The 12 Best Baby Rattles for Little Movers and Shakers

Baby rattles are the ultimate classic toy—they’ve literally been around for thousands of years. But what makes rattles such a timeless choice for babies? For starters, the captivating “rattle” sounds stimulate baby’s auditory senses and help teach them about cause and effect. But the sensory play doesn’t stop there, brightly colored baby rattles with plenty of textures are endlessly fascinating to infants exploring the world through physical touch. Rattles can also strengthen your child’s motor skills as they reach for, grab and eventually shake the toys independently.

Ready to shake things up? Keep reading to discover expert tips on what to look for in a baby rattle—then browse a few of our favorite options to introduce to playtime.

When Can Baby Play With a Rattle Toy?

According to Alexis Philips-Walker, DO, a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics in Atascocita, Texas, you can introduce a rattle once baby has transitioned out of the newborn stage. In fact, baby’s hearing is fully-developed by month one and they may even turn their head towards familiar sounds, such as their favorite rattle. With that said, baby won’t be able to grip a rattle until they can open and close their fists (usually around the two-month mark). For an accurate gauge on whether a rattle is appropriate and safe for baby’s developmental stage, check the manufacturer age guidelines and read our expert-approved tips below.

Choosing the Right Rattle

There’s an abundance of baby rattles on the market, but before you rush out and buy any old toy, read up on the key considerations to keep top of mind.

Safety considerations

Anything you’ll be purchasing for your peanut to play with—especially when they’re a newborn—should be screened for safety. Below find the top three safety considerations to bear in mind when shopping for a baby rattle:

• Wear-and-tear. Before handing a new toy over, check for signs of wear and tear as well as missing or broken parts. “Make sure the rattle is not worn and doesn’t have chips (paint or wood flaking off), rough edges or even parts that could break off and pose a choking risk,” advises Phillips-Walker. While hand-me-down toys are a great way to save money, it’s best to buy rattles new as older iterations may be worn down and may not conform to modern safety standards.
• Size. Remember, baby is liable to put anything (and everything) in their mouth. So when it comes to size, check that the baby rattle is at least two inches in diameter, in order to minimize choking hazards. Large cumbersome rattles may be too heavy for baby to grip and lift, so try to find a middle ground in terms of size.
• Age-appropriate. Always check the manufacturer’s recommended age-range to determine whether a toy is deemed safe for your child’s age bracket. Typically, young infants will benefit from a simple rattle in high-contrast colors, whereas older children may enjoy something a little more interactive and engaging.

Key features that aid healthy development

Beyond reading the manufacturer age guidelines, consider baby’s developmental level and key milestones when seeking out the best rattle toy.

• High-contrast colors: For the first few months, infants view the world in shades of black, white and gray. With this in mind, Philips-Walker likes to introduce newborns to rattles with a high-contrast pattern (think: black, white and red), as they aid visual development and stimulate a baby’s brain growth. Try holding the rattle in front of baby and move it from side to side in gentle configurations, to encourage visual tracking. At the 3 month mark, baby begins to see in color and may enjoy rattles that feature bright primary colors. Between 5 to 8 months, color vision is fully developed so feel free to meet them where they are with rattles in an array of bright, exciting colors.
• Sensory elements: For infants under 6 months old, stick to rattles with limited sensory intrigue. Instead of lights and loud musical elements, look for baby rattles featuring crinkly fabric, pull tabs, poppable buttons or built-in squeakers that make a sound when pressed. A soft shaker filled with beads is enough to stimulate baby’s auditory senses, but for an extra-layer of intrigue try a rattle with bells that create a jingle or chime sound.
• Easy to grasp: Rattles are designed to be held and shaken by babies, but some are easier for little hands to grip. For frustration-free play, opt for a rattle with an elongated handle or a textured handle that’s easy to grasp.
• Interactive features: According to Alexis-Philips, slightly older babies—between 6 to 9 months—are sharpening their motor skills and may prefer rattles with buttons, music and lights that they can activate on command.
• Teething friendly. Where possible, opt for a rattle that’s safe for baby to gum on. “From ages 9 to 12 months, babies are actively teething and putting everything in their mouths, so rattles need to be able to handle aggressive chewing,” explains Phillips-Walker. Our advice? Look for teethers made from BPA-free and non-toxic materials. Options with a textured, bumpy surface also provide a great tactile experience and a gentle way for baby to massage their sore gums.

A note on sensory overload: Rattle play is a great thing and features that captivate baby’s attention are especially noteworthy, but there’s a fine line between sensory enrichment and sensory overload. With that in mind, Philips-Walker advises parents to manage the intensity and duration of sensory play with a rattle. “When it [sensory overload] happens, babies will send signals to parents such as being difficult to calm or console, crying continuously, becoming very fussy and irritable, shutting down and tensing the body,” states Philips-Walker.

The Best Baby Rattles

Ready to get moving on the baby rattle front? We’re here to help! Using all of Phillips-Walker’s advice, plus our own knowledge, we’ve created a list of 12 outstanding rattles guaranteed to grip your little one. From egg shakers to rattle socks (and more!) browse the best baby rattles below.

How We Chose the Best Baby Rattles

We get it—there’s a surplus of toys on the market, making it difficult to determine which playthings are the best fit for your baby. To streamline your decision-making process, our goal is to do the bulk of the research for you, so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling through online retailers. We do this by considering a list of criteria when sourcing baby rattles, including developmental benefits, durability, value and, last but definitely not least, safety. This way you can count on getting the best bang for your buck, while also having a dependable toy that’ll meet your child’s developmental needs.

We referenced baby and toddler safety guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and compared notes about milestone-meeting rattles with a board-certified pediatrician (who also happens to be a parent). We also read user reviews to get the lowdown on how these toys work for families, never considering anything less than an average four-star rating.

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.

Expert sources:

Alexis Phillips-Walker, DO, is a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics in Atascocita, Texas. She earned her medical degree at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens.

AAP, Toy Buying Tips for Babies & Young Children: AAP Report Explained, November 2021