Mobiles are so much more than nursery decor. To your newborn, mobiles offer purposeful play. Gazing at the different designs builds their vision and focus. With this in mind, it can be helpful to hang mobiles wherever your baby spends their wake periods – not just over their bassinet or crib!
First, avoid this rookie mistake
Your newborn can only see about 8-12 inches in front of them. If you hang a beautiful mobile near the ceiling, they won't be able to enjoy it when it's past their line of sight. Bring your baby's mobiles 8-12 inches away from their line of sight, towards their chest.
Safety tips for visual mobiles
Ensure that the mobile is securely fastened and out of your baby's reach(you want your newborn to see it, but it shouldn't be close enough where they can knock it down).
Regularly inspect the mobile for wear or damage and replace it if necessary.
Ensure that any mobile you choose meets safety standards, including the absence of small parts, secure attachment, and adherence to safety regulations.
Types of Mobiles
Traditional mobiles, readily found in baby stores and on registry wish lists, are often more decorative, featuring a variety of shapes, colors, and textures. They are designed to engage your baby with more complex visual stimulation, which is typically appropriate by at least 2 months of age. These are commonly displayed over a crib, play mat, or changing station to temporarily entertain baby. Examples of traditional mobiles include:
To hang traditional mobiles, follow the instructions that come with your mobile. Many are designed to attach to your crib or stroller.
Montessori mobiles stimulate your newborn's visual tracking skills and encourage concentration. Montessori is an educational method that aligns with the course of child development. The Montessori infant mobiles are designed to match the progression of your baby's vision and are, therefore, introduced sequentially. Hanging these over a play area rather than a sleep space is preferred since they invite wakeful concentration.
Munari, for ages 0-5 weeks old
This mobile stimulates the newborn's ability to see in high contrast, black and white. The simple shapes also introduce your baby to the concept of shapes.
Octahedron, 5-8 weeks old
Hello, primary colors (and three-dimensional shapes)! Now, your newborn can start to see color, which is the purpose of this red, yellow, and blue mobile.
Gobbi, 7 - 10 weeks old
As your newborn's vision develops, they will go from seeing bright colors to more shades of color. The Gobbi introduces visual gradation of color.
Dancer's, 8 -12 weeks old
This mobile is the last of the visual series and is the most advanced, with more movement than the previous three. The figurines spin and reflect light, targeting motor skills, depth perception, and focus.
To hang Montessori visual mobiles, follow the instructions that came with them or check out this blog by Bella's Casa, which offers 5 different ways to install them securely.
Mobiles should match your baby's capabilities
As your baby starts to bat and grasp between months 3 and 4, they will likely be ready to shift away from visual mobiles onto more challenging "tactile" mobiles, or ones that safely promote increased movement, hand-eye coordination, batting, and grasping. Examples of tactile mobiles include:
With the correct placement and thoughtful selection, mobiles can provide a delightful and stimulating addition to your baby's environment.