Rattle and Teether Guide

Baby loves to jump! He got a new Johnny Jump Up from his Nana which has been a lifesaver! I also got him some new toys.

Teethers and rattles have a big impact on development as your baby's first toy, enhancing hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skills.

1. Color
Very young babies like high-contrast visuals. Help your child learn to focus by moving a rattle from side to side in front of his face, letting his eyes track the movement of the toy.
2. Texture
Look for rattles and teethers that provide different materials to experience, from squishy to solid, rough to smooth, hard to soft. Make sure they are easily washable.
3. Sound
Your child will learn the principle of cause and effect by shaking a rattle. At first, he'll be surprised by the noise when he moves a rattle, but soon he'll delight in being able to make the sound himself.
4. Size, Shape and Weight
Rattles for 3-to-6-month-olds should be simple easy-to-grasp shapes. By six months, babies like more interesting shapes and sizes, but keep them lightweight so tiny hands don't miss their aim or lose their grip.

What You'll Love
In addition to all the fun of exploring rattles and shakers, your baby will also be mastering basic fine-motor skills: grasping, reaching, letting go and twisting his wrist. Transferring a rattle from one hand to the other also helps develop eye-hand coordination.
The Basics
Very young babies do best with simple shapes that they can grasp easily. And since children need hands-on experience to learn about the world, provide an assortment of brightly colored rattles that engage all of his senses.
The Extras
By the time your child is 6 months, he'll be able to appreciate the vast array of toys that shake, rattle and roll, with sounds that range from basic rattles and squeaks to electronic devices with a myriad of noises.