Sophie the Giraffe

To date, we have received 3 and purchased 1. They're everywhere and it seems like every baby has one. If your baby doesn't have a Sophie yet, I highly recommend them. Here's the story per the Sophie Giraffe website:

The Little giraffe was born on the 25th of May in the year 1961… St Sophie’s day! In those days, the only animal toys available were farm animal or pet figures. That is why one day in France, a certain Monsieur Rampeau, who was an expert in transforming sap from the Hevea tree using the rotational molding of rubber as a toy-making concept, came up with the idea of designing a giraffe.

Such an exotic wildlife figure would be a first on the market and its size and shape would be ideal for a baby’s small hands to grasp. Sophie the Giraffe, who looked exactly the same then as she does today, went into production on a Thursday, May 25th, whence her name. She was an immediate success.

Young mothers straightaway saw that she was a must for their children when the first signs of teething appear, Sophie the Giraffe helps baby stop crying! By simple word of mouth, the little Giraffe’s fame spread.From then on in Europe, generation upon generation of children were to love hearing Sophie squeak whenever they pressed her tummy and head!Vulli, a company based in Rumilly in the Haute-Savoie Region of France has continued to keep the jealously-guarded secret of how this wonder toy is made. Sophie is still “traditionally” produced to this day, a process that involves more than 14 manual operations. She is made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea Tree. 

They're great! Newborns love the contrast of her spots and teething babies like mine love to chew her. Here's Bay, finally interested in her Sophie, at 3.5 months:

Now, do your baby a favor and try one of these safe, natural toys.