Last week a lady working at Hello Baby contacted me and asked if as a French citizen I would mind mentioning a compatriot in my blog and that is Sophie the Giraffe. My answer was: “of course I will!”
Growing up, this little Giraffe has been a recurrent image of my childhood and it wasn’t a surprise to find out that she was still around when I decided to buy one for my first child !
Sophie the Giraffe was born in May 1961 and was the first exotic animal in the shape of a toy introduced in France. Originally she had an older sister called Zoe, but Zoe was too big and not really adapted for babies hands.
Eventually they designed Sophie and since then most babies have had their own. I did have mine and now both my boys have theirs!
Babies can have it from a very young age and its shape makes it ideal and easy for young babies to hold. It helps children develop touch, but mostly it is the best toy for teething babies. It is entirely safe for them to chew on it. The plastic is extremely solid and it can be pulled and twisted without worries of it breaking. Both Elliott and Victor have spent hours making it squeak and chewing on it!
Elliott is now three years old and every now and then he includes Sophie in his imaginative world made of crocodiles and giraffes, so it is definitely an investment worth making!
I was only thinking about this giraffe at the weekend: My friend gave my little boy this Giraffe shortly after he was born. He loved it and then one day we lost it somewhere.....luckily he was too young to notice.
Posted by: Karen | Monday, 01 February 2010 at 04:42 PM
Thank God he didn't lose it after it became his favourite toy! That's terrible when that happens :)
Posted by: Perfectly Happy Mum | Monday, 01 February 2010 at 07:15 PM
I think we're missing out over here, I would have loved a couple of Sophies for my two!
Posted by: Barbara | Monday, 01 February 2010 at 09:11 PM
I have a son also named Elliot, and he also loves his Sophie. As he's only five months old, it's permanently covered in slobber. I have to hide it from the dog though...
Posted by: Erin | Monday, 01 February 2010 at 09:32 PM
I had never heard of Sophie. Think my daughter is a bit too old now. Shame :(
Posted by: Rosie Scribble | Monday, 01 February 2010 at 10:03 PM
My younger brother had her 30 years ago! And little L has already her 2nd one, after a friend of hers wouldn't let go of Sophie #1.
Btw, they do another toy that looks like a mixture of mushroom, shrimp and nipple. L's uncle baptised him the 'Shripple'. *sniggers*
Posted by: Metropolitan Mum | Wednesday, 03 February 2010 at 04:55 PM
Fascinating! I've never seen Sophie before .... sounds like a great baby gift to me.
Posted by: A Modern Mother | Thursday, 04 February 2010 at 07:13 AM
Funny thing. I spoke to my little sister last night who has a 14 month old baby and she announced that she'd just bought a Sophie and how wonderful it was.
Posted by: Barbara | Thursday, 04 February 2010 at 12:12 PM
how cute :) i hope you are well sorry not been over here for a while xxxxxxxxx
Posted by: amy | Friday, 05 February 2010 at 07:15 PM
It's never too late :)
Posted by: Perfectly Happy Mum | Saturday, 06 February 2010 at 04:30 PM
We had the same problem. The dog thought it was her toy... :)
Posted by: Perfectly Happy Mum | Saturday, 06 February 2010 at 04:30 PM
We had one of these given to us as a present - I think from someone in Italy. I loved it and the kids both played with it and chewed on it loads. A very popular toy indeed! xx
Posted by: antonia@selectinthecity.co.uk | Tuesday, 16 February 2010 at 07:54 PM
Ooops, not sure what happened to my name (first time comment and not even opened the wine yet!), it's me! Antonia aka Mummy Coach! xx
Posted by: Mummy Coach | Tuesday, 16 February 2010 at 08:00 PM
OH gosh, I totally love Sophie! I got one for my daughter for Christmas, and she adores her. I had no idea about Zoe though!
~S
http://sophiegiraffe.net/
Posted by: Stephanie | Sunday, 25 April 2010 at 05:35 AM