Sophie the Giraffe® UK FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Natural rubber, our raw organic material

How is Sophie la girafe made?

Sophie la girafe is made using 100% natural rubber. To “decorate” her, we use a paint composed of 100% natural rubber that is mixed with natural pigments.

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 to 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.
Taking care of my Sophie la girafe
How to clean Sophie la girafe? Under normal use of Sophie la girafe and in accordance with packaging instructions, cleaning the toy’s surface using a cloth moistened with soapy water is all that is needed. Please note that the toy’s whistle leaves a hole on the surface. Users must therefore ensure that water does not enter inside the product during cleaning. For this same reason, it is important to refrain from rinsing or submerging Sophie la girafe and from placing the toy in the dishwasher. If required, it is possible to spend more time scrubbing with your cloth moistened with soapy water. In fact, the longer the time spent scrubbing the product with soap, the more effective the cleaning. To see a visual explanation of the cleaning instructions for Sophie la girafe, please watch our video:

Can Sophie la girafe be sterilised?

In accordance with what is written on the product packaging, we do not recommend sterilising Sophie la girafe.

Known sterilisation methods require partial or full immersion of the product in a sterilising solution (boiling water or water with a sterilisation tablet) that could damage it.

Can Sophie la girafe be placed in the bath?

It is important to remember that Sophie la girafe is not a bath toy. Should water enters the product, there is a risk of damage to the whistle and the product itself.

For bath time, we offer other toys (made of natural rubber or plastic), that are specially designed to entertain your baby in the water.

Discover these products:

Bath Toys

Is there a risk for children if water stagnates in Sophie la girafe?

There is no specific risk for your child.

However, as with any hollow-bodied product, water entering it and remaining stagnant can transform into mould.

We kindly remind you that if the cleaning and usage instructions are observed, there is no reason for water to penetrate inside the product.

Can I keep Sophie la girafe and give it to my next child?

Intended for infants and promoting the development of all 5 senses from the earliest age, it is also meant to be put in baby’s mouth to relieve his sore gums during teething. Therefore, for hygienic reasons, this product must not be used by several babies, exchanged, given to another baby or resold. Just as with a toothbrush, pacifier or feeding bottle nipple, this toy must only make the happiness of a single “little” owner.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that Sophie la girafe is made from natural rubber; a “living” material that changes over time. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of Sophie la girafe by a second baby.

Our quality control approach

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.

True or false?

Is Sophie la girafe a bath toy?

FALSE: Sophie la girafe is not a bath toy.

Even if giraffes can swim, Sophie can't ;)

For bath time, we offer other toys (made of natural rubber or plastic), that are specially designed to entertain your baby in the water.

Does Sophie la girafe contain mould?

FALSE: Sophie la girafe does not contain mould. Under normal product use, there is no reason for Sophie la girafe to contain or develop moulds. 2.

TRUE: 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 surfaces.

Does Sophie contain nitrosamines?

FALSE: 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.).

Does Sophie la girafe contain BPA?

FALSE: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound contained in plastics, particularly in polycarbonates (PC) and in resins that neutralise corrosion (those that cover the interior of cans, tubes and tins). Because Sophie la girafe is made from 100% natural rubber, it does not contain Bisphenol A.

If you have any other question about Sophie la girafe or our other products, feel free to contact us:

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