The handles kind of look like they impede the use of the legs or neck, which are perfect for the baby to both grip and gnaw on.

Umm... it looks like Sophie mated with an elephant somewhere in a French jungle.

I don't like it.. she looks weird. I thought it was some kind of alien Sophie for a joke or something at first glance.

I read a lot of negative reviews from people saying their babies were getting the original Sophie's neck and legs stuck down their throats. I guess this is in response to those?

I've seen it in stores. It is smaller than the original Sophie and it is stiffer, sort of like the plastic teething ring stiffness. I think it is solid rubber instead of a squeaky toy like the original Sophie.

I would try this. My kid fell in the 'meh' category with Sophie, but she liked the mushrooms that the same company makes. She would have liked the grippability of the rings on this one.

There is nothing wrong with the original Sophie. Why fix something that isn't broken?

My son started teething at 2 months, so the regular Sophie was way to big for him to put in his mouth. Even though he can't hold the So'Pure Teether himself, I can easily hold it for him and let him go to town chomping on "Mini Sophie", as I like to call it. Another bonus, this doesn't squeak, so my dog doesn't try to steal it, unlike the original Sophie.

My daughter loved the mini-handled Sophie when she was younger and the larger squeaky Sophie when she got a little older. She loves them both! Though she is expensive kids really do gravitate to her. Squeaky Sophie is often one of my daughters car toys and when she was still in the bucket style car seat Sophie would be in it at day care and kids all day would stop and play with her - all ages of kids!