The Best Baby Rattle

Buying Guide

Finding age-appropriate toys for baby can be tricky, especially for first-time parents. Bringing it back to basics is the best way to approach toy buying — and what could be more basic than a rattle? Baby rattles encourage the development of fine motor skills and are one of the very first learning tools you can purchase for your baby. But how do you decide which one to get? Let’s look at all the buzz around the best baby rattles out there.

Why has the baby rattle been a cross-generational toy that never seems to go out of style? Quite simply because they are basic and help baby learn new skills. Before they can hold a rattle, the baby’s eyes are developing, and a rattle can be a tool for them to learn how to track a moving rattle in a parent’s hands. As they progress, baby will be able to reach for the moving rattle and fine-tune their motor skills to be able to grab it. Once they’ve learned to grab the rattle, they will then have to learn to control it or how to pass it to their other hand. In addition, the sound of a rattle is alerting to their sense of hearing. If they hear the rattle sounds, they know to look for it and respond accordingly. You’ll want to be sure to get an age-appropriate rattle for your baby so they do not harm themselves with it.

Baby rattles used to come in one standard shape: a handle with a hollow ball on the end or both ends with some sort of noisemaker inside the ball. Back in the day, rattles were made from wood and made with quite a bit of skill from a craftsman.

Now they are made from all sorts of manufactured materials.  Old fashioned models are made out of wood, while newer models are constructed using plastic. There are even rattles that attach to baby’s wrists or ankles to teach them about body movement. The iconic rattle shape has been a symbol for baby shower favors and a popular print for nursery items and you can still find it in many baby novelty shops.

“Today’s baby rattles are a far cry from the polished silver rattles of yore,” says our parenting expert Kate Desmond. “The rattle category has expanded to include plush, wood, rubber-like chew toys and small blankets. The main thing I look for in a rattle is bright, fun colors in a washable material. I want the item to be something I feel comfortable with my baby chewing on, so look for non-BPA plastic. I also make sure the rattle is going to keep my baby entertained for longer than a minute.”

The baby rattles of old have, however, evolved quite a bit. As developmental psychology studies have surfaced about how much influence the baby rattle has on baby’s development, toy companies have changed the way they look at the rattle to accommodate baby’s growing brain. Nowadays, baby rattles feature all sorts of fancy gadgets. Some are designed with multiple vibrant colors and have a tube with tiny balls inside that rattle when you shake them. Others feature not only a rattle but also shaped rings that can move along the handles for sensory movements. Some rattles are even hidden inside little stuffed animals that are designed with countless sensory features. Others double as a cute clip-on rattle for car seats or baby play mats. They may have fun crinkle parts, jingle bells for the rattle noise and rings that entertain even the youngest of babies either on the go or as a toy around the house.

Something to really consider before buying a baby rattle is sanitizing the product. Babies will put these toys in their mouths, drool on them and drop them, so cleaning them is inevitable. Plastic rattles are the easiest to clean with just some hot soapy water. The fabric toys may need to be hand washed or put in a pillowcase and run through the wash. But remember, if your fabric toys have any electronic devices in them, you cannot put them in the laundry.

Also consider a baby rattle with an attached strap.

“A must add-on item for your kid’s favorite rattle is a toy strap. These handy simple devices keep rattles and other toys from hitting the pavement when you are on the go. Simply attach to the rattle and then strap to the stroller or baby carrier, and the toy will never be out of reach or hit the dirty floor,” says Desmond.

Baby rattles are not just a fun little gadget, they encourage brain development and help babies tune their fine motor skills as they grow through the many stages of their first year.

• To ensure that the rattle is safe for baby, you’ll want to make sure there are no sharp edges on the rattle, that it is at least 2 inches in diameter and lightweight.
• Find age-appropriate rattles by checking the description of the rattle before buying.
• Look for a rattle with lots of stimulating features such as textures, different sounds to the touch, and bright colors to encourage your child to interact.
• Never accept a used rattle as you don’t know the extent of any damage done to it and it could pose a risk to your baby.