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Use recycled materials to make a DIY rattle for your baby or toddler.
My 12-month-old loves to make and listen to music. In addition to her toys that play songs, I wanted to give her an instrument she could use to play with the music she listens to.
DIY Rattle Using Recycled Materials
Since we have an overabundance of the colorful caps from baby food and snack food pouches, I used recycled containers to make several simple rattle instruments for her to play with. It was so easy, and proved to be a colorful and engaging toy. You most likely have the supplies you need right at home to make some too!
To make a DIY rattle you will need:
- Clean, empty containers with lids
- Baby food pouch caps (or dry beans, beads, rice, etc.)
- Hot glue gun
How to make a recycled rattle
First, I made sure the recycled containers were clean and dry. I collected several colorful caps from baby food or kid’s snack pouches.
Next, I filled up the containers with the caps. You can fill them as little or as much as you want. Either way will make a different sound. If you do not have caps to use, you could fill the containers with anything that will make an interesting sound. You might try dried beans, beads, rice, sand, paperclips, colored water, etc.
Lastly, the most important part is to use a hot glue gun to seal the lids in place. Any item you use to fill one of these rattles can be a choking hazard. Please be very careful to secure the lid, check it often to be sure it continues to stay secure, and always supervise your child during play.
My daughter loves her new DIY rattle toy! She likes to shake it to make sounds along with her other musical toys. She is also happy to topple it over and around to watch the colorful caps move around inside. They are durable so they can stand up to the destructive play that is developmentally appropriate at her age.
Sarah Benton Feitlinger, M.Ed. is a former Preschool-6th science teacher, mom, blogger and science curriculum developer. She is passionate about educating children, and loves anything and everything science! Check out her blog, Share it! Science for fun science activities, lessons, science news, book and learning product reviews and other resources for kids, teachers, homeschoolers and parents.
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