Your baby's first year of life is so precious and this infatuation between parents and baby allow for lifelong bonding to occur. You connect to your baby through soft touch, calming words and play time and your heart melts the first time your baby smiles or laughs. Often the baby first responds to a favorite toy rattle, along with the silly faces of Mom and Dad. Finding a rattle that is safe and makes your baby feel happy may seem like a simple task, but on a day when your baby is irritable and difficult to soothe, a good rattle can be a lifesaver. Babies need stimulation to learn about their environment and ways in which to manipulate it to master new skills. Integrating sound with touch allows the baby to make sense of the world around them and a good rattle encourages them to acquire a very important life skill--entertaining themselves.
What to Look for
As with any baby toy, first make sure it is safe for baby. Rattles with small parts that can come loose simply aren't a good idea. Consider that babies respond to high contrast colors such as black and white, and also like bright colors such as red or orange. All rattles make a variety of sounds, so choose one that will not startle your baby. Soft textures can be fun for your baby and help in learning to integrate sound and touch. As your baby develops, he may be able to handle different sizes and types of rattles, but may tend to gravitate toward a familiar favorite. Some rattles can be worn around the baby's wrist, which is great for sound, but can be hard for the baby to manipulate and see. Other options are teething ring rattles, which most babies like to chew on, so remember safety first. Rattles that are family heirlooms or made of silver may be less fun for your baby to play with and may pose safety hazards. Also be careful to not give baby a hard rattle that might hurt if he hits himself with it; the baby is just learning coordinated movement so a soft rattle is the best option.
Common Pitfalls
Safety is obviously the most important issue in choosing any toy for your baby and since a rattle is frequently one of your baby's first toys, you want to choose it carefully. Sounds can be very stimulating to your baby, so be careful not to give him a rattle that is too loud or that makes an annoying sound. Colors are important but patterns that are too busy can make it hard for your baby to focus. Simple designs, shapes and patterns on rattles are best for babies from birth through age one and into toddler years. Bacteria can grow on rattles, so it is important to give baby a rattle that is washable. Make sure that the size of the rattle is such that the baby can hold it and manipulate it in his hands.
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