The 10 Best Baby Rattles
This wiki has been updated 22 times since it was first published in March of 2018. In addition to providing entertainment, some toys can actually help your child develop more quickly by strengthening their motor skills and teaching them about object permanence. To get your baby on the right track, we’ve chosen a range of rattles designed to encourage cognitive growth while being fun, too. Just remember to always supervise appropriately for a safe playtime. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Fisher-Price Rattle 'n Rock Maracas
2. The First Years Rattle
3. Skip Hop Rainstick
Editor's Notes
April 13, 2020:
These baby rattles can provide hours of entertainment for infants, thanks to their colorful designs and interesting sounds, and each can also help develop a little one’s motor skills and teach them about object permanence. Some, like the Kids Preferred Very Hungry Caterpillar and The First Years Rattle, can also double as teething toys.
We felt the list wouldn’t be complete without a set of feet rattles, so today we added in the Babychino Foot & Wrist, which includes noise-making socks that are fun for little ones as they lie and discover their feet. They come in a set of four, and the footwear and arm bands all feature highly contrasting colors and are decorated with smiling backyard bugs. In addition to their rattling sounds, the butterflies feature fun crinkly wings.
We also added in the Skip Hop Rainstick for anyone who feels traditional rattles can become a little, well, rattling on the nerves. This one produces the gentle, calming sound of a rainforest. It’s topped with a plush, smiling cloud along with bright ribbons for tactile play, and its base is adorned with a gray squeaky ball. The see-through handle is curved for an easy grip, and is filled with multicolored beads. It replaces the Oball Rollin’ Rainstick, which also makes the sounds of a soothing rain shower but which can be a bit cumbersome for little hands to hold.
The Fisher-Price Rattle 'n Rock Maracas stay in the number one spot on the list, as these have a lot to offer. They come in a package of two and are the perfect size for little hands to hold, with vibrant handles and intriguing patterns on the top, along with a clear compartment in the base that holds colorful beads. Another feature-packed choice you can’t go wrong with is the Playgro Clip Clop Activity, which sports a peek-a-boo saddle, cheery click-clack beads, and hooves that offer an attention-grabbing mirror and crinkly material. Its thin handle is comfortable for small hands, and it comes in your choice of blue or pink.
Also leaving the list today is the Manhattan Toy Classic Baby Beads which, although it’s colorful, doesn’t seem to have enough to hold the focus of some little ones. No matter which rattle you select for your child, always supervise them for a safe playtime.
Special Honors
Fifi Fawn Knit Baby Ring This sensory toy is the perfect way to round out a baby shower gift, and it features a wooden O-ring for hours of fun and learning. Its fabric face and the ring’s cover are made from 100% knit cotton that’s been crocheted by hand – including cute pointy ears and a flower on the head. It measures six inches in length and is also available in bunny, cat, llama, zebra, and lion designs. elegantbaby.com
Lace Pom Pom Rattle Socks Featuring one pink and one black pair, this cute footwear aids in developing sensory skills for infants by way of sound and touch. They feature nonslip, grippy bottoms and are safe for the washing machine and dryer. Their soft, stretchable cotton material stays put nicely on babies’ feet. They come in an attractive gift box. waddleandfriends.com
4. Babychino Foot & Wrist
5. Playgro Clip Clop Activity
6. Sassy Flip and Grip
7. Bearington Baby Lil' Spout Elephant Plush Ring
8. Green Toys Twist
9. Kids Preferred Very Hungry Caterpillar
10. VTech Baby Adora-birdie
Karen Bennett lives in Chicago with her family, and when she’s not writing, she can usually be found practicing yoga or cheering on her kids at soccer games. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s in English, and her writing has been published in various local newspapers, as well as “The Cheat Sheet,” “Illinois Legal Times,” and “USA Today.” She has also written search engine news page headlines and worked as a product manager for a digital marketing company. Her expertise is in literature, nonfiction, textbooks, home products, kids' games and toys, hardware, teaching accessories, and art materials.