Ollie the Otter

• Jointed body that wiggles and a tail that clacks as it rolls
• Rubber-rimmed wheels that are quiet on wooden floors
• 30 cm cord, the maximum length EN 71-1 allows for this age
• Hand-painted face, every one a little different

Ollie is the otter in our logo, made of wood and put on wheels. His body has three jointed sections that wiggle from side to side as he rolls, and his flat tail taps the floor with a soft clack-clack. Children who have just started walking love having something follow them around, and the sound tells them it is still there without turning round.

Why pull-along toys matter

Pulling something while walking is surprisingly hard. The child has to keep their balance, look ahead and keep a hand behind them all at once. Toddlers who have mastered it start walking backwards to watch the toy, which is a new balance skill again. A pull-along is one of the toys that makes walking fun at exactly the age when it’s tiring.

Built to be dragged

The wheels are beech with natural rubber rims, so Ollie is quiet indoors and doesn’t scratch floors. The cord is 30 cm of braided cotton with a wooden bead, the maximum length EN 71-1 allows for toys for under-threes. The joints are linked with steel pins set deep in the wood, not elastic, so they don’t loosen.

Every face is painted by hand, so no two Ollies look exactly alike. When walking is old news, Ollie tends to stay on as a character in small-world play, riding on top of the Wobble Cove or queuing for the Lantern Stage.

What’s in the box

• Ollie the Otter
• Cotton pull cord (30 cm) with wooden bead handle

Size, materials and care

Size: 26 × 9 × 12 cm (W × D × H), 0.6 kg. Materials: FSC beech wood, cotton cord, natural rubber tyres, water-based paint. Recommended age: 18 months and up.

Wipe with a damp cloth. Keep the cord away from a sleeping child.

Safety

Tested to EN 71-1, EN 71-2, EN 71-3 and CE marked.

Questions about Ollie the Otter

When should a child get a pull-along toy?

Once they walk steadily on their own, usually between 15 and 20 months. Before that a push toy gives more support. Ollie is labelled 18 months and up.

Why is the cord so short?

EN 71-1 limits cords on toys for children under three to 30 cm to reduce the risk of strangulation. Keep the toy out of the cot.

Does it work on carpet?

It rolls on low-pile rugs. On deep carpet the tail doesn’t clack and the wheels drag, so it’s happiest on wood, tiles or a flat rug.