Sophie la girafe®
The simple story of a girafe born on May 25th in the year 1961, Saint Sophie’s day.
In those days, the only animal toys available were farm animals and pet figures …
One day in France, Monsieur Rampeau came up with an idea of designing a toy in a shape of a giraffe. Monsieur Rampeau was an expert in creating toys by transforming the latex from the HEVEA tree using the rotational moulding of rubber. He knew that this exotic wildlife figure would be a first on the market, and was sure that the giraffe’s size and shape would be ideal for babies’ small hands to grasp.
Sophie la girafe, who still looks exactly the same today, went into production on May 25th, Saint Sophie’s Day, hence her name.
As predicted, Sophie la girafe was an immediate success. Young parents immediately recognised that she was a must for their baby… When the first signs of teething appear, Sophie la girafe helps babies stop crying!
By simple word of mouth, the little giraffe’s fame spread. From then on, generations upon generations of children around the world would come to love listening to Sophie squeak whenever they pressed her tummy or head!
VULLI, a company based in Rumilly in the Haute-Savoie region of France has continued to keep the highly guarded secret of how this wonder toy is made. To this day, Sophie la girafe is still traditionally produced, a process that involves more than 14 manual operations.
Below images (left) Original factory (1961), (right) See the Sophie la girafe’s being made back in 1961.
Sophie la girafe® Gift Box
A French Classic for Teething Babies
The Sophie la girafe Gift Box is more than a toy – it’s a timeless treasure. Handmade in France since 1961, Sophie is crafted from 100% natural Hevea rubber and painted with food-grade dyes, making her completely safe for little mouths. Her soft, chewable ears, horns, and legs provide gentle relief for sore gums, while her lightweight body is easy for tiny hands to hold. With her cheerful squeak and friendly spots, Sophie stimulates sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell – the perfect companion for your baby’s early development.
The Perfect Baby Gift
Presented in a beautiful box, this set is ideal for baby showers, newborn celebrations, or first birthdays. Loved by millions of families around the world, Sophie is a gift that parents appreciate and babies adore. Elegant, iconic, and practical, she makes a thoughtful choice when you want something truly special.
Safe, Natural & Trusted Worldwide
Every Sophie la girafe undergoes strict safety testing to meet the highest international standards. Free from BPA, phthalates, and toxins, Sophie has been trusted for generations as the best teething toy for babies. With over 64 years of history, she continues to bring smiles and comfort to little ones everywhere.
More to discover
Thanks to her shape and size, Sophie la girafe is perfect for baby's small hands.
She is very light, and her long legs and neck make it easy for baby to grip, even from his earliest days.
A must for babies
Young parents immediately recognized that she was a must for their baby... When the first signs of teething appear, Sophie la girafe helps babies stop crying! By simple word of mouth, the little giraffe's fame spread. From then on in Europe, generations upon generations of children were to love hearing Sophie squeak whenever they pressed her tummy or head!
14 steps to make a Sophie
VULLI, a company based in Rumilly in the Haute-Savoie region of France has continued to keep the highly guarded secret of how this wonder toy is made. To this day, Sophie la girafe® is still "traditionally" produced, a process that involves more than 14 manual operations. She is made from 100% natural rubber derived from the latex of the Hevea tree.
Parents love her
Since 1961, generations of parents worldwide have trusted Sophie la girafe to help with their baby’s teething needs. This iconic teether can be found in many prams and cots of babies all over the world, and is famous with celebrity babies.
How to clean your Sophie la girafe
To keep your baby’s Sophie la girafe clean and safe, simply wipe her with a damp cloth and mild soapy water. Gently pat dry and allow her to air dry completely before giving her back to your little one. Avoid submerging Sophie in water, sterilising, boiling or placing her in the dishwasher, as this can damage her natural rubber and the squeaker inside.
Sophie is made from 100% natural Hevea tree rubber and coloured with food-grade paint, so she deserves a little extra care. Store her in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources to preserve her softness and colour. With the right care, Sophie will stay your baby’s favourite teething companion for many months to come.
Sophie la girafe FAQs
From what age can my baby use Sophie la girafe?
Sophie is suitable from birth onwards. She is designed to be light, easy to grasp, and safe for the very youngest babies.
Is Sophie la girafe safe for babies to chew on?
Yes. Sophie is made with natural materials and food-grade paint, and she is completely safe for babies to chew on to soothe sore gums during teething.
How is Sophie la girafe made?
Sophie la girafe is made from 100% natural rubber sourced from the Hevea tree and coloured with food-grade paint. This makes her safe, soft, and gentle for babies to chew and explore. Discover the secrets behind how she is made.
What is natural rubber?
Natural Rubber is an elastic substance obtained from the latex sap of trees, especially those trees which belong to the genera Hevea and Ficus. Technically speaking, natural rubber is an elastomer or an elastic hydrocarbon polymer. Natural rubber is one of the types of rubber that also include vulcanized rubber which is finished into a variety of rubber products. Natural rubber is also known by the names of India rubber, gum elastic, and caoutchouc.
100% natural rubber, a pure, living material, is the very essence of a commitment to quality. Just like coffee, several varieties of natural rubber exist, each having different properties.
In the interest of quality and safety, the rubber variety we have selected meets very strict mechanical and chemical requirements. It makes it possible to create sturdy, soft and pleasant to the touch products while ensuring suppleness and safety for Baby. The same type of rubber is most notably used in the fabrication of surgical gloves and condoms. Like any natural material, it changes over time.
What are the qualities of the natural rubber used for Sophie la girafe?
Sourced from the hevea trees, natural rubber is endowed with exceptional properties specifically flexible resistance to strong stresses. This is the reason why it is used in the fabrication of products that must meet high quality requirements.
It is also waterproof, soft and pleasant to the touch.
Where does the natural rubber used for Sophie la girafe fabrication come from?
Natural rubber comes from the hevea trees. Each morning, at dawn, traditional growers extract the rubber from the tree by tapping its bark.
The rubber tree plantations that we use to produce Sophie la girafe have been established in Malaysia for decades. True to our vision and values, we place great importance on the way it is cultivated.
What is the difference between natural rubber and plastic?
Natural rubber is a material of botanical origin, while plastic is a material of primarily synthetic petrochemical origin. For its part, Sophie la girafe is made from 100% natural rubber sourced from rubber trees (Hevea).
What type of paint is used?
The paints used on Sophie la girafe are composed of 100% natural rubber (the same as the one used for the fabrication of Sophie la girafe) and natural pigments. Once these two materials are mixed by the operator, they form the food-grade "paint" that is used to decorate Sophie la girafe.
The same brown pigment is applied to make the spots, ears, horns and hoofs; the pink pigment to make the mouth and cheeks; and finally, the black pigment for the eyes.
Why can the colours be different from one Sophie la girafe to another?
All our giraffes are hand-painted. Their colour differs according to the quantity of material, the shade of the natural pigment and the actions of our operators in our workshops. Each Sophie la girafe is therefore unique.
How to clean Sophie la girafe?
Do not submerge in water, sterilise, boil, or put in the dishwasher. To prevent trapped moisture inside Sophie, cover squeaker hole while cleaning. Our all-natural rubber has similar rules to a toothbrush. One baby, one Sophie! It is normal for the food-grade dye to fade overtime with use.
To see a visual explanation of the cleaning instructions for Sophie la girafe, please watch our video above.
How do we certify the quality of our products?
Each Sophie la girafe toy produced bears a batch number on one of the legs, enabling full product traceability. Each number corresponds to a batch tested in a recognised laboratory and certifies its compliance with the strictest current European and worldwide standards. We are one of the rare toy manufacturers in the world to provide our consumers with such strong product traceability and resulting safety level.
Furthermore, all Sophie la girafe products produced for the European market carry the European Union CE label. This label indicates that the Vulli company guarantees that the product fulfils the European Toy Safety Directive. In practice, this means that all Sophie la girafe products must fulfil the most stringent regulatory requirements in the industry.
How are our products tested?
The Vulli company has always placed the quality and security of its products at the heart of its concerns. Sophie la girafe is chemically and mechanically tested in multiple recognised and independent laboratories.
We also conduct internal quality control tests during each of the 14 manufacturing steps.
Is Sophie la girafe a bath toy?
Sophie la girafe is not a bath toy. For bath time, we offer a bath toy (made of natural rubber), that is specially designed to entertain your baby in the water.
Why does Sophie have a squeak?
The gentle squeak helps stimulate baby’s hearing and provides an early lesson in cause and effect. Babies learn that squeezing Sophie creates sound, which adds to her playful charm.
Why does Sophie have spots?
The dark contrasting spots on Sophie help stimulate a baby’s vision. In the early months, babies can only see high contrast patterns, so Sophie’s spots are designed to be easy to recognise.
How long will Sophie la girafe last?
With proper care, Sophie can last throughout your baby’s teething journey. As she is made from natural rubber, she will age over time, but this does not affect her safety.
Does Sophie la girafe contain mould?
Sophie la girafe does not contain mould. Under normal product use, there is no reason for Sophie la girafe to contain or develop moulds.
When Sophie la girafe is improperly used (failure to comply with cleaning and/or usage instructions), it is possible for mould to develop inside the product if water remains stagnant within it. However, it is important to note that rubber, being a waterproof material, does not allow the transfer of bacteria between the product’s inner and outer surface.
Does Sophie la girafe contain BPA, PVC, or phthalates?
No. Sophie la girafe is free from BPA, PVC, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals, giving parents complete reassurance.
Does Sophie contain nitrosamines?
Sophie la girafe complies with current European and worldwide standards concerning nitrosamines and other substances. Please note that nitrosamines are encountered in our daily lives much more frequently than one might think (beer, meat, smoked fish, etc.).
Where can I buy Sophie la girafe in Australia?
You can purchase Sophie la girafe right here through our official online store or through our trusted stockists across Australia to ensure authenticity and safety.
If you have any other question about Sophie la girafe or our other products, feel free to contact us.