licensed stores. This will give you confidence in the quality of the material.

Varieties

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Interesting . A rattle is one of the first toys created by man to interact with his child. Based on recent archaeological excavations in Turkey, it has been determined to be at least 5,000 years old.

Modern manufacturers offer the following types of products:

1. Hanging. Sometimes they are made in the form of carousels with several different toys, sometimes with musical accompaniment. There are varieties for cribs and strollers;

Rattle carousel

1. Fabric. Made in the form of figures with rustling filling;

Fabric toy

1. Socks and bracelets. They also belong to fabric options, but are put on the baby’s legs and arms;

Socks and bracelets

1. Teethers. This toy will be useful for a baby who is teething. Made in the form of a ring for massaging the gums, sometimes with a cooling effect. The ring is complemented by a rattle;

Teethers

1. With suction cup. This product can be attached to a flat surface. The child will swing and tilt it, but will not be able to detach it from the surface;

Toy with suction cup

1. Classic. A traditional version of a children's toy, which has a handle for holding and an upper part in the form of a ball or other figure;

Classic rattle

1. Rings. The ring is the basis of the product; small parts are strung on it: balls and figures of various shapes, etc.

When does the reaction to rattles begin?

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In the first months of a baby’s life, it is his hearing organs that serve as the main connection with the outside world. This is the time when a newborn first begins to respond to the sound of a rattle. At one month he will flinch at sharp sounds, at two months he begins to observe the movement of hanging toys and is able to respond emotionally - smile if his mother shakes a rattle in front of him.

Already up to 3 months, a baby may begin to unconsciously pinch toys with his fingers if he is given them in his hands, but he is not yet able to pick them up himself. He will also follow the moving pendant rattles with his eyes and try to hit them with his arms.

At 4 months, the baby is already able to begin to take rattles; at 5-6 months, he consciously selects the objects he likes, takes them from any surface and from different positions. This is the time when the child begins to play with rattles for a long time.

Important! At the age of six months, it is necessary to remove objects that pose a danger to the baby from the reach of the baby.

Three months is the age when parents begin to worry about how to interest and teach the child to grab toys. To do this, they must, while playing with the baby, perform simple actions:

1. Place the toy in the baby's hand and shake. In the fourth month, the baby may respond by throwing a rattle. He begins to associate sounds with actions, and this awakens his interest;

Playing with a baby

1. From hand to hand. Choose a large toy that mom should take with her own hands and shake. The child may want to grab it with his or both hands and then throw it away. This action helps teach a child to hold a rattle, as well as transfer objects from hand to hand.

How to choose the right rattle?

A newborn baby should choose toys with special care. Product quality and reliability parameters include:

• absence of small parts, as well as parts that are poorly fastened;
• availability of a quality certificate;
• no pungent, repulsive odor;
• there is no damage;
• natural colors;
• sounds are pleasant and clear;
• weight up to 100 g.

The material must be safe. The product can be made of plastic, silicone, wood, fabric:

• Plastic toys are easy and simple to care for. They can be washed after each use.
• Silicone is often used for teething toys. It is important to ensure that the material is not damaged and the contents do not leak out.
• Wood is considered a natural and safe material. But the toys made from it are heavy, and it is difficult for the baby to hold them in his hands. In addition, there is a risk of injury when the child accidentally hits himself.
• Fabric rattles are soft and lightweight, but they require frequent washing.

By following these recommendations when purchasing a product, you will be able to avoid mistakes. For babies in the first month of life, it is better to choose models made of fabric and plastic.

It is necessary to buy a toy taking into account the age of the baby:

• For newborns, they buy toys that hang from the crib or stroller. At this time, the baby directs his gaze upward, where the rattle will hang. It is allowed to use the first weeks of life and bracelets.
• From three months the baby begins to take an active interest in what is happening. The child tries to reach objects that are around him. The rattle develops the grasping reflex, fine motor skills and sensory skills. More complex rattles that make sound are suitable; you can buy sock rattles.
• By 6 months, rattles are purchased that are characterized by an even wider range of functions: teethers that simultaneously make noise when shaking, puzzles, suction cups, rings.

Before purchasing any model, you should check all the details and listen to the quality of the sound produced. The product is inspected for defects.

Lack of response to the sound of the toy

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A child's lack of response to the sound of a rattle does not always indicate a hearing problem.

Important! If a baby who is already 2 months old does not react in any way to loud sounds of any origin, you need to contact a specialist. Early diagnosis of hearing problems allows for more effective treatment.

However, the baby may not show any reaction to the sound of the rattle, but at the same time respond to the mother’s voice, musical sounds from the TV or radio, or sharp extraneous noises. This means that there is no need to worry, you just need to wait until the baby is interested in the toy.

Right choice

Important! Rattles are made from different materials: fabric, plastic, rubber, wood. It is necessary to choose options that are light and not too hard, since babies initially have poor control over their movements and may hit themselves in the face.

It doesn’t really matter how many rattles the baby has. It is better to buy fewer of them, but it is important to choose safe toys and those that will be most useful for his development.

Factors to consider when choosing:

1. Color. It is recommended to purchase products in bright colors or with funny animal faces to attract the child's attention;
2. At an early age, it is advisable to choose a solid product that does not contain small additional parts that can come off;
3. You need to make sure that the plastic used to make the toy does not contain phthalates. This toxic substance is used to make plastic more flexible, but slows down the development of bone tissue when ingested by the baby;
4. With wooden products, one must beware of too much varnish and uneven surface finish;
5. For fabric toys, you need to make sure that the materials they are made of are not flammable, and that the filler is not toxic and does not make the product heavy. It is also better to know whether it can be washed in a washing machine and at what temperature;

Important! Until 5-6 months, children lack strength in their wrists and have difficulty holding toys. Therefore, the first rattles should be very light.

1. Toys that make too sharp and loud sounds can frighten and even damage the baby’s hearing organs. Preference should be given to sounds of moderate volume.

Every child has at least one rattle in the first months of life; if you choose it using the recommendations, you can provide your baby with fun and safe entertainment, while simultaneously stimulating his development.

How to make a rattle for a newborn yourself?

You can make a rattle of any complexity with your own hands:

1. To make the first option, you need to fill a small plastic bottle with beads, cereals or balls. Close the lid tightly.
2. It is possible to make a rattle from Kinder chocolate eggs. Inside each cell, a different material is poured to create sound. Then the cells are glued together.
3. It's not difficult to make a development cube. Each side of the cube is made of different materials so that the surface is smooth, rough, rustling, yarn or fabric. Additionally, pockets, flowers, and appliqués are added.
4. For a hanging toy you will need a Kinder egg, a small piece of colored fabric, and ribbon. Two parts resembling a butterfly are cut out of the fabric. The parts are sewn together and foil is inserted into the hole left. Make two oval and round parts. A kinder cell containing beads is inserted into the stitched round parts. The body is filled with scraps of fabric or padding polyester and sewn to the head. Then the eyes and mouth are embroidered, antennae and a part for hanging are sewn on from ribbon.
5. It’s a little more difficult to make a bracelet for a pen. Measure the girth of the baby's hand and add another 5 cm. Cut out two parts from the fabric, place a thick ribbon in the center and sew them together. Velcro is sewn to the edges. Then they sew a voluminous muzzle of any animal. The parts are cut out, sewn together, filled with synthetic padding, rustling fabric and sewn to the bracelet. Then the nose, eyes, antennae, and ears are sewn on.

You can make a toy from felt, crocheted or knitted. The main thing is that all the parts are well attached and do not cause allergies in the baby. A child should only be given a toy under the supervision of an adult.