Eguchi Toys Hippo Rattle – Walnut & Beech Wooden Baby Rattle

A handmade walnut-and-beech hippo rattle for baby's first year: light, warm in the hand, safety tested in the US and Taiwan, and made to become a keepsake.

The Eguchi Toys Hippo Rattle is shaped from walnut and beech wood with a metal ball inside. Shake it gently and it rings softly, which Eguchi Toys likens to a little silver bell. It measures about 12 × 8 × 2 cm (4.7 × 3.1 × 0.8 in) and 60 g, light enough for a baby who is just learning to grasp, and is made for babies from birth to 12 months.

Specifications

• Brand: Eguchi Toys
• Designer: Kentaro Eguchi (founder of Eguchi Toys)
• Type: Wooden baby rattle
• Shape: Hippo
• Materials: Walnut and beech wood; metal ball inside for sound
• Product dimensions: 12 × 8 × 2 cm (4.7 × 3.1 × 0.8 in), per Eguchi Toys
• Weight: 60 g (2.1 oz), per Eguchi Toys
• Package dimensions: 14 × 13 × 5 cm (5.5 × 5 × 2 in)
• Age: 0–12 months
• Toy safety: US CPSIA tested; passed Taiwan ST toy safety inspection (per Eguchi Toys)
• Origin: Designed and made in Taiwan
• Item number (MPN): S221
• UPC/EAN: 4713410532219

Features

• Walnut and beech wood, shaped into a smooth, rounded hippo
• Metal ball inside for a soft, bell-like sound
• About 12 × 8 × 2 cm (4.7 × 3.1 × 0.8 in) and 60 g (per Eguchi Toys)
• For 0–12 months; US CPSIA tested and passed Taiwan's ST toy safety inspection
• Designed and made in Taiwan

Best for

Newborns and babies up to 12 months: Eguchi notes that babies start practicing grasping at one to two months, which is when a light rattle earns its place. Also a baby-shower or new-baby gift for parents who want fewer, better toys in natural materials. Pair it with the Horn Rattle or an Eguchi bird mobile.

Who this is not for

• Anyone who wants a dishwasher-safe or washable plastic rattle: wood needs to be wiped, not soaked.
• Anyone who wants bright colors, lights or music: this is natural wood with a soft sound.
• Anyone who wants a teething toy: Eguchi says mouthing is fine, but it is designed as a rattle, not a teether.

Why we carry Eguchi Toys

We've been curating design-led pieces since 2009, and Eguchi Toys fills a gap we care about: children's things that are honest, well made and good-looking enough to live in the main rooms of a home. Eguchi Toys was founded in Taipei in 2015 by Kentaro Eguchi, a Japanese designer who studied fine art at the School of Visual Arts in New York, holds a Montessori teaching qualification and founded Ivy's House Montessori kindergarten in Taipei in 1997. His team of designers, carpenters and preschool teachers designs and makes the toys in Taiwan, and the line has been shown at Maison&Objet in Paris (2017, 2019, 2024) and the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (2019, 2020). Every toy starts from what children are working on at each stage, then gets a shape and palette an adult is happy to see every day.

Worth the investment

Buy once: durability and care

Wipe with a soft cloth and clean water, then dry it right away. Skip alcohol and chemical cleaners, and keep it away from direct sun, heaters and air-conditioning vents, which can make wood expand, contract and crack.

Safety

US CPSIA tested, and Eguchi Toys says it has passed Taiwan's ST toy safety inspection, so you don't need to worry if baby mouths or bites it. Our advice: always supervise play, check it regularly for cracks and stop using it if you find any, and never tie it to a crib or a baby.

Frequently asked questions

What age is the Eguchi Toys Hippo Rattle for?

It is rated for 0–12 months. Eguchi notes babies start practicing grasping at one to two months.

What wood is the Eguchi Toys Hippo Rattle made from?

Walnut and beech, with a metal ball inside that makes the rattle sound.

How big is the Eguchi Toys Hippo Rattle?

About 12 × 8 × 2 cm (4.7 × 3.1 × 0.8 in) and 60 g, per Eguchi Toys. It ships in a small box of about 14 × 13 × 5 cm (5.5 × 5 × 2 in).

Has the Eguchi Toys Hippo Rattle been safety tested?

Yes. It is US CPSIA tested, and Eguchi Toys says it passed Taiwan's ST toy safety inspection.

How should I clean the Eguchi Toys Hippo Rattle?

Wipe it with a damp cloth and dry it straight away. Never soak it or put it in the dishwasher. Full care notes are in the Buy once section above.

Is it OK if my baby chews the Eguchi Toys Hippo Rattle?

Eguchi Toys says that, because it passed Taiwan's ST toy safety inspection, you don't need to worry if baby puts it in their mouth and bites it. It's still a rattle rather than a teether, so supervise play and wipe it dry afterwards.

Gifting & bulk orders

Buying for a nursery, a school, a hotel family suite or several gifts at once? Contact us for multiples and trade pricing. MetropolitanDecor is a California design retailer, in business since 2009.

Shipping

In-stock Eguchi Toys pieces ship in 2–3 business days from the United States. We don't pad delivery promises: if your order can't leave on time, we contact you before it ships.

Please note: Because this item is made to order or specially sourced, it is final sale.