About us
For over 60 years, Sophie la girafe has been a beloved companion to babies around the world
From the very first smile to those precious early milestones, Sophie has been there to comfort, soothe and inspire. In Australia, our store continues this tradition by offering safe, natural and beautifully designed products made with the gentle care every baby deserves.
Gentle beginnings,
trusted forever
-
Authentic French Heritage
Every product is designed with Sophie la girafe’s French origins in mind, bringing a touch of tradition and elegance to everyday baby essentials.
-
Natural and Safe Materials
From 100% natural rubber to food-grade paints, every piece is made with care, ensuring safety, softness and peace of mind for parents.
-
Thoughtful Gifts and Keepsakes
Our collection includes beautifully presented gift sets and keepsakes, making it simple to celebrate life’s most precious moments.
Supporting every baby’s needs
From teething comfort to sensory play, feeding time to bath time, Sophie la girafe offers solutions designed to nurture and soothe. Every product is thoughtfully created to support baby’s natural development while bringing joy to parents.
Whether it is a teething ring for sore gums, a comforter for nap time, or playful bath toys for splashy fun, Sophie la girafe products are made to ease, delight and inspire. Each item is more than a toy—it is a little piece of reassurance for both baby and parent.
Co-founders
There are many fascinating stories of how Sophie la girafe has migrated around the Earth.
She has taken little trips from France to the UK in hand bags on the Eurostar, jet flights over the Atlantic from Europe to the United States and probably the longest trip of all, all the way across the world, to the Land Down Under, Australia!
Les Folies Pty Ltd, founded in 2006, is the sole and exclusive Australian distributor of Sophie la girafe®.
Les Folies was created by two French ladies Isabelle and Cecile who remarkably grew up together as best friends in the heart of France. They would have never thought that they would both end up marrying Aussie’s and moving to live in Australia.
Soon after with new born babies of their own, the girls naturally went to buy the Sophie teether. To their amazement Sophie had not yet travelled down under so the girls jumped on the phone to France and Les Folies has been very proud to distribute, throughout Australia, Sophie la girafe® products ever since.
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.
How do I clean Sophie la girafe?
Simply wipe Sophie with a clean, damp cloth and soapy water. Avoid submerging her in water, sterilising, or putting her in the dishwasher, as this can damage her natural materials.
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.
Is Sophie la girafe a good baby gift?
Yes, Sophie has been a beloved baby gift since 1961. She comes in beautiful gift packaging, and her heritage and natural materials make her a thoughtful present for new parents.
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 surfac
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.