Review It Wednesday -- Sophie the Giraffe

Guest reviewer (and my daughter), Bethany Schad, offers her opinion of a toy that has stood the test of time!

Today I wanted to introduce you to my son, Lincoln's, favorite toy, Sophie the Giraffe.

So who is this Sophie and why is she so popular? Sophie was born on May 25th, 1961 in France, which means she will be celebrating her 50th birthday this year! Sophie looks exactly the same as she did on that day! They say she was an immediate success and that young mothers in Europe found Sophie a must for their teething babies. What started as word of mouth spread throughout Europe, eventually moving across the world!

Sophie is made by VULLI, a company based in Rumilly in the Haute-Savoie region of France. They actually keep the process of how Sophie is made a secret!! We do know that she is made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea tree. She stimulates each of the baby's senses.

Sight: The contrasting dark spots all over Sophie's body provide visual stimulation and make her easily recognizable to baby. Lincoln definitely knew who Sophie was as a newborn!

Sound: Sophie's squeaker amuses Lincoln, stimulating his hearing and helping him to understand cause and effect.

Taste: Quite bendable with lots of parts to chew, Sophie is ideal for soothing Lincoln's sore gums when he's teething. Plus, she is completely safe ... made of 100% natural rubber and food paint... BPA and phtalates free!

Touch: Sophie is perfect for Lincoln's small hands. She is soft and light, and her long legs and neck are easy for babies to grip.

Smell: The scent of the natural rubber makes Sophie easy for Lincoln to identify amid all his other toys.

Lately, I have been seeing Sophie all over the tabloids! Celebrities have caught on to the "Sophie craze" and are buying her for their own babies! I've seen pictures of her with Ashlee Simpson, Nicole Richie, Sofia Coppola, Naomi Watts and Kourtney Kardashian to name a few! She was also a must have baby shower gift on the Martha Stewart Show. Tom Selleck's character even bought one at a newstand in the 1987 movie Three Men and a Baby. See, she has been around for awhile! And, keeping with the times, she even has her own Facebook page!

So where can you get this great toy? My favorite baby store, Happy Baby Company, carries them, with free shipping to customers in the U.S.!

Whether you're looking for something to entertain and soothe your own baby, or are looking for a gift that will be a real hit at a baby shower, I really do recommend this toy!