Frequently Asked Questions about MY VERY OWNŽ Rattle
Back to previous page

Q:  Isn't it too big and heavy?  What if baby hits himself?
A:  This is mostly a question of baby's age.  At 5 months, most babies have the coordination to control the rattle.  Healthy babies do not deliberately injure themselves.

Q:  Will it come apart, especially if it gets wet?
A:  MY VERY OWNŽ Rattle is made from a single piece of wood, so it can't come apart. Water will not hurt the Rattle.

Q:  Is it sterile?  How can I clean it?
A:  It is as sterile as the inside of a tree -- probably more so, since much heat is generated in the manufacturing process.  It is more nearly sterile than most other objects in a five-month-old's environment.   It may be washed in warm water, or wiped down with alcohol, which will evaporate.  We do not recommend soap.

Q:  Do babies like it?  It's just plain wood.  Babies like bright colors.
A:  The experience of MY VERY OWNŽ Rattle is primarily tactile, not just for babies, but even for adults. Pick one up and feel it. See what we mean? Older babies (around 10 months and up) enjoy watching the rings as they move them.  Infants prefer MY VERY OWNŽ Rattle because of the textural complexity.  The appeal of the Rattle for an infant is only partially visual, which is why color or the lack of it is not an issue.  Since most adults live in a world which is almost exclusively visual and auditory, they (both infant development professionals and the lay public) tend to neglect tactile sensory development.  The moving rings and complex textures encourage tactile learning, which doesn't always get the emphasis it deserves in a child's development.