Editor's letter

The rattle is a favourite gift for a newborn baby, but did you know that these simple toys go back as far as the second century BC? Long ago they were made from dried gourds or hollowed-out bones and it was believed that the noise would ward off evil spirits who might harm the infant. Later, there were more sophisticated versions in glass, silver or gold which often became family heirlooms. Older versions may have borne little resemblance to the colourful wood or plastic toys we have now, but the rattle remains valuable in developing hand-eye co-ordination and giving a...