I first came across Shake Rattle & Chew on my Instagram feed where I was drawn to the natural woods and stylish aesthetic of their teethers and rattles. I fancy myself a bit of a granola-type mom, so I attempt to make sure whatever goes in to my kids' mouths is safe and non-toxic. Dog hair is organic, right? Asking for a friend. Throw in that Shake Rattle & Chew is designed by an Ontario boss mom - more on her in a minute - and my inner desire to shop local and support the home team gave cause for a happy dance.

Shake Rattle & Chew is a collection of carefully hand-crafted rattles and teethers by Mississauga-based mom Stefanie. Tired of hard plastic teething toys taking up every nook and cranny in her house, she set out to create something more to her taste for her own son. After receiving more and more compliments on his rattles and teething cords, Shake, Rattle & Chew was born. As well as being a mother, Stef is also a Registered Nurse, which means safety was her number one biggest concern when sourcing those gorgeous silicone beads. I'm a little partial to the marble, I mean if I can't afford it in the kitchen, at least I can let my baby live the dream.

Let’s be honest, most of the toys for baby boys are rugged, kind of drab and are virtually everywhere, including that same Instagram feed. So when my package arrived and I saw this beautiful rattle I was just as happy to tote it around as my little babe was to chew on it.

Each rattle is packed up in a travel pouch and sent off to its new toy chest with care instructions and a little note of appreciation for shopping small and keeping this mom boss’ dream alive! Such a mom thing to do - love it.

Living in a world where everything seems so toxic it was important to know that these beads were 100% free of any harmful substances. Fortunately, the beads come from a Canadian distributor and they've made sure all the beads are FDA approved food grade silicone, BPA, PVC, lead, cadmium phthalates & mercury free as well as odourless and tasteless. The wood used is also sourced within North America in accordance with CPSIA.

Shake, Rattle & Chew is a work from home operation, so once Stef gets the beads she sits in her craft room/office/spare bedroom and gets to work.

Each knot is melted then hidden in a bead so those curious fingers can't find it. The noise from the rattle is subtle enough for those young ears (and arguably more importantly, also for mama's sanity). As well as offering relief to those aching gums, the mixture of materials also make them a great sensory and tactile development toy which is something that will grow with your babe from the early drooling stages right into that wild teething toddler time (back molars are THE WORST).

Shake Rattle & Chew also crafts freezer teethers and cords, which can be used for a pacifier, a silicone teether or a wooden toy. If you would like something tailored to your taste, all of their items can be custom made. AND a little secret, coming soon, they will be offering customized wooden rings to have a name, birth date or quote to make your rattle truly your own.

Follow Shake Rattle & Chew on their Instagram or Facebook page and shop this Etsy link to get your hands on your very own rattle.

Shake, Rattle & Chew rattles, teethers and cords do contain small pieces - never leave a child alone or unattended as it may present a choking risk, adult supervision is highly recommended.