Making History: Create an Heirloom Baby Rattle

Recreate then make history (at least for your family :-)

Baby rattles have delighted little hands for over 2,500 years. One of the oldest known examples (a clay rattle) was discovered in Poland and dates back to the early Iron Age. During the Renaissance, rattles became elaborate and decorative, often made of silver and given as cherished gifts. Yet even today, they remain one of the first toys a baby will grasp.

Rattles have taken many forms over the centuries … from simple ball-and-stick designs to whimsical animal shapes. Pigs were particularly popular in ancient times and were often associated with Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest and fertility, who was invoked to protect infants. Historical rattles were crafted from a variety of materials, including wood, clay, silver, animal horn, and hollowed gourds, each reflecting the resources and traditions of the time.

But why have rattles endured for millennia? It’s more than just noise. Rattles provide vital stimulation for developing minds. They support motor skills and hand-eye coordination which helps to stimulate babies' senses of sight, hearing, touch. The sound delights them, encouraging exploration and discovery. For such a simple object, it offers a world of sensory engagement.

Many parents also choose to use wooden rattles as an alternative to plastic toys, as they are more environmentally friendly, have a natural warmth, beauty, charm, and most importantly can be passed down through generation.

So, in the spirit of the Ible "Making History" challenge, I’ve chosen to honor this timeless tradition by crafting a handmade wooden heirloom rattle—for my new 3 day old grandbaby.

Rattles are more than just a toy. It’s a connection to the past, a celebration of craftsmanship, and a gift meant to last for generations.

Some you may be wondering what's up with the "Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga"? - If you can't wait, skip to the end to see the history we made.

Materials

1. Wood I used Oak for the double ball version and mahogany for the animal ones.
2. Wood Finish: Shellac or Mineral Oil

Tools

1. For the animal rattles, I used a scroll saw but you can also use a coping saw
2. For the double ball rattle, I used a lathe

Important: Please make sure your rattle follows safety guidelines to avoid a choking hazards as well as food safe finishes.

Let's start with an easy rattle make first that anyone can do.

Since my new grandbaby lives on a farm with chickens and pigs, I thought that would be perfect for her. So I googled animal clip art, found some I liked, and then edited a bit to the size I wanted.

Next, just print out and wrap with packing tape over the wood board of your choice. Make sure you match the wood grain length to avoid the wood from breaking off if dropped.

Here, just drill some holes for your scroll saw (or coping saw) blade to fit. Then carefully cut around the lines. But don't force the blade since that may cause you to go off the line. Just let the tool do it's work.

It's best to thoroughly sand the rattle now since it will be challenging to do that later.

Next carefully drill through one side of the rattle to a thicker part opposite for the dowel rod to fit through and hold the center play bobble.

Insert the dowel, add your bobble, glue, and trim off the dowel end.

Just add a child safe finish. I used shellac or mineral oil.

If you want to create a more traditional heirloom rattle you can follow the attached instructions.

Material: 2” square x 6”

Cut 1 1/8” of each side and use a Forstner or spade bit to create a 1 ½” diameter hole 5/8” deep (for the pop corn seeds)

Repeat on both sides of the on the middle 3 ¼” piece

Glue them up and turn to a cylinder (45mm or 1 ¾”)

Shape the sides to a ball but keep in mind the size of the internal hole you created

You can wire burn the glue line to hide

Here I used a ring tool to create captive rings in the middle of the rattle. It's actually easier than it looks.

This is my first grandchild and I can't express the love that came out of my heart like a powerful magnetic field.

So when I woke up to greet her in the morning, I don't know why this song came to my mind but I was just full of love it came out and had her Mom and Dad join me.

Hope you have as much fun as I did with this and create a memory for your baby or grandbaby to enjoy for years to come.