Crib mobile
8 min
A baby's first toy is mom and dad's face. The second may be a set of toys floating above their heads. The different shapes and forms are usually accompanied by light and sound. A mobile is both a source of entertainment in the crib and an important stimulator of motor, visual and auditory development.
Crib mobile - what it is and what role it plays
Crib mobile is a type of toy that is perfect for infants. It has a calming effect on the child and stimulates the development of both visual and auditory perception. The mobile is usually located 20-30 cm above the head of a lying baby, in the best place to observe it, thanks to which it will interest every infant.
It consists of colorful, often glowing and playing toys that attract the infant's eyes and stimulate them to action. Little ones try to reach the hanging toy, thanks to which they exercise their motor skills. On the other hand, music played by the toy both develops their auditory perception and has a calming effect and can accompany them to sleep. Do not forget that the mobile for the baby's crib can also be treated as a very interesting decoration of the baby's room.
When to install a crib mobile
Newborns are born with very poor eyesight. That is why, during the first days and even weeks, the baby simply cannot see the mobile attached to the crib very clearly. Only after 3-4 weeks will it make sense to attach the mobile to the crib - preferably in contrasting black and white colors, which are easiest to spot for a baby with still poorly developed eyesight. A music box with a peaceful melody will be an added bonus.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you can't attach the mobile to the baby's crib right after it's born - some people do it just for the tunes. But it is good to know that its visual values will, for the time being, please the parents more than the baby. On top of that, it may turn out that a barely noticeable toy, instead of calming down, will distract the child, disturbing its sleep.
Types of crib mobiles
There are many different types of crib mobiles for your baby in the stores. Some will be plastic, others wooden, colored, black and white, with toy cars, hearts, projectors, melodies, etc. The range of choice can therefore be almost infinite. In general, however, mobiles are divided into three groups with regard to:
- where they are hung,
- the material they are made of,
- the fixing method.
In addition to the most popular baby crib mobiles, there are also pushchair mobiles, travel mobiles, which are designed to be mounted on travel cots, integrated with rockers - as in our NOLA rocker - and bath mobiles.
In general, mobiles for cribs are made of two types of materials: plastic and wood.
Plastic ones can be fitted with toys made from other materials, such as rag toys. Plastic mobiles usually have additional features such as a music box or a star projector.
Wooden mobiles are usually equipped with only material toys - without the possibility of enriching the toy with other functions.
Fixing the mobile in the crib
The fixing method depends mainly on where you want to mount the mobile. Crib mobiles are usually permanently attached to the rungs or the frame. In the case of travel cots, mobiles are attached to the frame, while mobiles for pushchairs are attached to the hood. Bath mobiles have a sucker so that they can be easily and conveniently attached to any tiled wall. Regardless of the mounting method and the type of mobile, the most important thing is that it is firmly attached - so that you do not expose your baby to any danger. It may come as a surprise that not all crib mobiles need to come with a mounting bracket. It is usually standard equipment for plastic mobiles. However, if you intend to buy a handcrafted wooden mobile from a local manufacturer, you may need to purchase a mounting bracket.
A mobile with or without sound?
Should you opt for a child's crib mobile equipped with a music box? This is certainly an option worth considering. The sound will be an additional stimulus for the baby, which positively stimulates the sense of hearing, sensitizing your little one to sound impressions. A soft, peaceful melody can also help your baby to fall asleep.
When choosing a music box mobile, there are two options: hand-wound and battery operated. Some offer just one melody, which can quickly become boring for the baby, not to mention the parents. Others, on the other hand, have a much wider range of recordings stored in their memory: both popular melodies, led by lullabies, but also sounds, for example, of nature. There are even crib mobiles on the market to which you can upload your own favourite tunes. The option to upload your own compositions can also be found in other products for babies, such as the LUMI bouncer-rocker by Kinderkraft. You can do it easily and intuitively via USB port or even more conveniently - via bluetooth.
A crib mobile with a projector?
Another interesting feature that some electric baby crib mobiles have is a projector. This is a very impressive option which additionally stimulates the still not fully developed sense of sight of the child. Thanks to watching, the baby also exercises concentration and attention span. The projector can also be used as a small lamp, which may not replace a bedside lamp but will allow the child to get used to darkness and the parent to feel more comfortable walking around the dark room. There are a lot of luminous themes on the market, the most popular of which is the star theme.
Toys in the mobile
There are many types of toys in a mobile. It is their quality that ultimately determines the attractiveness of the mobile. That is why we should not underestimate what is hanging from the mobile - what material the toy is made of, its shape, color, and how it moves. There are plastic, metal, wooden, paper and material (plush, felt) toys. Remember that small children, also due to poorly developed eyesight, prefer strong visual stimuli. Therefore, it is certainly better to use vivid, contrasting colors of toys. Also their movement will certainly help in getting children interested in toys. The ones that move more, have a stronger effect on a toddler.
Additional features of the crib mobile
In addition to the music box and the projector, the crib mobile has a number of very different, sometimes extremely useful functions that will improve care for any baby. One such function is certainly a small lamp built into the mobile that will allow gentle light to illuminate the space around the crib - the mobile that is part of the set including the JOY travel cot has such a lamp. An equally functional addition is the remote control, thanks to which you can remotely and efficiently adjust the motion of the mobile, music from the music box or its volume. But that's not all, as some models of the baby crib mobiles even have a cry sensor, thanks to which the mobile will be turned on automatically as soon as the baby cries.
When to mount and dismount the toy?
It is best to install the mobile in the baby's crib only when it is fully functional, i.e. when the baby has developed enough of a visual sense to be able to see the toy - around 3 or 4 weeks of age. However, there are no clear indications as far as mobile dismantling is concerned. The best indicator is when the child is not interested - this means that the child has simply outgrown this form of play. In some cases, you can use the mobile even until the child is 18 months old - and in the case of a toy with a projector, even longer - even 3-4-year-olds love shining, colorful stars. A good tip is also the moment when the toddler learns to sit up and starts to reach the toy - then it's better to remove the equipment, so that the child does not accidentally break the hanging elements or knock over the entire structure.
A crib mobile - do you need it?
A crib mobile is one of those toys that not only entertain but also stimulate development. Thanks to attractive, colourful, spinning toys the toddler exercises stretching their arms and clasping them on hanging objects. Music box sounds introduce the world of music, calming down and helping to fall asleep. Luminous elements make the darkness less scary and provide visual experience. Crib mobiles are, above all, multifunctional toys that your child will not get bored with quickly. So do you need them - the answer seems clear!
