Baby Rattles

Rattles arrive in all different shapes and might look like animals, keys, flowers or musical instruments. Many rattles make noises and sounds when they are shaken. These sounds can range from the dull sounds typical of wooden rattles to jingling or bell type sounds from metal rattles.

Many rattles also have other textures that provide sounds like crinkling noises. Rattles are not just a source of entertainment for a baby to play with. They can help to teach babies many new skills. When parents or caregivers hold a rattle up, babies might first look at the rattle with their eyes. If a parent moves the rattle from one side to the other, babies learn to visually track, or coordinate their eyes together to watch a moving toy.