Tactile mobiles are mobiles that go beyond visual tracking. When hung above the baby, tactile mobiles invite hand-eye coordination and movement. They are typically introduced around month 3, when your baby begins showing interest in batting, grasping, and kicking.
They are introduced after visual mobiles, which are the ones designed to capture your newborn’s developing vision from birth to about 12 weeks old. Visual tracking skills will still be fun and purposeful after 12 weeks, but your baby is ready for new challenges as their motor development progresses! Hence, tactile mobiles kick things up a notch.
The benefits are boundless:
Motor Skills:Tactile mobiles encourage your baby to reach out, touch, and grasp, promoting the development of fine and gross motor skills.
Hand-Eye Coordination:Your baby will learn to coordinate their movements with tactile feedback, enhancing hand-eye coordination.
A confidence boost:Tactile mobiles often mark the first time your baby realizes they can have an impact on their surroundings. When they hit a bell on a ribbon, for example, it makes noise! They did that! It’s a confidence boost when babies experience agency in play like this.
Here’s an example of a tactile mobile set you can get on Etsy.
It’s important to consider safety when offering mobiles that your little one can now reach, pull, and potentially mouth. Always double check that your baby’s play space and play things are free of hazards before placing them down.