Musical Crinkle Caterpillar

Many babies protest the moment they are put on their tummy, and it is easy to feel like you are failing when every session ends in tears. This caterpillar gives your baby something worth looking at. At roughly 55 cm long, it stretches right across their view when you lay it in front of them, which encourages them to lift and turn their head to follow it.

It is full of surprises. A music box hides in the head, crinkle paper rustles when it is pressed, a squeaker responds to a gentle squeeze and a rattle bell sounds as it moves. Four different sounds means four different things to discover, so it holds interest far longer than a toy that only does one thing.

Smooth, ribbed and raised textures run from head to tail in bright patterns and contrasting colours, and little fabric legs give extra places to grab. It stays useful long after tummy time too, for sitting, squeezing and crawling after. Made mainly from polyester.

Designed for supervised, awake play.

Surface clean only

• Gently wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth
• For difficult marks, use a little mild soapy water or a suitable toy cleaner on the cloth
• Wipe away any remaining cleaning product with a clean, damp cloth
• Do not use rough materials or strong cleaning agents
• Do not soak or immerse the toy in water
• Allow it to dry completely before use or storage

Storage

• Store it in a dry, airy place
• Keep it away from direct sunlight, damp conditions, fire and heat sources
• Avoid severe impacts or drops, which may damage the internal music, rattle or mechanical components

Introduce the sounds

Place the caterpillar on a clean floor or play mat during supervised, awake play. Press the head to start the music, squeeze the different body sections and move the toy gently so your baby hears the crinkle, squeak and rattle.

Explore segment by segment

Let your baby touch the different fabrics, reach for the colourful legs and investigate each textured segment. As coordination develops, encourage them to pat, squeeze and work along the caterpillar from one section to the next.

Use it for tummy time

Position the caterpillar slightly in front of your baby, close enough to see but just beyond easy reach. Its long body and varied sounds can encourage your baby to lift and turn their head, reach towards the legs and textured sections, shift their weight and stay interested for longer.

Move it slowly from one side to the other to encourage looking and reaching in both directions. Begin with short sessions and stop when your baby becomes tired or unsettled. Always use it on a firm surface on the floor, never inside a cot or other sleep space.

Clear age guide

Manufacturer guidance: 0+

Mysa Baby SA recommendation: Best suited from around 3 to 12 months, with the strongest play stage at roughly 4 to 9 months. Some children still enjoy it up to around 18 months.

Birth to 3 months: Play led by you

Place the caterpillar in front of your baby during short, supervised tummy time sessions. Activate the sounds gently and move it slowly from side to side for looking and listening. Tummy time should only happen while your baby is awake and supervised.

3 to 5 months: Batting and early grasping

Your baby may begin reaching towards the colourful legs, touching the different fabrics and holding a section when it is placed in their hand. By around four months, many babies hold a placed toy, swing their arms towards toys and push onto their forearms during tummy time.

5 to 9 months: Strongest play stage

Your baby can reach, grab, squeeze and explore the sections more deliberately. The music, crinkle, squeaker and rattle each give a different response to discover. Reaching for wanted toys and pushing up with straighter arms are common around six months.

9 to 12 months: Active floor play

Your baby may move along the caterpillar, press different sections, pass parts between their hands and reach for it while sitting or beginning to move across the floor.

12 to 18 months: Extended sensory play

It can stay useful for pressing, squeezing, listening and pointing at the different colours and textures, although interest varies by child.

Safety information

Adult supervision is required at all times, and the toy is for awake play only.

Before every use, check that the seams, stitching, fabric, legs and sound components are intact and securely connected. Stop using it immediately if it becomes damaged, malfunctions or shows any abnormal condition, and discard it if a broken part could create a safety risk.

Use the toy only for its intended floor play purpose and within the age range shown on the manufacturer's packaging. Keep it out of cots and other sleep spaces, and keep the instruction sheet for future reference.

Battery information

• Contains batteries that cannot be replaced
• The batteries are not rechargeable
• Do not attempt to recharge, open or replace them
• Keep new and used batteries away from children
• Seek immediate medical attention if you believe a battery may have been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body

Your order includes:

• 1 × musical crinkle caterpillar

Delivery rates across South Africa

• R89 if your order is below R499
• R49 if your order is between R499 and R599
• Free delivery if your order is R599 or above

Delivery time

Your estimated delivery window is shown just above these dropdowns. As soon as your order ships, we send you an Aramex tracking number so you can follow it all the way to your door.