A ball that is soft enough to throw indoors.

That sounds minor until you have a nine-month-old and a lamp. This one is entirely fabric and light, so it can be launched across a room, dropped on a face or kicked into a wall with no consequences.

A ball also happens to be one of the better ways to get a baby moving. Roll it just out of reach and they will set off after it, which does more for crawling than any amount of encouragement. Textures, crinkle and a bell inside mean it still holds attention when it is sitting still.

Louis looks fierce and is anything but: a soft-hearted wolf who mostly wants to go for a picnic.

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 BALL THAT CANNOT HURT ANYONE - Entirely soft and light, so it can be thrown indoors, dropped on a face and kicked about without anything getting broken or bruised.

ROLLING IS A REASON TO CRAWL - Put a ball just out of reach and a baby will go after it. It is one of the more effective ways to encourage crawling without turning it into a task.

MORE THAN A BALL - Textures to feel, crinkle to hear and a bell inside, so it holds attention even when it is sitting still in a lap.

EASY TO CATCH HOLD OF - Soft panels and a light body mean a baby can actually grip and lift it, which is where most hard balls fail at this age.

LOUIS THE WOLF IN BALL FORM - Louis looks fierce and is anything but: a soft-hearted wolf who mostly wants to go for a picnic. Machine washable at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle.

6 months and above

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

LOUIS BALL