Cuddly Giraffe Toy

Nattou Cuddly Giraffe — the long neck is the whole point

A soft, deep-furred giraffe suitable from birth and machine washable at 30 degrees. What sets it apart from the teddy and the elephant is the neck: it is long, smooth and exactly the diameter a small hand closes around, which makes this the one of the three a baby picks up first and carries about.

🦒 A handle, not just a shape

Watch a baby or a toddler pick up a soft toy and they grab whatever sticks out furthest. On a teddy that is an ear or a paw, and neither is much to hold. A giraffe's neck is a proper grip — which is why giraffes get dragged round houses, and why this is the one most likely to end up being The One.

🧼 Washable matters more than you think

Most of the nicest-looking soft toys are surface clean or hand wash only, which is an awkward instruction for the object a baby holds against their face every night. This one goes in the machine at 30 on its own, dried away from direct heat, and the fur comes back. For a toy that is going to be carried everywhere by the neck, that is not a small detail.

👀 And a pattern, which plain fur doesn't have

A giraffe comes with markings built in, and contrast is what very young eyes pick out. A patterned animal holds a newborn's attention for longer than a single-colour one, which is a genuine if slightly accidental advantage over the teddy.

What we like about it

• The long neck works as a handle — the easiest of the three to pick up and carry
• Machine washable at 30 degrees, which is unusual for a toy this soft
• Deep, fluffy fur rather than the thin plush you get at this size
• Markings give contrast, which newborn eyes find easier than plain colour
• 30 x 17 x 12cm — a little broader through the body than the teddy, and the same size as the elephant
• Suitable from birth, so no waiting for them to grow into it
• No batteries, no sound, nothing to switch off
• By Nattou, who have been making these for a long time

Specification

• Suitable from: birth
• Size: approximately 30 x 17 x 12cm
• Materials: soft plush fur
• Safety: UKCA and CE marked
• Care: machine washable at 30°C. Dry away from direct heat
• Brand: Nattou

❓ Frequently asked questions

Can it really go in the washing machine?
Yes — 30 degrees. That is what the label says, and it is the main reason we stock this range. Wash it on its own or with towels rather than crammed in with a full load, and dry it away from a radiator so the fur stays soft.

Is the neck strong enough to be dragged around by?
It is sewn as part of the body rather than attached, so there is no join at the base to work loose. As with any soft toy that gets carried by one part, give the seams a look over now and then.

Is it suitable for a newborn?
From birth, yes. In the first weeks it is something to be shown rather than held; the grabbing starts around three or four months, and that is when the neck starts earning its keep.

Can it go in the cot?
Not for unsupervised sleep. Safer sleep guidance is to keep the cot clear, so this is for cuddles, feeds and floor time while you are there.

Is it a good gift?
Yes, and a slightly less obvious one than a teddy. Giraffes are also the animal a surprising number of parents have decided on before the baby arrives.

🧸 Which Nattou cuddly?

Three animals, the same deep fur and the same 30 degree wash, and all three stand 30cm tall. Pick on the shape:

• Giraffe — this one. 30 x 17 x 12cm. The long neck is the natural handle, and the markings give contrast for very new eyes.
• Elephant — 30 x 17 x 12cm, the same size as the giraffe. Big soft ears, which is the bit babies actually hold on to.
• Teddy Bear — 30 x 14 x 11cm, the slimmest of the three and the easiest to tuck under an arm. The default, and the safest gift when you don't know the household.

If you would rather have natural fibres than plush, our ThreadBear linen dinosaurs are hand finished in linen — lovely, but hand wash only.

Browse more cuddly toys, or everything suitable from birth.

Safety information

Adult supervision recommended. Remove from the cot when your little one is sleeping unsupervised, in line with safer sleep guidance. Inspect the seams and stitching regularly and stop using the toy if anything is coming loose.

Our guides to when soft toys and comforters are safe to introduce and the best toys for babies under 6 months go into more detail.

❤️ From our family to yours

Carefully chosen products for babies, toddlers and parents. Browse more cuddly toys — free UK delivery on orders over £25.