Mobiles

One of the first toys your child will enjoy is a mobile. Baby mobiles are suspended over your baby’s crib and are a wonderful way to soothe and amuse your little one.

Most mobiles rotate slowly and play music, as well. The visual movement and music can keep babies occupied when they’re awake, and are also great for helping get them to sleep. When you begin shopping, you’ll find that there are dozens of different mobiles from which to choose.

When choosing a mobile for your nursery, consider your nursery theme. In fact, your nursery bedding may have a mobile made specifically to coordinate with its pattern. If not, you’ll find many choices that will work for your décor. I chose a garden theme for my daughter’s nursery, and had the bedding custom made from floral and gingham fabrics. I was able to find a beautiful butterfly mobile in the same colors as my fabrics. It worked beautifully with my décor, even though it was designed to go with a completely different bedding set.

Many experts recommend black and white infant mobiles for newborn babies. Until the age of six months old, babies’ vision does not distinguish color very well. Therefore, high contrasts, like black and white, often mixed with red, are the most visually appealing to a young infant. These high contrast colors will hold baby’s attention longer and will promote visual development and physical movement, too.

When choosing your baby’s mobile, be sure to consider the music it plays as well as the design of the mobile itself. It’s a safe bet that any tune played by a baby’s mobile will be soothing to baby. However, you’ll be hearing that tune a lot, too, so don’t pick a mobile with music that you dislike.

Keep in mind that mobiles are only safe for use while your baby is very young. Once your child reaches the age where she can pull up in the crib and possibly reach the mobile, it should be removed. Most mobiles have small pieces that could be pulled off the mobile and present a choking hazard. So, keep a close eye on your baby’s activity and remove the mobile before it becomes a hazard.

A crib mobile is a great way to soothe and stimulate your new baby. Be certain to include one as you’re choosing décor and accessories for your baby’s nursery.