JULES ACTIVITY AIRPLANE

Jules the dog and Leon the hedgehog have taken the controls.

The characters lift out of the cockpit and slot back in again, which is the part that occupies a one-year-old almost indefinitely. It looks like play and it is genuinely demanding fine-motor work: aligning a small figure into a specific slot takes real control.

Along the fuselage are the things Lilliputiens builds into everything at this age: a teether, crinkle, contrasting textures and tags to find. So it works as a sensory toy well before your child grasps what an aeroplane actually is.

It is also entirely soft, which means all the appeal of a vehicle with none of the hard plastic. It can be chewed, thrown and taken to bed.

Machine washable at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle. 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.

JULES AND LEON TAKE THE CONTROLS - Jules the dog and Leon the hedgehog fly this one. The characters lift out of the cockpit and go back in, which is the game a one-year-old repeats on a loop.

A VEHICLE THEY CAN CHEW - All the appeal of a toy plane with none of the hard plastic. Soft enough to be mouthed, thrown and slept next to.

ACTIVITIES ALONG THE FUSELAGE - Teether, crinkle, textures and tags worked into the body, so it holds attention even before your child understands what a plane does.

PRETEND PLAY GETS ITS FIRST VEHICLE - Around a year old, children start moving objects with intent and making sounds for them. A plane is one of the easiest ways in.

SOFT AND WASHABLE - Fabric throughout with recycled polyester filling. Machine washable at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle. Tested to EN71 and ASTM standards and screened for AZO dyes, cadmium and phthalates.

9 months and above

Outer 100% polyester, inner 100% recycled polyester; teether and crinkle elements