Quick answer

If your baby loves shaking and chewing a soft, curved shape, the Heart Wooden Toy Rattle is the better teether. If they prefer rolling, pushing, and grabbing a sturdy car, the Love Bug Wooden Toy Car offers more active play. Both are safe, natural, and make lovely keepsakes.

What makes a good wooden teether?

A good wooden teether is easy for tiny hands to grasp, safe to chew, and gentle on sore gums. Smiling Tree uses sustainably harvested hardwood, finished with organic oil (on rattles) or left completely natural (on teethers) to avoid splinters and chemicals. The shape matters a lot: curved, rounded designs are easier to hold, while flat or angled shapes can offer different chewing surfaces.

Both the Heart Wooden Toy Rattle and the Love Bug Wooden Toy Car are marketed as toys, but they serve double duty as teethers. The heart rattle is designed for grasping, shaking, and chewing, while the car encourages rolling and pushing. Your baby's age and play style will help you decide which one they'll love more.

Heart Wooden Toy Rattle: gentle rattle and soft curves

The Heart Wooden Toy Rattle is handcrafted from solid cherry wood and finished with Smiling Tree's homegrown organic oil blend. It is softly curved, easy to grasp, and makes a pleasant, gentle rattling sound that stimulates baby's senses. The catalog notes it is designed for learning to grasp, shake, and chew, making it a natural teether choice.

Because it is a rattle, it adds auditory feedback to teething play. The curved shape fits comfortably in small palms, and the oil finish keeps the wood smooth against tender gums. This is a great option for babies who enjoy shaking toys and need a multi-sensory experience.

Love Bug Wooden Toy Car: sturdy rolling toy for active play

The Love Bug Wooden Toy Car is strong and sturdy, built to last long after childhood. It is described as perfect for little hands and works well as both a decorative toy and a functional, fun plaything. The car shape encourages rolling, pushing, and imaginative play, which can engage older babies and toddlers.

As a teether, the car's rounded edges and solid wood body provide safe chewing surfaces. However, it lacks the dedicated teether-specific design (like the soft curve of the heart rattle) and does not have a rattle sound. It is better suited for babies who are already crawling or pushing toys, rather than newborns focused on grasping and shaking.

Trade-offs to consider

  • Grip and shape: The heart rattle is softly curved and designed for easy grasping. The car is flat and rectangular, which some babies may find harder to hold steady for chewing. If your baby is still learning to grasp, choose the heart rattle.
  • Sensory feedback: The heart rattle makes a gentle rattling sound. The car is silent during play unless pushed or rolled. For auditory stimulation, the heart rattle wins.
  • Play value beyond teething: The car encourages rolling, pushing, and imaginative play. The heart rattle is primarily a grasping and shaking toy. If you want a toy that grows with your child, the car offers longer play value.
  • Finish and safety for teething: The heart rattle is finished with organic oil. The car's finish is not specified, but it is made from solid wood and described as safe for little hands. For parents who prefer a known organic finish, the heart rattle provides more assurance.

Product facts at a glance

  • Heart Wooden Toy Rattle: Handcrafted with solid cherry wood, this keepsake wooden heart rattle will delight little ones learning to grasp, shake, and chew. Smiling Tree teething rattles are softly curved, easy to grasp, and finished with our homegrown organic oil blend. The soft curve and organic oil finish make it ideal for teething babies who need a gentle, non-splintering surface. The rattle sound adds sensory stimulation beyond just chewing.
  • Love Bug Wooden Toy Car: Strong and sturdy, this toy car will last long after childhood. Beautiful as a decorative toy, but also functional/fun. Perfect for little hands. The car's durability and rolling action appeal to older babies and toddlers who enjoy active play. It works as a teether but is not specifically shaped for chewing, so it may be less soothing for very sore gums.

Which one fits your baby?

Best for

  • Babies 3-9 months who love grasping, shaking, and chewing on soft curves
  • Parents who want a multi-sensory teether with gentle rattle sound

Not ideal for

  • Babies who prefer rolling and pushing toys over handheld rattles
  • Toddlers who need a durable toy for active floor play