Mobile in a crib for a newborn: when should you hang it and how to choose the right one?

Mobile (English “mobile” - mobile, moving) is a device that consists of several small toys, freely suspended on a cross and moving in a circle using a built-in mechanism. Because of this feature, the device is called a carousel.

Mobile for newborn

It is known that prototypes of modern mobiles were used by ancient Russian parents, who placed bags of herbs, straw figurines, and wooden birds on pendants above the cradle as a talisman for the child against the evil eye.

A modern crib mobile for newborns has lost its protective purpose, but it also brings benefits:

• toys placed in the infant’s field of vision become the first objects of exploration of the surrounding world;
• bright accessories attract the baby’s gaze and train attention and visual activity;
• the carousel captivates the baby for a while while the parents solve everyday issues;
• the device alternates melodies and helps the baby fall asleep or sets a rhythm while awake;
• removable hanging figures are used for games when the child grows up;
• The gadget is a wonderful decoration for a children's room.

At what age do you put a mobile phone on your crib?

Experts do not give a clear answer to this question. In the first 4 weeks of life, a newborn baby still sees poorly (and notices only stationary objects) and only needs food, sleep and dry, comfortable clothing. If the gadget has already been purchased, then play music quietly for a short time for the newborn.

A two-month-old baby is able to focus his gaze on a moving object. Many experts recommend using a mobile phone from this age, while:

• do not constantly use the crumbs during every waking moment;
• do not turn on the music at full volume, as loud sound overloads the baby’s psyche and causes restless behavior and insomnia;
• dismantle the device as soon as the baby learns to sit up independently and catch the figures with his hands.

Important! A child sitting up on his own may accidentally break the mobile mount and injure himself.

Carousel over the crib

Toys for the development of coordination of movements

Coordination of movements develops in children aged three months to six months. Babies try to lift and hold the rattle. At this time, it is necessary to purchase appropriate toys. The rattle should not be heavy. The baby should be able to hold it easily. In addition, the lighter the toy, the less dangerous it is. You should not choose very noisy rattles: the child may be frightened by sharp sounds.

Grabbing toys are hung on special racks. As the child develops, their height changes. A three-month-old baby is already exploring toys by touch and trying to grab them. The figures should be located at arm's length, be comfortable to hold and have different shapes. To develop tactile sensations, you need to offer your child toys made of different materials.

Source: www.kakprosto.ru

Mobile selection criteria

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Retail chains offer a large selection of carousels for kids. What to look for when choosing an accessory:

1. On the material and frame. A durable, rigid arched base is made of plastic with a screw, clip or strap fastening.
2. To the torque mechanism (mechanical or electronic).
3. For musical accompaniment. Before purchasing a device, listen to all the proposed melodies; it is also desirable to have a silent mode.
4. For hanging elements, which can be textile (cotton, synthetic), wooden or plastic. Parents usually prefer models with removable toys. A high-quality mobile has no chemical odors and is not painted with acid-colored paints.
5. Additional options: remote control, projector, player, relay that responds to a baby’s cry, volume control, rotation modes and others.
6. For the integrity of parts, uniformity and color fastness, practicality in everyday life.

Important! Before purchasing, be sure to make sure that the attachments match the specific crib.

Plastic carousels and removable elements can be easily treated with disinfectants and are multifunctional, but if they fall they can slightly injure or frighten the baby. Textile elements are harmless, but quickly become dirty, which can be eliminated with a regular washing machine.

Devices are purchased only in specialized stores, after checking all documents and safety certificates.

Parents can choose a mobile for their child based on their own taste, preferences and financial capabilities.

How to teach a baby to hold a rattle?

To teach a baby to hold a rattle, you need to interest him in a bright object. From the first weeks of a child’s life, parents train his attention, concentrating the baby’s gaze on a colorful object. Holding the toy at a distance of 25-30 cm from the baby’s eyes, it is moved from side to side, up and down.

When the child is completely interested in the rattle, you can begin to develop fine motor skills of the fingers. You need to massage and straighten the baby's fists, fixing his interest on his hands. After this, the first exercise is carried out - turning the baby’s gaze to the toy, you need to bring it closer, touching the baby’s palm.

Your baby's attempt to grab it may look hesitant. You need to help him by inserting the toy so that 4 fingers grab the ring, and the thumb overlaps them.

When the child has learned to hold a rattle, you need to move his hand in different directions so that the toy remains in his field of vision. After this, you need to bring your free hand closer to the thing being held, allowing the baby to grab it with both hands. This will help him quickly learn to transfer an object from one palm to another.

Types of mobiles for a crib

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There are a large number of mobile phones of different purposes, functionality and quality. Basically they are divided into 3 groups:

1. Decorative. They are used to decorate a children's room; they do not have a rotating element or musical accompaniment.
2. Mechanical. The rotating mechanism is driven by a winding handle; one winding lasts for 3-5 minutes. work. Such models have no additional options and are low in cost.
3. Electronic. They operate on batteries continuously for up to 30 minutes, are easy to operate, and do not require constant recharging. Most often they have several additional functions: choice of music, lighting, projector, and so on. Depending on the material, manufacturer and set of additional options, they have a wide price range.

Where to begin?

Since a newborn’s eyes are not yet fully developed, it’s worth starting with a simple hanging garland. The garland is attached to the sides of the children's bed, so it is stationary. The colors of individual toys should not differ radically from each other. It is best to give preference to calm colors so as not to strain your baby’s eyes.

Child psychologists recommend the following sequence of colors for toys on a garland: red, orange, blue, green. The size of the toys is no less important. It should not exceed 10 cm. The garland should not be hung over the eyes, but over the stomach. Another important point is that the distance from the belly to the toy should be at least 30 cm.

The next step will be a children's mobile. It is recommended to hang it on the crib when the child is 5-6 months old.

Rating of the top 5 best mobiles for a crib

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Manufacturers present a large and varied range of accessories for cribs, and it is difficult for parents to decide which mobile is best for a newborn.

1st place goes to the Tiny Love “Island of Sweet Dreams” mobile for newborns.

Mobile Tiny Love “Island of Sweet Dreams”

Main characteristics of the device:

• The set includes a night lamp, attractive detachable toys, and a remote control;
• Four melodies are recorded that can sound loud and quiet for up to 20 minutes, there is a “silent” function;
• an electronic mechanism that rotates the pendants in a circle and around its axis;
• If necessary, it can be divided into a night light and a music box.

The downside is the high price.

2nd place goes to the Fisher-Price mobile “Butterfly Dreams three in one.” Advantages of the gadget:

• built-in projector (also a night light), music unit (classical music, nature sounds, heartbeat recording) and removable plush toys;
• electronic rotation mechanism;
• remote control control;
• volume control.

Disadvantages - the projector turns on only with music, the remote control can only be controlled in loud sound mode, a large number of rechargeable batteries are required.

3rd place goes to the Tiny Love Boom-Box mobile. Advantages of this model:

• holder in the form of a white palm tree with removable textile figures;
• electronic rotating element;
• the mobile music unit includes 15 melodies of different styles, is detached from the structure and used autonomously;
• has a volume control;
• serves as a night light.

Cons: no remote control, not suitable for all beds, high cost.

In 4th place is the Chicco “Magic Stars” mobile. Strengths of this device:

• electronic rotation mechanism;
• a projector that broadcasts the starry sky and outer space (used as a night light);
• a sound sensor that responds to the baby’s crying and starts the carousel;
• removable textile hanging star figures;
• infrared remote control;
• high quality materials.

Cons: “girly” color, unregulated sound, quick battery drain, high cost.

5th place belongs to the Russian mobile made in China “Giraffe”. Advantages of this model:

• low cost and acceptable design;
• electronic rotation mechanism, working with or without sound;
• the ability to choose one of 18 melodies;
• built-in timer;
• removable plastic hanging toys with movable limbs and rubberized inserts are often used as teethers or rattles;
• safe mirror for babies.

Cons: short holder, fastening system does not fit all cribs and strollers, the rotating mechanism is noisy, some modes do not function correctly.

Giraffe

Optimal age for introducing a toy

Parents are often interested in the age at which a child can be given a rattle. From the first weeks of life, the baby begins to be interested in catchy objects in his mother’s hands. Multi-colored toys should flash before his eyes, which he can follow with his eyes. To do this, hang classic stretch marks or soft sling rattles over the crib.

Newborns have a well-developed grasping reflex. They easily hold a ring-shaped rattle in the fist. In the first month of life, babies hold objects unconsciously. At this age, they respond to loud sounds and bright colors of toys. To develop tactile sensations and logical skills, older children are given textile “rustles” and puzzles.

At what weeks does a newborn show interest in a rattle? Only at the 7th week of life does the baby consciously try to explore the thing held in his palm. Subsequently, his interest in the toy goes through the following stages:

• 3 months – the desire to pick up and shake a rattle that is in the field of view (more details in the article: toys for children at 3 months);
• 5 months – lifting a bright toy from the floor with one hand;
• 6 months – concentrating on several objects at the same time, transferring a toy from one palm to another.

How to make a carousel with your own hands

Adults do not always have the opportunity to purchase a high-quality mobile for a newborn crib. In this case, creative parents make a carousel with their own hands, following a number of rules:

1. use natural, safe hypoallergenic materials (wood, textiles, felt and others);
2. monitor the safety of the suspended structure and fastening elements;
3. the most savvy ones invent a music system with calm, quiet music;
4. For the manufacture of mobiles, pastel-colored materials are selected.

Important! High-quality materials do not have strong odors (wooden blanks may have a slight woody aroma) and unstable paints.

DIY mobile

Advantages of making a carousel with your own hands:

• parents make an accessory that fully meets their needs;
• the master personally monitors the strength and safety of individual elements and the entire structure as a whole;
• a mobile is designed for an older baby, focusing on his preferences;
• the homemade device is charged with positive parental energy;
• some make a carousel amulet according to ancient Russian canons;
• They spend much less money on purchasing materials and making toys themselves than on buying a ready-made one.

Disadvantages of making a device yourself:

• to create a carousel with your own hands, you spend a significant amount of time, materials and labor;
• the result (especially for novice masters) may not meet initial expectations.

The procedure for creating a carousel with your own hands

The mobile manufacturing process is divided into 2 stages: preparing the base frame and creating hanging elements.

The base frame is a load-bearing structural element to which hanging figures are attached from below; it is suspended from the upper part from the ceiling or canopy. The shape of the frames is made cross-shaped or round.

To create a cross-shaped wooden frame you will need:

• 2 wooden chopsticks (suitable for Chinese food);
• high-quality glue (you can use “Moment”);
• strong twine or clothesline;
• safe jewelry to suit the taste of the master.

Operating procedure:

1. measure the sticks and mark the center on each (sticks for Chinese food are made symmetrical on both sides);
2. align the centers of the sticks and glue them crosswise with glue (for strength, make a shallow groove at the gluing site);
3. one side of the rope or twine is tightly wrapped around the glued area, the other side is made in the form of a loop by which the cross will be suspended;
4. leave the glued structure for the glue to harden for some time (indicated in the instructions for using the glue);
5. decorate the mount at the discretion of the master.

A circular frame is easier to manufacture, but such a carousel is inactive. For such a module, an embroidery hoop, decorative rope or satin ribbon up to 1 cm wide, reliable glue, and scissors are prepared.

Operating procedure:

1. the hoop is separated and a smaller circle is taken as a basis;
2. make a decorative wrapping with rope or ribbon;
3. firmly fix the ends of the winding;
4. make a loop for hanging.

Then hanging toys are made for the newborn’s crib. For example, to create a bird figurine from felt you will need:

• pastel colored felt,
• matching threads,
• 2 small beads,
• needle,
• scissors,
• chalk or pencil,
• filler (sintepon, holofiber),
• glue.

Carousel with felt birds

Draw a small silhouette of a bird on thick paper and cut it out. 2 bird parts are cut out of felt in a mirror image. Place the parts together and sew them together along the edges with a loop stitch, leaving a hole in the belly for stuffing. After stuffing and sewing up the holes, wings are glued on the sides, and beady eyes are firmly sewn on.

Other figures are made using the same principle.

If the mother knows how to knit, then hanging toys are knitted from natural threads with durable coloring. Detailed patterns for knitting toys are posted on the Internet.

No less interesting are soft textile hanging elements in the Waldorf style, tildes, teddy bears and others.

What is a mobile for newborns?

A mobile is a rotating carousel that is hung on a hook or attached to a bracket on the boot of the playpen. The toys rotate on the cross. There are an incredible number of mobile options. There are toys with musical accompaniment, with a rotating mechanism, with lighting, and many other functions.

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Mobile for baby from 2 to 4 months

At this age, the baby is already getting used to the mobile phone and is happy as soon as the mother turns on her favorite carousel. The baby already remembers the melodies that this toy plays and the figures that circle above his head.

Kids at this age are already good at concentrating their attention on details - they carefully follow the movement of toys, turning their heads after them. Also, at this age the baby already pays attention to colors.

Mobiles usually always have bright and pleasant colors that should attract attention. By the way, in cloudy weather and in poor lighting, babies pay more attention to yellow, red and orange, and in bright sunlight to green, blue, purple and yellow

Also, at this age the baby already pays attention to colors. Mobiles usually always have bright and pleasant colors that should attract attention

By the way, in cloudy weather and in poor lighting, babies pay more attention to yellow, red and orange, and in bright sunlight to green, blue, purple and yellow.

It is worth noting that some babies are too entertained by mobiles and then find it difficult to calm them down. For such babies, it is better not to turn on the mobile phone before bed, even with a projector and lullabies.

What types of mobiles are there for newborns?

Among the huge assortment of mobile phones, only two types stand out: with and without musical accompaniment. Musical ones, in turn, are divided into mechanical and battery-powered.

The mechanical plant is built on the principle of a music box. Mom needs to turn the key several times for the melody to sound. In most cases, this quiet melodic music is very popular with kids and parents. But the disadvantage of such a device is that there is only one melody in the set. And the plant lasts no more than 5 minutes. Then you need to start the barrel organ again.

Battery-powered mobile phones , as a rule, have several options of melodies that switch one after another until the entire selection is played. It is very important for parents to listen to all the tunes when purchasing! After all, at home you will have to listen to them every day with your baby. And if the music is of poor recording quality, or you simply don’t like it, then the mobile phone will be just another annoying factor. It is worth keeping a supply of batteries for this device in the house.

Mobiles also differ in the type of mounting.

• Inexpensive models have a hook by which the entire device is suspended in a convenient place. Such toys are mobile. But the baby can pull the hook out of the fastening when rocking.
• A clamp is usually used to secure it to the crib. This design is quite durable. But still, when the baby learns to reach the toys, it is better to disassemble them to avoid injury.
• Velcro fastening allows you to fix the mobile in any convenient place: on the handle of a stroller, in a car seat, in a playpen, on a walker

When to hang?

Manufacturers of the vast majority of hanging toys advise parents to use them from the first days of a child’s life. When offering a mobile phone to your child, it is worth taking into account his age characteristics.

For newborns

For children aged 2-4 months

• You can purchase a brighter mobile or update the toys on your existing one - the child begins to distinguish colors and respond to them.
• It is permissible to include various melodies - the baby will happily recognize them.
• It is better not to use a mobile phone at night, and also not to use a projector, since at this age children's sleep is not stable.

For babies aged 4-6 months

You can replace the mobile with a more interesting one, buy new pendants or make them yourself - your baby will get bored with the same figures. It is worth paying special attention to the device for attaching the mobile, since during this period the child is actively trying to touch and pull objects of interest to him. It is allowed to briefly include projections of pictures on the ceiling and soothing lullabies at night. You should not leave your baby with a toy unattended, even for a short time.

Mobiles for children from 6 months

• It will be interesting for the child to control the mobile if it is equipped with a special unit with large colored buttons.
• The toy must be very securely fastened to the crib; at the same time, the pendants must be removed so that they can be played separately.
• The use of small parts, beads and buttons on the figures is strictly prohibited, as a child can reach them.

Toys were always hung over children's cradles. But if earlier these were dolls sewn from rags, or birds carved from wood, then over time everything changed. Today's mothers hang an amazing modern invention over their cribs - mobile phones. Such rotating carousels with hanging toys not only entertain the child, but also give his mother the necessary moments of relaxation.