If you know me, you might know I’m a little bit of a snob when it comes to woodworking. (I blame it up on my upbringing. My dad built furniture at the Anthony Hay shop at Colonial Williamsburg when I was a kid, and now he builds pipe organs at Taylor and Boody near Staunton.)
That’s why I tend to be super picky when it comes to wooden toys, and I really scrutinize ones made by small woodworking shops. If we’re going to sell them, they need to be good. And these hardwood teether/rattles from Earnest Efforts are good. They’re sanded silky-smooth and the glue joints are essentially invisible. They’re a great size for teething babies to hold and gnaw on, and the rattle sound is excellent (nicer than similar rattles I’ve tested). And the wood selection is cool — they offer familiar options like maple and cherry, plus madrone (a hardwood that grows on the Pacific coast. We don’t see it here on the East Coast very much, so it’s kind of fun!).
If you’re looking for a safe, beautiful, American-made rattle option, these are a fantastic choice! Local customers can find the rattles in our Staunton, Virginia store now, and our online customers can find them here.
Earnest Efforts teething rattles in walnut, Madrone, cherry and maple
Pufferbellies Toys & Books 