MY VERY OWN baby rattle wooden infant teething toy: Cleaning, Care, Questions

Product Information and Care: Frequently Asked Questions
MY VERY OWN® Rattle - More Information, Place Order

MY VERY OWN RATTLE®
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Current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Regulatory Information

Small Batch Manufacturer Registration Number: 018102-032023

Q: How should I clean MY VERY OWN®? Is it sterile?
A: Wiping thoroughly with alcohol (60% minimum concentration) is the preferred method, since it will affect the surface polish much less than water. Alcohol is an effective germicide, much better than "antibacterials", which promote the evolution of resistant strains of bacteria.

      We recommend "drug-store"antiseptic alcohol, which is 70 or 90% alcohol and water. "Hardware-store" alcohol has undesirable additives.

     Rub Rattle firmly with clean cotton cloth moistened with alcohol, let rattle dry thoroughly, and polish vigorously with dry, clean cloth. Once the rattle is thoroughly dry, the rattle is safe for teething.

* Do not use rubbing alcohol, "hardware-store" alcohol, antibacterials, or soap.
* Do not put rattle in oven or otherwise apply heat.
* Do not allow Rattle to soak in water.

New: A very dirty rattle may be cleaned with Ecover brand unscented (or equivalent) dish detergent and rinsed thoroughly in COLD water. The surface will have a soft roughness. Some of the polish may be restored by polishing dry with enough friction to generate some heat.

     Remember, there is no lacquer or wax coating, so the shine of the new rattle will dull with age and exposure to moisture and chewing (it is a teething toy, after all). If the rattle gets wet, it may have a soft velvety roughness, which a baby does not mind, and is not a problem.

     In its sealed package, MY VERY OWN® is as clean as the inside of a tree -- probably cleaner, since much heat is generated in the manufacturing process when it is polished.

Q: Isn't it too big and heavy? What if baby hits himself?
A: This is mostly a question of baby's age. The most important thing is the child's level of neuromotor maturity.
     We have seen children as young as 4 months with sufficient motor control to enjoy MY VERY OWN^® Rattle. We have also seen healthy babies who did not mature to this level until ten months, who as adults make more money than we do.
     If the child has good control of his arms and hands, he won't hit himself. If he does so accidentally, he may be startled, but no harm is done, and something will be learned.
     Healthy babies do not deliberately injure themselves. The most important thing is the child's level of neuromotor maturity. If he has good control of his arms and hands, he won't hit himself. If he does so accidentally, he may be startled, may even cry, but no harm is done, and something will be learned. See http://www.loewenton.org/ratl2a.htm for a more in-depth explanation.

Q: Will it come apart, especially if it gets wet?
A: MY VERY OWN® Rattle is made from a single piece of wood, so it can't come apart.
Water will not hurt the Rattle. Moisture, however, will dull the polish of the new rattle. There is no lacquer, wax, or oil - the shine is just very fine sanding.
     Do not soak the rattle! It will not come apart, but will need to be dried slowly to prevent cracking.

Q: Do babies like it? It's just plain wood. Babies like bright colors.
A: The experience of MY VERY OWN® 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 OWN(R)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.

MY VERY OWN^® Rattle meets or exceeds all relevant standards for safety, and has been laboratory tested for import into Europe (CE Certified). It is on the CPSC small batch manufacturers registry, and is exempt from batch testing for lead and phthalates since it is made entirely from an unmodified, naturally grown material.

A FEW (MORE!) WORDS ABOUT RATTLE SIZE, RATTLE WEIGHT, AND INFANT AGE:
Isn't it too big for a baby? what if a baby hits himself? Etc. Etc.

Please note that we still recommend
MY VERY OWN®RATTLE
for infants FIVE MONTHS OLD AND OLDER.
And we still say:
"REMOVE RIBBON (AND DISCARD IT
OR PUT IT AWAY FOR SAFEKEEPING !!)
BEFORE GIVING RATTLE TO BABY !!"

MY VERY OWN® Rattle meets or exceeds all relevant standards for safety, both
Federally mandated and voluntary, and has been laboratory tested for import into Europe (CE Certified). MY VERY OWN® Rattle is an uncoated, unfinished natural wood product, and so is exempted from the testing requirements under CPSIA 2008. More details on Federally required testing for lead and phthalates...

Current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Regulatory Information

1) Small Batch Manufacturer Registration Number: 018102-032023
2)

The perfect gift for baby showers, maternity, baptism, christening, new baby. Moms and Dads will appreciate this classic heirloom toy. Also a great gift for Christmas, Easter, Hannukkah. Smart parents want natural wood for teething.