A soft cube with the whole Lilliputiens farmyard on it.

Each face carries a different animal and a different thing to do: something to press, squeeze, rub or shake, with sounds worked into the fabric. Animal noises matter more than they seem to at this age, because they are among the first sounds a child copies back to you.

There is a teether built in, and the soft corners give a baby something far easier to grip than a ball. It is light enough that throwing it has no consequences.

Everything is mechanical rather than electronic: 100% polyester, no batteries, nothing to switch off at bedtime.

Lilliputiens is a Belgian brand, founded in 1995 and designed by a team largely made up of parents working alongside early-childhood specialists. Tested to EN71 and ASTM standards and screened for AZO dyes, cadmium and phthalates.

ANIMAL SOUNDS ON EVERY FACE - Press, squeeze and shake the sides and the farmyard answers back. Animal noises are among the very first sounds children reproduce themselves.

SIX SIDES OF FARM - Ignace the donkey, Rosalie the cow, Paulette the hen and the rest, each with something to do. Turn it over and there is a new reason to keep going.

A TEETHER WHERE THEY WILL FIND IT - Built into the cube rather than sold separately, so relief for sore gums is attached to the thing they are already holding.

EASY TO PICK UP - Soft corners and edges give a baby something to grip, which is considerably easier than a smooth ball at this stage. Light enough to be thrown without consequence.

SOFT, WASHABLE AND ENTIRELY MECHANICAL - 100% polyester with no electronics, so nothing to switch off and no batteries to replace. Tested to EN71 and ASTM standards and screened for AZO dyes, cadmium and phthalates.

9 months and above

100% polyester with teether; mechanical sound elements

FARM ACTIVITY SOUNDCUBE