Sophie the Giraffe is a flexible, soft, teething toy made in the French Alps from 100% natural latex rubber from the sap of the Hevea tree (Rubber Tree). Sophie is very popular teething toy, invented in France in 1961, and used by millions, but parents should be aware that Sophie's long legs present a choking hazard. Your baby can end up with Sophie's leg lodged in their mouth, causing gagging or completely blocking the airway. You'll find multiple reports of choking and gagging on Sophie's legs in the 1-star user reviews on Amazon.com. There are also four reports on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.
Latex Allergy Warning
A minority of babies will have a latex allergy, which can range from causing mild skin irritation to potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction in rare cases. The natural rubber is latex, and thus inappropriate for those with a latex allergy. We recommend you closely observe your child for potential reaction when first exposed to a latex product like Sophie.
Our Recommendation
While there is much to like about Sophie, we are forced to give it a DO NOT BUY rating, due to the choking risk which we believe is significant and an unnecessary risk to subject your baby to.
