Sophie the Giraffe was conceived by Monsieur Rampeau, who was an expert in transforming sap from the Hevea tree using the rotational moulding of rubber as a toy-making concept. He came up with the idea of designing a toy giraffe, sensing that such an exotic wildlife figure would be the first in the market, and its size and shape would be ideal for the baby’s hands to grasp and fit the baby’s small mouths. Sophie the Giraffe, who looks exactly the same as the day she was ‘born’, went into production on May 25th, Saint Sophie’s day, hence her name.

Sophie was an immediate success in France. Young mothers saw straightaway that Sophie was a must-have for their babies when the first signs of teething appeared. By simple word of mouth, the little Giraffe’s fame spread. From then on, generation upon generation of children in Europe, have come to love Sophie & her happy sound.

Sophie is still traditionally produced today, by Vulli, which is based in Rumilly in the Haute-Savoie Region of France. She is made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea Tree. The process of creating her involves more than 14 manual operations and is still a secret, jealously guarded by the company.

So what makes Sophie the Giraffe such a success? This is baby’s first toy, and stimulates each of his senses from the age of 3 months.
Sight:
At the age of 3 months, a baby’s eyesight is still limited and can only make out high contrasts. The dark and contrasting, attention-catching spots all over Sophie the Giraffe’s body provides visual stimulation and she soon becomes a familiar and reassuring object for baby.
Hearing:
Sophie the Giraffe squeaks when pressed and keeps baby amused and stimulates his hearing. In later months, this helps baby understand the link between cause and effect.
Taste:
Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint and is completely safe to chew, just like a feeding bottle teat.
Touch:
Her soft texture and numerous chewable parts (ears, horns, legs etc) make her perfect for soothing baby’s sore gums during teething.
Smell:
The scent of natural rubber from the Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your baby to identify amid the other toys.
Easy to grip:
Sophie the Giraffe’s shape and size are perfect for baby’s small hands. She is very light, and her long neck and legs are easy for baby to grasp, even in his early days.