10 Best Baby Rattles Reviewed & Rated in 2024
Lianna Tedesco
Keep your smiling baby engaged and entertained with a rattle. In addition to being a fun toy, rattles are highly beneficial to your child’s cognitive development. Rattles come in all shapes, sizes, and are made of different materials. To help keep you from feeling overwhelmed in an aisle full of baby toys we created a list of the ten best baby rattles on the market. Paying attention to the materials, handles, and special features as you read through our list will help you pick out the perfect rattle for your child. You and your baby will be “shaking it” in no time.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 16 hrs of research
Comes with two rattles
Helps promote inference skills
Addresses three out of five senses
Encourages music-making
Exposes your baby to textural differences
10 Best Baby Rattles Reviewed
1. Fisher-Price Maracas
Comes with two rattles
Helps promote inference skills
Addresses three out of five senses
Encourages music-making
Exposes your baby to textural differences
Caution should be exercised during playtime since one side of this rattle is very hard plastic
These Maracas are so much fun that your baby will be shaking and dancing in no time! While they expand their music skills and practice hand-eye coordination, that is. The top half of the Maraca is easily squeezed and feels soft to the touch while the bottom is hard and smooth, which allows them to gain textual insight into their toy. This will also pose a question to them: Where is the sound coming from? As they dive deeper into their developing problem-solving skills, they'll begin to learn that sound comes from the bottom of the toy. As they inspect their new toy even further, they'll discover that the noise is coming from tiny beads in the bottom of the Maraca, which will be confirmation of that "aha!" moment as their inference skills grow.
Read moreDesign
This is a brand that you will definitely recognize as well as a product that you've probably seen more than once. As far as traditional toys get, this is one that every parent should have in their arsenal. Maracas are often the first introduction to "musical" instruments that kids will get because they're easy and fun. This Maraca-style rattle features a soft, fabric top with a hard plastic shaker at the bottom.
Age Range
With a soft top and easy-to-grip base, this rattle is suitable for children ages three months and up. There are no external pieces to create choking hazards so you can rest easy when your child is playing with the Rattle N’ Rock Maraca.
Safety
The soft top is perfect for babies who haven’t fully mastered the technique of grasping. If they accidentally drop the maraca it will not hurt them if it hits them. With only three beads inside each rattle, these toys produce a soft but entertaining sound. If you find that these rattles need to be cleaned, simply toss them in the washer machine. The fabric dries quickly, thus your baby can get back to making music in no time.
2. Lamaze Mortimer The Moose
Works for almost all the five senses
Produces a variety of sounds
Will peak a child's curiosity and interest
Plenty of textural differences
Great for travel
It can be challenging to wash with so many textures
There's no denying it -- Mortimer is one of the most perfect baby toys we've found for triggering nearly every sense that your baby has. With five difference sensory-targeting features, there's no way this toy can lead to boredom. There are plenty of different textural, visual, and auditory differents that are seen on this toy and all of them serve a purpose. This is the type of toy that would be excellent for restless babies who seem to lose interest in average toys quickly because Mortimer is anything but an ordinary moose.
Read moreDesign
Let's start at Mortimer's head and work our way down. His trademark moose antlers are intended for teething purposes since they're semi-firm and provide a flat, safe, and non-toxic space for your baby to bite down on. Following that, you'll find a clip attached to Mortimer's back that allows parents to clip this toy to the handle of a stroller, a diaper bag strap, or even a car seat.
His feet serve a purpose as well; each leg has been knotted to add textural interest as well as visual interest with the introduction of various fabric patterns on each hoof. In his stomach, babies will be delighted to find that it actually squeaks! This is great for auditory listening and improvement of your baby's audio skills. Lastly, Mortimer has rings for a tail that make this toy a "rattler" of sorts. When knocked together, they make somewhat of a "clack-clack" sound, which is interesting and different.
Age Range
Mortimer is most popular with babies around 3-5 months of age. He comes with a soft, plush body and cloth extremities that infants love, plus his antlers are teething toys! You’ll want to make sure Baby isn’t throwing this too hard given the plastic antlers but it’s pretty durable.
Safety
With no small parts, your baby is safe to enjoy adventures with Mortimer. Composed of super soft fabric, he is even great for cuddling.
3. Sassy Flip and Grip
Lightweight
Stimulates development & encourages visual exploration
Rattle sound is soft
Easy to clean
Drool or water may get trapped inside the clear sphere
Get more bang for your buck with the 2 count Sassy Flip and Grip Rattles.
Read moreDesign
The rattles included in this set are designed with a U-shaped handle and a clear sphere that is filled with beads. Furthermore, inside the clear sphere is an object that spins. With only four beads in each rattle, the sound is soft and will not scare your baby. The high contrasting colors will help develop your baby’s eyesight. The spinning object inside the rattle encourages visual exploration and object tracking. The soft textured handles make it easy for your baby to grasp these lightweight rattles.
Age Range
Designed with a variety of textures, this toy is suitable for newborns. Parents report that even around the seven month mark, their children still showed interest in this rattle. What infant doesn’t love a little noise-maker?
Safety
They are BPA and paint free, thus your child is safe if they place these toys in their mouth. The rubber material on the handles and the plastic sphere makes them super easy to clean.
4. Oball Shaker by Oball
Suitable as a teething toy
Clear exterior engages visual learning
Both ends are able to be gripped
The sound is even and clear
Much more traditional rattle-style
The sound is not very loud
Oball has taken a modern spin on the traditional rattle and designed something that looks like the shape of a rattle but contains beads in the center rather than at either end. This futuristic rattle has one cool feature that your baby will love: A clear exterior! That means that not only will they hear what's going on inside but they'll be able to see it too. If you're thinking that this toy looks a little futuristic and complicated, don't worry -- It's as simple as can be and quite traditional in nature.
Read moreDesign
These gridded spheres are easy to grab onto and very easy for babies to hold, shake, and play with. It provides a place for them to put their fingers and have a firm grasp on their toy while they figure out exactly what it is and spend time exploring where this interesting sound is coming from. By not having these beads encased in a solid-colored chamber, babies are able to peek inside and see exactly what is making that noise. This encourages visual learning as well as auditory learning allowing babies to draw connections between the two.
Age Range
Parents mention giving this to their children when they start to grasp, so around three months of age. Both ends are teethable and flexible so you’ll be glad you have this around during the teething stages!
Safety
This toy also doubles as a teething toy. It's BPA-free which makes it non-toxic and safe for those days when your baby seems to be putting everything in their mouth.
5. O Ball 1-Piece Roll Car
Grippable for tiny hands
Teething-proof
Encourages movement
Easy to clean with a baby wipe
The rattle noise is not overwhelming
There's no guarantee you'll receive cars in the color of your choosing
Everyone loves car toys, right? Right! This toy specifically targets motion and movement (since it is a car, after all) and encourages babies to get up and move around. The wheels on the bottom help to propel this car forward and backward but also have a surprise -- They also function as the "rattle" part of the toy!
Read moreDesign
Tiny beads inside help to produce noise every time the car is moved to encourage continuous movement. This is excellent for babies who are just learning how to crawl and need a little bit of extra motivation. Of course, the toy can be shaken with being rolled as well which makes it appropriate for any babies over the age of three months. Its gridded top allows for easy gripping and helps babies with their hand-eye coordination since this toy is fairly big compared to other rattlers. These have the extra-added bonus of making that classic rattler sound that you'd expect while looking flashy, something your little one will love.
Age Range
Bright Stars recommends these cute little cars for children ages three months and over. Since these mini automobiles actually roll and pop the little balls around the wheels, this toy tends to hold the interest of infants longer than some other rattles.
Safety
This car is appropriate for teething and will provide a semi-hard surface for your baby's teething needs. It's non-toxic, making it safe and helpful for encouraging teeth to break the surface.
6. Skip Hop Egg Shaker Trio
Free from harmful materials
Textured tummy patterns
Easy to hold for little hands
Three rattles per pack
Three unique woodland creature designs
Some parents were expecting more diversity in sound between the three rattles
The Skip Hop Egg Shaker Trio includes three darling little woodland friends that each make their own unique sound when you rattle them. This set features a fox, owl, and hedgehog. They’re designed to be easy to hold, even in clumsy little hands. It’s a simple but effective design, as it’s all one piece and pretty durable.
Read moreDesign
Kids love bright colors and varied textures. Skip Hop presents a red, white, and blue fox, a brown, blue, green, and orange owl, and a blue, white, and orange hedgehog. The bodies of these animals are mostly smooth and made from a durable plastic that is easy to wipe down, but their bellies feature a rubber, textured pattern as well. The company does not recommend submerging these in water.
Age Range
This rattle set is intended for children three months of age or older. Bright colors and playful textures attract tiny hands and eyes! And alright, yes, sometimes their mouths too. But there are no small pieces to present choking hazards.
Safety
These little movers and shakers are all PVC-free and phthalate-free. There’s no lead in these and they’re large and one solid piece so you don’t have to worry about children teething off limbs or dangly bits and choking.
7. VTech Baby Sing Puppy
Babies will not get bored easily with this toy
It sings, talks, and lights up
Each ring varies in texture and shape
The ears provide a contrasting sound
It's suitable for kids up to two years of age
The songs and phrases can be a bit loud or overwhelming for a young baby
VTech appeals to a wide variety of ages and this toy appeals to a wide array of senses and areas of learning. This is one smart puppy that has plenty to teach your growing baby. The adorable puppy dog face will have your child excited to play with their rattle. With all of the cool features, this toy has to offer, you won’t need to buy multiple rattles to keep your child’s attention. In fact, it is highly durable thus your little one can enjoy it until they grow out of it. If the rattle does not continue to shake, it will eventually shut itself off which is great for when your baby falls asleep with it.
Read moreDesign
Each level of this toy has a different texture and visual appeal which keeps babies interested visually. As far as auditory stimulation, this toy is battery-operated and features over 20 different songs for babies to listen to and even sing along with. On either side of this adorable puppy's head, you'll find ears that are crinkly and produce yet another sound to contrast with the melodies and songs that this toy sings. The fun doesn't end there, though. This smart puppy also knows phrases and sounds and even has coordinating lights in order to further engage your baby and hold their attention for hours at a time
Age Range
The VTech Baby Rattle and Sing is appropriate for children between 3 months and 2 years of age. Its interactive features keep toddlers engaged where other, less sophisticated rattles, may lose their interest. It is a little louder than a normal rattle though, so make sure you’re prepared to hear it going off when Baby is playing.
Safety
The plastic material makes it easy for you to keep germs at bay as you can wipe this rattle clean after every use.
8. Skip Hop Explore and More Roll Around Hedgehog
Interesting design
Safe for teething purposes
Large enough to hold onto
Encourages movement during playtime
The beads can be slid back and forth
It's very top-heavy and won't sit upright
Hedgehogs are cute and so is your baby, so this is a match made in heaven! In all seriousness, this is a toy that's great for encouraging movement via the use of sound.
Read moreDesign
If there's one thing babies love, it's cute toys. This hedgehog by Skip Hop is designed to encourage movement and motion in babies while providing an appropriate relief from teething as well as an auditory stimulant. With so many holes throughout this toy, it's very easy for babies to grab and hold onto. This makes playtime fun and engaging as they figure out different ways to hold and roll around their new ball.
Age Range
Intended for children that have reached three months of age or older, the Skip Hop Roll Around Hedgehog is a great toy when little ones start to teethe thanks to its rubberized texture. The friendly face also makes this a favorite amongst young toddlers.
Safety
When it's a teething day, babies can safely chew on this toy without worry of it being toxic or containing anything harmful.
9. The First Years
Visually appealing
Sounds are not harsh
Its round design encourages hand-eye coordination
Can be washed easily in a machine or with soap and water
It's okay for teething
Some parents think it's a bit pricey for such a simple toy
It's simple yet the perfect solution to your baby's first real toy. Not only would this make a great first rattle, but it's in the running for being a favorite toy of newborns as well.
Read moreDesign
Finally, we have a toy that's simple yet effective for newborn babies. The My First Rattle by The First Years is exactly what it sounds like and is designed in plushie form. The rattling inside this toy is subtle yet captivating for a newborn and each color is vibrant and bright, encouraging visual focus while they explore their new toy. It's an understated yet popular toy for newborns since it will engage their focus without becoming overwhelming
Age Range
The First Years Rattle can be given to infants of any age, though they seem to interact with it best when they’re around three months old. It’s soft and has two different fabric textures to stimulate your little one.
Safety
Plush toys such as this are so popular because there's no risk of a child hurting themselves if they accidentally bang it against an arm, leg, or even their head.
10. Bright Starts Grab and Spin
Three-in-one toy
Good for teething purposes
Great for traveling
Easily cleaned
Targets various areas of learning and sensory function
There are no soft parts of this toy and no textural differences
Whoa, what is this contraption? We weren't kidding when we said that rattles were becoming more and more advanced and you'll find that many are more of a two-in-one or three-in-one type of toy, such as this one. This Grab and Spin Rattle actually has three separate components that function as one solid toy.
Read moreDesign
The first side, which is probably the most obvious, is the actual rattle. Inside, there are tiny beads that will produce a sound when shaken. On the sides, your baby will find that these indentations are great for teething and are intended for such purposes as well, making it a great option for when those stubborn teeth start coming in. Lastly, the rings around the handles of this toy are designed to engage in visual learning and hand-eye coordination as your baby learns how to slide them around, one by one.
Age Range
The Bright Starts Grab and Spin Rattle is great for children around 3-5 months of age. They seem to age out of it a little as they get older and have moved on by the 10 month mark. This is an inventive take on a spherical rattle and combines several stages of learning as well as one growth stage to produce a toy that's relatively genius.
Safety
When it comes to finding a toy that's safe for teething but also engages your child in playtime and learning, this is a front-runner. Each side serves a specific purpose and will encourage a new aspect of learning in your baby.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Design
Rattles are a somewhat misleading newborn toy -- In the best way possible, that is. While they began as something to simply grab the attention of a child and provide them a toy that was as stimulating as it was interesting to look at, they've grown into much more than that. Studies have shown that toys that are heavy in the sound, visual, and texture categories are great for improving sensory skills and encouraging babies to do more exploring. With one shake of a rattle, your baby has multiple things going on inside their brain. For starters, their attention is being directed to the direction of the noise they've made. Following that, their focus will be completely on the rattle in question, narrowing their attention span down to what's right in front of them. Once they've focused, their inquisitive nature takes over and they begin the process of sensory learning where they'll continue shaking the rattle, observe it, or make the decision that it's uninteresting. All of these things help to further the development of your baby and toys are often the first thing that will jumpstart their curiosity and encourage active play time. In order to find the best ways to do this, we first had to seek out the best rattles with a reputation. Furthermore, no one wants a boring toy! At least, this is what pushed us to begin the journey through the expansive world that is baby rattles. We immediately discarded those that were boring, colorless, and didn't have a crisp and clear sound when shaken. This was probably the easier part of the process because we used our knowledge of commonly known toy brands in order to weed out what was worth it and what wasn't, which led us to a solid group to choose from.
Age Range
Finding toys that were developmentally appropriate for your child's age range was highly important to us. We've already established that babies learn cognition and improve mental stimulation by playing with a rattle, but what about the physical benefits? There are a few more processes going on deep within your baby's brain and many of them are coordinating with their physical abilities. By grabbing onto a rattle, your baby is learning to grasp something -- This is strengthening their hand and finger muscles, allowing for dexterity to take over and encourage muscle growth. They'll very quickly become aware of their ability to reach out and hold things in addition to the ability to shake and move them. Rattles encourage this through the sense of sound which is what engages babies to begin with. Their visual senses are also being engaged when they shake a toy and need to focus on it in order to track motion, which improves their depth perception as well. When all of these processes come together they can be highly beneficial in setting your baby on a great path toward skill development. The connection that happens when a baby realizes an object is making noise and when they realize they're responsible for it is a key factor in making an inference. This is a form of problem-solving and encourages them to process what's happening in such a way that they're forced to draw the connection. By repeated shaking of the toy at hand, they'll hear a noise. After hearing this noise, their natural curiosity will prompt them to shake their toy again and if they hear the same noise, the inference will be confirmed that they're responsible for making it. This is an excellent way to encourage basic learning skills and push your baby to act on instinct because this is how they learn. In the process of solving the mystery noise, they'll also be improving their hand-eye coordination which is something babies are never too young to work on. Vibrant colors can be a huge part of learning for babies who are several months old. By this point, bright colors are more intriguing than they are overwhelming and they're past the stage where monotones help them to focus. Vibrant, flashy colors can help to draw their attention and hold it while they discover all the things their new toy can do. Additionally, shapes are a great way to help your baby with their sensory skills. Geometric differences are interesting and prompt their curiosity and these go hand in hand with textile differences as well. Your baby is still very much engaged by their sense of touch at this point and will use that to its full extent. Differences in silicone, rubber, or plastic will send messages back to their brain about what type of toy this is, how it feels, what it does, and will encourage their memory skills as well. All of these things aid in knowledge absorption which is huge in the way of learning.
Safety
Of course, any toy for a baby must be safe when you know it'll probably end up in their mouths at some point. Therefore, all of the rattles that made it to our list needed to be 100%-certified safe and non-toxic. This proved to be an easy process as well because if there was no guarantee, it was knocked off the list. Through the process of elimination, this helped us to determine what to get rid of rather than what to add and proved helpful in shaping our list in-depth.
Design Age Range Safety 
Baby rattles go back at least 2500 years. The first ones were thought to be made of clay.
If you shake a rattle near your stomach while your baby is in the womb, they will recognize the sound when they are out.
Other Factors to Consider
Portability
When purchasing a rattle, take the size into account. You will want one that can easily be tossed into your diaper bag or attached to your child's stroller.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: How can these be washed?
That's easy! Rattles can be washed with any baby-safe wipes. This is the best way to keep them sanitary because any moisture will dry up quickly, it's fast, safe, and effective.
q: What if my baby is scared after shaking this rattle?
It is a possibility that your baby might not like the sound each rattle makes. This is why finding toys can be a bit of a trial and error process, but don’t fret — There are plenty out there to try. If this happens, simply put the rattle aside and try when your baby is a bit older, or seek out a rattle that’s not too loud or overwhelming.
q: Is there a high chance of this rattle breaking or becoming a choking hazard?
We can understand why that would be a serious concern but rest assured that these rattles have been tested thoroughly. All of the brands listed here are trusted and put forth products that easily stand up to everyday play.
q: What age range are these good for?
Rattles can be great for newborn babies all the way up to two years. After that, some children might begin to lose interest and need more advanced toys to suit their age group.
q: Are any of these useful for teething?
We actually have a separate list for teething products! While these are non-toxic, they're not recommended for the use of teething relief.
q: Is there a certain type of noise I should be looking for with a baby of only three months?
Any noise will likely garner attention from your baby. At that age, anything loud and sudden will distract them, so the type of noise a rattle makes is somewhat irrelevant as long as it’s making noise, period.
Sources
- , Baby Rattles, Informative Article
- , The Best Reasons To Buy Rattles for Babies, Blog Article
- , CHoosing a baby rattle: What to look for when buying a rattle for baby, Online Article
- , How Does a Baby Rattle Help With Cognitive Development?, Informative Article
