Sophie la girafe

From birth, at her best for teething. Sophie has been sold as a baby's first teething toy since 1961, and the appeal is easy to see: natural rubber that is soft enough to gum, plenty of legs, ears and horns to chew on, and a squeak when squeezed. Expect her spots to fade with use; the maker says that is normal for the food-grade dye. Read the care rules before you buy, because they matter: never submerge, sterilize, boil or dishwash her, and cover the squeaker hole while cleaning so water cannot get trapped inside. The maker compares the rules to a toothbrush's, and it also asks for one Sophie per baby. Looked after that way, she is a lovely first teether.