{"product_id":"astronaut-baby-rattle-knitted","title":"Knitted Astronaut Baby Rattle","description":"\u003ch2\u003eKnitted Astronaut Baby Rattle — black and white, which is the point\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small knitted astronaut in a spacesuit, 16 x 13 x 5.5cm, with a rattle inside and button details down the front. Suitable from birth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e🚀 Monochrome, and why that matters for a newborn\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNewborn vision is poor and short-range, and it is drawn to contrast rather than to colour. Pastels are a soft blur for the first few weeks; black against white is a hard edge a baby can actually resolve. That is why a monochrome toy holds a very new baby's attention far longer than a pretty pink one, and why this astronaut earns his place in the first month rather than the sixth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe is also not another bunny, which counts for something when the Moses basket is already full of them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e🔔 A rattle, and nothing electronic\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rattle sounds when he is moved, so it rewards the shaking rather than running constantly. No batteries, no buttons to press, nothing to switch off at bedtime. The knitted button details on the suit give small fingers something to find once they start exploring with their hands rather than their mouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e🧺 Machine washable, which is the other reason to buy a white toy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe goes in the machine at 30°C or below. Reshape him while damp and leave him to air dry rather than tumbling him, and he comes back looking like himself — which is the only reason anyone should sell a white toy to a household with a newborn in it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat we like about him\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlack and white, which is the colouring very new eyes pick out first\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA rattle inside that sounds only when he moves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKnitted button details to find once hands get involved\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLight and small enough for a newborn to be handed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFilled with 100% recycled polyester rather than virgin fibre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMachine washable at 30°C — unusual for a knitted rattle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e📏 Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 16 x 13 x 5.5cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColours:\u003c\/strong\u003e black and white\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable from:\u003c\/strong\u003e birth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/strong\u003e knitted acrylic yarn, 100% recycled polyester filling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e machine wash at 30°C or below, air dry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSafety:\u003c\/strong\u003e UKCA and CE marked\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Best Years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e❓ Frequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat age is he for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom birth. The contrast works from day one, the rattle comes into its own once they start to shake things at around three or four months, and the buttons hold up for a good while after that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs he knitted in cotton?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo — the yarn is acrylic, with the filling made from 100% recycled polyester. If you would rather have organic cotton, our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/white-bunny-baby-rattle-organic-cotton\"\u003ewhite bunny rattle\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/crochet-peapod-baby-rattle\"\u003ecrochet peapod rattle\u003c\/a\u003e are both 100% organic cotton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow loud is the rattle?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGentle, and only when he is moved. Nothing that will startle a newborn or wake a sleeping one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan he really go in the machine?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, at 30°C or below. Reshape him while he is damp and let him dry naturally — no tumble dryer, which shortens the life of any knitted toy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes he come boxed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. Best Years send their knitted toys without packaging as part of their own effort to cut single-use plastic, so he arrives as he is. Lovely for the planet, slightly less lovely if you wanted something to wrap — a gift bag solves it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes he make a good gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA good one for a brand-new baby specifically, because of the contrast, and a more memorable choice than a fourth bunny.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e🔔 Which first rattle?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey all do the same core job — something light to be handed, with a sound as the reward. They differ on material and on what the baby sees:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAstronaut\u003c\/strong\u003e — this one. 16 x 13 x 5.5cm in black and white, the strongest contrast of the lot, and machine washable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/black-and-white-rattle-set\"\u003eBlack and White Rattle Set\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — more monochrome again, as a set rather than a single toy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/white-bunny-baby-rattle-organic-cotton\"\u003eWhite Bunny Rattle\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — 26cm and 100% organic cotton. Bigger, plainer, and the safe baby-shower choice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/highland-cow-knitted-baby-rattle\"\u003eHighland Cow Rattle\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — 16cm with a rainbow stripe jumper. More character, less neutral.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/crochet-peapod-baby-rattle\"\u003eCrochet Peapod Rattle\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — organic cotton and tiny, for the very earliest weeks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee them all in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rattles\"\u003ebaby rattles\u003c\/a\u003e collection, or everything \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/newborn-baby-toys-and-gifts\"\u003esuitable from birth\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e❤️ From our family to yours\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarefully chosen products for babies, toddlers and parents. Browse more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rattles\"\u003ebaby rattles\u003c\/a\u003e — free UK delivery on orders over £25.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Best Years Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54272677773659,"sku":"BY5430","price":11.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0891\/3626\/7611\/files\/Astronaut-Baby-Rattle-Knitted-Best-Years-Ltd-173378862.jpg?v=1791463811","url":"https:\/\/forthebaby.co.uk\/products\/astronaut-baby-rattle-knitted","provider":"For the Baby","version":"1.0","type":"link"}