One of the oldest toys that one could get for a baby is a rattle. Rattles are beneficial to babies in many different ways. Chief among them is that they teach motor skills and coordination. In addition to that, the noise coming from the rattle, whether it’s one that is bean filled, or one that plays musical sounds, stimulates baby’s hearing. One of the ways that it teaches is from those very sounds. The baby wants to hear the sounds again, so they move it and they learn in the process.

Rattles to be sure, are a popular baby gift and they come in a huge variety of shapes, colors and sizes. There are rattles given as gifts that have been in the family for many years, being passed from one generation to the next, typically to the first born baby of each generation, or in some other manner. Baby rattles also have the little one working on their dexterity as they reach and grab for these wonderful toys when they want something to play with, or that makes noise.

Baby rattles are by far and away the most affordable and useful toys that you could get for a baby. They are indeed considered to be one of the first learning toys that a baby will ever use.

When your baby is in his or her crib, adding too many stuffed toys can not only be uncomfortable, but it can also actually create a safety hazard for the child. This is especially true when the child is an infant and they aren’t able to move themselves around much yet. In this case, rather than overloading the child’s bed, or even the playpen with a bunch of stuffed toys, then an assortment of baby rattles will fit the bill nicely. The rattles along with teething toys will keep the baby occupied and actually will stimulate a little learning by the child on his or her own.

Many people may wonder as to how a rattle can teach. The answer to that one is simple. There is a great deal to be learned by your baby with the use of baby rattles. Dexterity is one. The baby, when the rattle is out of reach will attempt to grab the rattle. This involves not only the use of the hands and the arms, but when the baby isn’t able to reach what he is grabbing for, then he or she will try to move to get it. Before you know it your baby will be rolling over and crawling to get to what it is they want to have. (This also becomes a dangerous time – make sure the house is baby-proofed!)

Baby rattles do not have to be the traditional ones that we think of that we get from the store. Nearly anything that is safe for your baby to handle can be turned into a baby rattle. The whole point of it is that they can grip it and that it makes noise as they move it. Many times, storage container sets come with very small bowls that are easily handled by a baby. You can put something in this and seal it tightly then give it to your baby to play with. You would be surprised at how much enjoyment can come from such a thing. It will keep the child occupied for quite a while!