Toy News Magazine

Sophie la Giraffe

Some History
Sophie La Giraffe has been a favourite teething toy in France for more than 40 years. Since her creation in 1961, Sophie the Giraffe has been loved by over 10 million babies, and their parents, with her natural beauty and charm. Currently, 6 out of 10 new born babies are given their own Sophie La Giraffe. This handmade teether toy is flexible, soft and safe.

Value for money
There’s no arguing that at £9.95, Sophie La Giraffe is more expensive than the other teething toys, but it is hard to find a similar toy to make a comparison. It’s quite unique in material and design. While it is just like a classic teether, designed to soothe sore gums, it’s also meant to stimulate the senses with texture and sound.

Out of the Box
It’s packaged hygienically in tight shrink wrap which, while it is hard to get off, reassures us that it has never been tampered with. As well as the toy, in the box there is a little fold-out booklet of ‘Sophie’s story’ which is translated into several languages. First impression is how soft and good the toy feels. The company, Vulli, has kept the closely-guarded secret of how Sophie is made. All we know is it is “traditionally produced” using more than 14 manual manufacturing steps. The teether is made using renewable, natural rubber materials and non-toxic paint so is phthalate-free and contains no vinyl or PVC.

Playability
The rubber it is made out of is really soft to the touch, but the horns, ears, and feet are harder and more sturdy., giving baby different textures to chew on. The giraffe shape also gives baby a variety of ways to hold and chew on Sophie. Unlike other baby toys our intrepid 12month old reporter, Katie, has tried, it was easy for her to make Sophie squeak, and the noise also got her attention even when she was crying.

Longevity
Well teething only lasts a short time (which all parents are grateful for!) but the toy will survive much longer. As with many of Katie’s toys, her pet pooch eventually got hold of it. However, when it was wrestled off him – it wasn’t damaged and had it withstood his teeth too! Sophie as a character is almost 50 years old, and Sophie the toy could last a long time in the hands of any toddler.

Pricing and Availability
Sophie is just £9.95 from Green Child of Mine.

Summary
As a teether, Sophie is slender and easy to grip, soft and easy to chew, and completely safe – what more can a parent as for? Whether you view her as retro or classic, Sophie’s style has ensured that she has remained fashionable for over 48 years and will probably be around for a lot longer.