A boxed set of small plush rattles, built for a newborn rather than a six-month-old.

Size is the thing most first rattles get wrong. Each piece here is small, light and squashy enough for a very young hand to close around, so a baby succeeds at holding one far earlier than they would with a conventional rattle.

Each has its own sound and its own texture: bells, crinkle, different fabrics. Learning to tell one sound from another is quiet groundwork for language, and having several to compare is what makes that possible.

Lena is the boldest little unicorn there is, with a mane like a flame.

Presented in a gift box, which makes this an easy birth present to give well. 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.

A SET, NOT A SINGLE RATTLE - Several small plush rattles together, each with its own sound and texture, so a newborn has variety from day one and you have something to swap in when interest fades.

SIZED FOR HANDS THAT CANNOT GRIP YET - Small, light and squashy, so each piece can be closed inside a very young hand. Most rattles are far too big for the babies they are given to.

DIFFERENT SOUNDS, DIFFERENT FEELS - Bells, crinkle and varied fabrics across the set, so a baby learns to tell them apart. Discrimination between sounds is early groundwork for language.

PRESENTED AS A BIRTH GIFT - Comes boxed, which makes it a proper new-baby present rather than a single toy in a bag. One of the easiest gifts to give well.

LENA THE UNICORN, FROM BIRTH - Lena is the boldest little unicorn there is, with a mane like a flame. Machine washable at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle.

0 months and above (suitable from birth)

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

LENA DISCOVERY SET