How do I make a baby rattle??

[calanneh]

I have a customer who wants a leather baby rattle for her 6 month old. I have never made one before so I am throwing my thoughts out to the collective mind for some input....

I torn between two styles:

a. Covering a store bought rattle with leather scraps sewn together...various colors and such to hold the baby's attention.

b. Make a vegtan rattle from scratch with a leather-covered ring (4" or so) with a sealed area that will have the rattlers in it.

I want it colorful, but I do not want to use any paint on it as it will go right to the mouth!! lol

I have about $25 to $30 to spend on this so I want to make it top-notch!

What yall think??

cal

[Johanna]

I don't think it's a good idea to make a baby rattle out of leather that is actually going to be used by a baby and put in her mouth. A special one that mom can put away with her baby things to give to child when she is older (in other words, a work of art, not a teething toy) is a better idea. You have no idea what the leather you use is tanned with, or what chemicals it has in it. I don't let my dogs chew on scraps in the shop because they get sick from it, and I sure wouldn't let my baby gnaw on a piece on veggie tanned. Nice thought, but not a safe one for baby.

Johanna

[calanneh]

Very good point Jo! LEt's scrap teh vegtan idea....(no pun intended).

How about taing small pieces of colored upolstrey hide and sewing it together, then covering a store bought rattle. This is something she really wants for the baby to be able to play with.....but safety first as always.

A second thought...evilgrin....is a pair of baby mocs that can slid onto his feet with small rattlers attached to them!

Thoughs?

cal

[David]

Cal,

Upholstery leather us usually tanned with chromium....deadly poison.

I'd scrap the rattle idea altogether.

Veg tanned is also out, not just because of chemicals.... many south american hides are urine tanned. Something to avoid for sure. We always hope that our hides are tanned here in the US, but you can never be 100% sure.

David

[calanneh]

Thanks David,

Any thoughts on the baby mocs with rattles on them? Tandy sells the baby moc kits (which I have made a few of) with some white and some brown leather in them.

Is this leather something special or are they assuming the baby won't put his foot into his mouth???? My guys always chewed on their shoes when they were teething!!! lol

cal

[Sharpshooter]

I am wayyyyy so bad...

My first thought in response to the title of the thread was... "Loosen up the belly button?"

Good thing I didn't say it.

[calanneh]

I am wayyyyy so bad...

My first thought in response to the title of the thread was... "Loosen up the belly button?"

Good thing I didn't say it.

Not the answer I needed but it did make me laugh.....

cal

[celticleather]

My equally bad thought was 'Fill with dried peas and shake gently'!

[celticleather]

But on a serious note . . . there are so many noxious and often downright unpleasant substances used in the production of leathers - from the tanning right down to the colouring - that a rattle, which may be chewed or sucked, would not seem to be a good idea.

[calanneh]

But on a serious note . . . there are so many noxious and often downright unpleasant substances used in the production of leathers - from the tanning right down to the colouring - that a rattle, which may be chewed or sucked, would not seem to be a good idea.

Yeah, I've ditched the rattle idea. But what do yall think about the mocs? I have made and given baby mocs to friends....... Do you think they would be good?

cal