Mobile in the crib for a newborn: when to hang and how to choose the right one? How to choose a baby mobile in the crib? When should a child hang up a mobile

The tradition of hanging various trinkets over the cradle of a newborn came to us from ancient times. In the old days, there was a belief that such pendants could protect a baby from spoilage, evil spirits, give him good luck and a healthy life.

Now the placement of toys over the cradle does not carry a sacred meaning, parents thereby try to calm the kids and begin their development from the moment of birth. To this end, mothers acquire a mobile for a crib - an extremely common and fashionable attribute in a children's room. Is this accessory necessary for the child and parents?

Before dwelling in more detail on the functions of this device for a child, you need to understand what a mobile is. Baby crib mobiles are rotating carousels that are hung on a hook or mounted on a bracket to the sides of the cradle.

Such toys are completely different: musical, backlit, etc.

Similar devices in our country have been known since the time of Kievan Rus, when parents attached wooden toys over the cradle of their newborn. Usually they looked like birds that called for success and good luck to the child.

At present, the mobile phone for a crib has been significantly modified, it has additional functions and effects.

A modern children's mobile is no longer just a beautiful addition to the interior of a room, but also a great toy that performs the following useful functions:

Development of visual concentration. Toys that are hung over the cradle of a child at a distance of 25-30 cm are a good visual simulator. Some models allow you to change suspended objects, so black and white toys are used for newborn babies, since the child still does not distinguish colors, and by three months they are changed to contrasting objects of blue and red shades.
Distraction. Currently, more and more often there are musical mobiles for a crib. Such a toy frees the mother's hands, since the melody that this device emits allows you to put the child to sleep or calm him down when he is capricious.
Children's room decoration. It is not enough for modern women that the toy performs its immediate functions. Game accessories are now required to complement the interior of the room. Many manufacturers, taking into account the wishes of parents, are trying to make whole sets in a single style: furniture for babies, sets of linen, mobiles for a crib. In addition, pendants are made in the form of cute animals, cars for boys and stars, and beautiful fairies for girls.

Do you need a mobile for a newborn? There is no specific answer to this question, so the final decision always remains with the parents.

At the beginning of a child's life, it is difficult to be interested in anything other than the mother's breast, warm mother's hands and dry diapers. And only after the fourth week, babies begin to be interested in surrounding objects.

Do not forget that the child's hearing organs are extremely sensitive. That's why you can't play toys at full volume.

An unnecessarily “screaming” melody annoys the kids and instead of calm babies, moms end up with excited and capricious little ones.

When should you buy a mobile?

Inexperienced mothers are often interested in what week of life you can hang mobiles on a crib and how long to take them off. There is quite conflicting information on forums and various sites: some experts object to the early use of these toys, others advise buying it as early as possible.

For newborns

A mobile for a newborn is not a mandatory, but quite acceptable toy. Manufacturers and doctors put forward several conditions, under which this device will only benefit a tiny child:

the distance between the children's eyes and the device should be about 30 centimeters;
the toy should hang over the baby's chest, and not over his head;
turn on the toy in the first four weeks is no more than five minutes a day.

Excessive flickering can overwork a newborn child, and therefore it is necessary to reduce the time of operation of the toy as much as possible. At such a young age, an excess of impressions is not welcome.

For babies two to four months old

In this age period, the toy is already becoming familiar to kids. The familiar melody evokes excitement, and the moving pendants are a delight to the eye. The child already manages to focus on the device.

A musical toy is useful when the baby is awake, and if it is also equipped with light effects, then the little one will be carried away by studying unusual shadows for a long time. However, you should not turn on musical devices before going to bed, even if a lullaby is played there. Electronic music excites the nervous system and can worsen the process of falling asleep in a child.

For babies up to six months

The child is growing up, which means that the mobile phone on the crib, which previously interested him, begins to get bored little by little. You will have to replace it with a completely different, stronger device, since the child will definitely want to grab it.

The main task of such toys at this age is the development of grasping skills, which is why the pendants must be properly attached.

However, you still can’t leave a child alone with a moving toy, you never know what can happen. Let the baby have fun in his mother's presence.

A child after six months is difficult to keep still. Now he is already trying to get up on his legs, crawl, so that being in bed becomes quite rare, so the funny toy is not used as often as before.

However, a musical mobile phone for a crib can also be used as a regular player. Favorite melody can not only entertain the child, but also contribute to a more successful assimilation of crawling and walking skills.

But for children older than 12 months, such a toy is practically not needed.

Among the variety of moving toys for babies, there are only two main types: musical models and a device without musical accompaniment. The first type, in turn, come with a mechanical winding and battery-operated. Let's take a closer look at the description of each type:

1. Wooden (simple, ordinary) mobile phone for a crib:

easy to use - all you need to do is purchase toys and hang them correctly by the mount (ordinary rope or cord);
made from natural wood, therefore it is safe for the child from an environmental point of view;
you can independently change the pendants to your taste;
Disadvantage - you can not adjust the toy in height.

2. Mechanical mobile (pros and cons):

the movement mechanism of toys must be turned on manually;
according to its principle of operation, it resembles a music box, which is why only one melody usually sounds;
illumination is not provided;
there are more toys than a wooden mobile.

3. Electronic (electric) mobiles for a crib:

does not require constant winding, because it runs on batteries;
no longer one melody, but several musical accompaniments;
rotation speed can be adjusted, for which there is a remote control;
there is usually backlighting.

The musical component is present in almost all devices, except for decorative ones. The carousel on a crib with a mechanical winding is distinguished by a “modest repertoire” - there is only one melody.

Electronic models have a wider choice: in terms of the number of songs and their duration, such a toy resembles a tape recorder.

The most modern toys, in addition to songs, also have a night light and. Now the child will be able to closely follow both the moving toys and the “starry skies”. In addition, there is an additional device - a control panel.

Thus, the best, but at the same time expensive accessory is the three-in-one model:

mobile phone for a crib;
music block;
night light;

Such a toy will be able to captivate a child up to the age of three, since in the future it can be used as a kind of tape recorder.

In addition, manufacturers have taken into account the possibility of bumps and falls, so the product will serve faithfully for many years.

We have considered the types of "mobile" toys, now you need to understand what to look for when choosing mobiles. First of all, experts recommend looking at the quality of fastening, the features of toys suspended on devices, and the quality of musical accompaniment. How to choose a mobile for a small child?

Choose a mount

Inexpensive toys include hooks in the kit, for which the product is attached to the right place. The advantage of such a connection is the mobility of toys, however, when swinging, the little one is able to pull the hook out of the attachment point.

You can also attach the device to the crib using a special clamp. Such designs are strong enough, but for a child who can stand, it is not a problem to swing the toy. Mobiles are also fastened with Velcro, which allows you to fix them in the arena, car seat and walkers.

mobile toys

Toys on fixtures are removable or permanently fixed. With removable rattles and airplanes, the child will be able to play when he grows up a little. It is also quite possible to swap them or replace them with others.

In addition, manufacturers make toys from plastic or soft material. Fabric accessories are more pleasant to the touch, but they are "dust collectors". In this regard, plastic toys are much more hygienic and useful.

Melody

Before purchasing a toy, be sure to check the music block. The melody of mechanical mobiles should be pleasant and caressing the ear. But with electronic toys, you should listen to the entire set of songs so as not to miss looped segments of music.

You should also pay attention to the possibility of volume control. If the melody does not turn off and become quieter, you and the child may have to "enjoy" the loud annoying sound.

The best and popular manufacturers

The most famous manufacturers of children's toys also produce mobiles for babies without fail. Each brand has positive and negative reviews, so you need to choose based on your own taste. The detailed description of the toys is as follows:

Tiny Love produces toys with soft diffused light and with black and white images on pendants. The music collection consists of classical works, the total duration is about 20 minutes. The elements are made of textured material, which contributes to the development of fine motor skills. The manufacturer is Israeli, but the toys are assembled by Chinese craftsmen.
tomy is a multifunctional pendant, which is equipped with plush cartoon characters. Also, the mobile is equipped with a night light with light dispersion and a collection of 3 melodies. The device is powered by batteries, in addition, there is a control panel on top, with which you can adjust the volume, the direction of rotation of the toys. The melody is also displayed.
Chicco- a pendant, which consists of toys in the form of houses and the characters living in them. It is quite expensive, but moms also include this mobile in the ranking of the best devices. The manufacturer - an Italian company - included a remote control, a small safe mirror in the kit, kids love to admire it.
fisher price- a multifunctional accessory that contains a remote control, a projector device, a music block, an arc-shaped mount, and three teddy bears with wings. The melody is classical, but there are also sounds of nature (rain, sea breeze, bird voices). The mobile phone on the crib works as a projector, there is also a panel on which the musical accompaniment is selected (or turned off).
Tiny Princess is a mobile for girls, as the name suggests. A similar design is equipped with a night light, fluttering fairy dolls. The music block includes 4 melodies - classical and natural sounds. Toys rotate and move different parts of the body at the same time. Musical, light and rotating components can be included both together and separately. There is a suspension and a remote control. It is very convenient for young mothers, captivates them with its simplicity.

Prices depend on brand promotion and availability of additional devices. However, the high cost directly depends on the quality of the product, so it is better not to save on the health of the child.

Before buying a product, be sure to think about whether your child needs a mobile and when it is better to buy it. Perhaps the little one is rarely in his bed, falls asleep well and does not worry without toys.

In addition, you cannot be sure that the baby will like the toy, perhaps he will be indifferent to it. However, it cannot be denied that such devices are useful items that contribute to the fastest mental development.

Hello, I'm Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully studied at SUSU as a special psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and advising parents on raising children. I apply the experience gained, among other things, in the creation of psychological articles. Of course, by no means do I pretend to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.

Finding useful devices for the smallest family members is both exciting and challenging at the same time. Lack of 80s-90s, fortunately (fortunately?) We have passed, store shelves are littered with educational toys of all colors and sizes. Quite different than before, questions beset modern parents, to replace “Where would I get it?” the problem came “How to choose the right one and not to buy too much?” In this article, we will figure out why hang toys over your child's bed, and also what is it - a necessity or money down the drain.

A hanging toy on a crib is called a “mobile” or “mobile”. This piece is very useful, although it is not a mandatory attribute of a happy infancy. Each parent decides for himself whether his child needs toys above the crib, but for this you need to understand the pros and cons, but we have already done it for you.
So, the benefits and harms of toys over the crib:

This device has a lot of advantages:

This is good for the child. A mobile suspended in a baby's crib while awake teaches the baby to follow an object. You can start with one large contrasting toy hanging motionless. Such training for the eyes has a beneficial effect on the development of the baby as a whole. Gradually, you can increase the complexity of the exercise by adding movements, other toys, new colors and details. Later, the baby will begin not only to follow the toys moving over the crib with his eyes, but also to try to reach them with his hands.

It's aesthetic. I think many mothers will agree that it is the details that give the finished look to the children's room. A beautiful mobile can just become one of these final highlights.

This helps mom free her hands for a while. At first, of course, you want to carry your baby in your arms 24 hours a day, but the euphoria gradually passes, but your back starts to hurt quite a bit, besides, sometimes mom needs to eat, feed dad and do a hundred other urgent things. If something can captivate a child for at least 15 minutes, wrap it up, I'm buying.

Of the minuses, it is worth noting the following:

It's not for long. The mobile is good only up to 5-6 months of age, until the baby learns to reach for toys. Further use should be discontinued to avoid suffocation.

It is not cheap. The average price for a mobile is 3-4 thousand rubles, so if there are more primary tasks, and the budget is limited, you can do without it, or you can make a mobile with your own hands (you can read about how to do this in the article).

It needs cleaning. Like a canopy, a mobile on a crib collects a fair amount of dust. To avoid allergies, it is necessary to wash or wipe the plastic parts of toys during wet cleaning, and this is additional mother's time.

In addition to the pros and cons, there are also points that you should pay attention to when choosing a mobile:

Fastening. Inspect it properly, because the safety of your baby in the crib depends on it, especially when he is unattended. The mobile attachment mechanism must be reliable and durable, tighten well and not wobble.

Possibility to remove toys. It is good if your mobile has such a function, because, as mentioned earlier, it must be kept clean. Moreover, one-piece models with a large number of toys are not suitable for newborns, because the baby still does not know how to fix his eyes on one object among many small and identical ones.

Unobtrusive music. Listening to melodies (if it is provided at all in the model you have chosen) will have not only the baby, but also your entire family, and therefore, before buying, make sure that there are no particularly annoying, squeaking and unpleasant ones among them.

Additional options. Some models have sleep timers, the ability to turn on the rotation separately without music and vice versa, as well as built-in nightlights. Of course, all this directly affects the price, so consider which of these features you are willing to part with and do not overpay for the extra.

When should you start hanging toys on your baby's crib?

The mobile can be used from about 2-3 weeks of age, but do not be discouraged if the young explorer does not immediately show interest in it. Toddlers start tracking objects at about 1 month old, but in any case, this will be an excellent training for the eyes.
When hanging toys over the baby's crib, you should also remember that for the correct formation of vision, toys should be at a distance of about 40 cm from the face, not closer, so be sure to consider this factor.
Summing up, we can say that a mobile for a crib for newborns is more of a useful purchase than an extra waste of money, but before you buy one of these toys, we advise you to thoroughly study the chosen model.

Toys for children under three months must meet certain requirements. They should be light and quiet, of the simplest forms. Bright colors are welcome, but their abundance should be avoided. In the first year of a child's life, toys of four colors are enough: blue, red, yellow, green. A two-month-old child already perceives them, which can be determined by his revival, the movement of his legs and arms at the sight of a bright toy. But you should not buy soft toys for your baby at this age: they accumulate dust, and small parts can be torn off and swallowed.

Toys for the development of vision and hearing

Toys for examination can be hung over the baby's bed already in the first month of his life.

The baby can focus visual attention on large and bright objects from the age of 3-5 weeks. During this period, his first toys may be large plain balls or rings of bright colors. The child does not need toys with many details. They are hung over a crib, periodically changing colors. The toy is hung over the child's chest. In order not to develop strabismus, the distance from the baby's eyes to the object in question must be at least 50 cm. The diameter of the toy must be between 6 and 10 cm. No need to hang more than one object. Frequent change of toys and an abundance of colors will prevent the baby from concentrating. There must be moderation in everything.

To develop hearing and the ability to establish the direction of sound, the child needs rattles. For the same purpose, they acquire a musical carousel. It is important to make sure that it makes soft and not too loud sounds. Music should be calm, not oversaturated with tonalities. When the baby is put to bed, the carousel is removed from the crib: nothing should interfere with normal sleep. If the child sleeps in a stroller in the fresh air, toys should not be hung in it.

Toys for the development of coordination of movements

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

Grasping 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. Figures should be placed at arm's length, be comfortable to hold and have a variety of shapes. To develop tactile sensations, you need to offer the child toys from different materials.

Future parents carefully prepare for the appearance of the baby, decorate the nursery, choose the highest quality bed and do not forget about useful accessories, one of which is a mobile. Cute and bright toys rotating to the music can captivate the child and give mom a few free minutes. But this is not all the features that this gadget boasts. Today we’ll talk about what mobiles are for and choose the most best cot mobile for newborns.

Does a newborn need a mobile for a crib?

The mobile is a design with small toys, which is suspended above the baby's bed so that he can easily see all the nuances and listen to a pleasant melody. Many are mistaken in thinking that this device performs only a decorative function. In fact, mobile:

teaches the baby to focus on details;
develops visual and auditory apparatus;
expands the emotional perception of the world around.

When to Hang a Mobile in a Baby Crib

You can hang an accessory from the first days of a baby’s life, but it should be understood that a newborn will only begin to distinguish between surrounding objects after 4 weeks. The mobile will not be interesting for very small toddlers, but crumbs from 1 month old can be attracted with a bright gadget and turn on interactive functions for 5-15 minutes a day. The distance from toys to the baby should be at least 30-40 centimeters c, otherwise the constant "flickering" before the eyes can irritate the child.

Reference! The hearing of newborns is very sensitive, so you should not turn on the melody at full volume.

As the crumbs grow, interest in the mobile will grow. The baby will begin to focus on colored toys, listen to melodies, show his first emotions, twitching his arms and legs to the music. Children show attention to the gadget up to 6-12 months, after which it ceases to be interesting, because a huge number of new, interesting toys and entertainment appear around.

Kinds

The pricing policy of mobiles depends not only on the popularity of the brand, but also model functionality.

Electronic

Such mobiles controlled remotely, using the remote control. You can adjust not only the volume of the melody and switch songs, but also control the speed of rotation of the body. The duration of the sound of musical compositions - without stopping up to half an hour. Modern models are equipped with backlight, projector and can be used as night light.

Mechanical

According to the principle of operation, it resembles a music box: manually wound and, with the help of a built-in mechanism, scrolls along its axis. Most models only play one tune.

Wood

Most a budget option mobiles. It is made of environmentally friendly material - wood, easy to use, makes it possible to replace toys at your discretion. Often performs a decorative function, as it is not equipped with an automatic rotation mode.

How to choose a mobile for a crib for newborns

So, what to look for when buying?

Toys

Manufacturers offer toys made of plastic, fabric and wood. In fact, each of the options is good in its own way: wooden ones are eco-friendly and inexpensive, plastic ones are safe and bright, textile ones are useful for tactile perception. The only thing advantage of soft instances- the possibility of their use at an older age. As a rule, toddlers prefer a soft mobile, with bulky, detailed toys, than simpler plastic or wooden toys.

Functionality

For parents who like more modern models, an electronic type of mechanism is suitable, with built-in music, light and spotlight. And for those who do not care about additional functions, a classic mobile with a mechanical or wooden mechanism, without unnecessary “bells and whistles”, is suitable.

Fastening

Models may differ in the type of attachment. Some options include removable toys, which are easily detached from the structure and can be used outside the mobile. This will be a big plus for soft toys that require periodic washing. It is also worth paying attention to the possibility of adjusting the height and width of the attachment of the gadget itself. Universal option suitable not only for baby crib, but also for playpen, car seat, etc..

Music

It is best to test the sound of tunes before purchasing and make sure that the music is not too loud and rhythmic, but more calm and lulling, does not hurt the ear and will be pleasant to the baby.

Safety

The mobile must be made of safe, certified materials. The same applies to the surface coating of the gadget - check the product for smell, a quality device will not smell of anything. Also pay attention to the shape of the product, exclude chips and cracks, refuse a mobile with too small details.

Mobiles for a crib for newborns: rating of the best models

Fisher price dreams of butterflies

Multifunctional mobile, which easily performs the functions of a music box, night light and spotlight. Cute soft toys delight the baby and make it possible to play with them not only in the crib, but also on a walk: the design is easily attached to the stroller and entertains the baby.

Soothing sounds of nature provide a sweet sleep, and beautiful projections of stars on the ceiling create a mood of magic and comfort. This model cannot be called a budget one, the product is made in America and meets all the requirements of children's safety.

Average price - 4400 rubles.

Smoby Flower

This model features a very beautiful unique design. The top of the structure is a delicate flower, and the hanging toys are cute butterflies that soar above the baby and attract attention with the melodic sounds of lullabies. Mobile has projector mode, so at night on the walls and ceiling of the children's room you can see the flower-starry sky.

Universal fasteners are suitable for any occasion - a sweet dream, relaxing in a crib or walking in a stroller in the fresh air. Functions can be controlled remotely, the set includes a remote control. The mobile is charged with batteries.

The average cost is 3600 rubles.

Chicco bees

Mechanical mobile with bright, eye-catching bee toys. The gadget is wound up manually, one scrolling of the key at the base is enough. The design itself is made of safe plastic, the fasteners are ideal for use in a crib or playpen. Manufacturer equipped Chicco with a soothing melody that will please any toddler.

The average price is 3800 rubles.

Useful video

Considering several mobiles at once, it is impossible to unambiguously answer the question “Which is better”, because each mother has her own ideas about pricing and functionality. Finally, we want to introduce you to another sales leader - model Tiny Love Boombox.

In addition to standard functions, this gadget can transform into a real tape recorder and delight the baby not only at home, but also on a walk, and at night project a starry sky on the ceiling. There are 15 different melodies in the arsenal, from lulling melodies to cheerful rhythms. The volume can be adjusted according to your desire, the remote control is included. The cost of such a miracle of technology - from 5500 rubles.

We invite you to see the detailed video review for this model.

For children up to a year, such developing methods as lullabies, fairy tales, various special devices for the development of newborns, such as a developing rug with a pendant or a suspension on a bed - a mobile, are quite suitable. In this article, we will talk in more detail about the mobile for a crib.

A newborn baby is awake for about 60-90 minutes after waking up. During this time, the mother manages to feed him and carry out hygiene procedures, the rest of the remaining time should be spent with benefit! Moreover, in cleanliness and on a full stomach, the child has a good mood, and he is ready to explore the world around him. At this age, most toys are not yet suitable for play and development, so it is recommended to use such a fun educational toy as a mobile.

Mobile is translated from Latin as "mobile". This "perpetual motion" toy - toys attached to the top constantly move and attract the attention of the baby.

Which mobile to choose?

Today, manufacturers produce a wide variety of mobiles for every taste and color. You can choose a mobile with batteries or with a mechanical winding. Battery-powered mobiles are more expensive, as they include several different melodies, but mechanical mobiles, which operate on light movement (for example, a breeze), have only one melody for 2-3 minutes.

Electronic mobiles for newborns are slightly heavier than mechanical ones due to their mechanism, so they need to be firmly attached to the crib. Usually mobiles are attached to the side of the crib.

There are also more advanced mobiles that have special lighting effects and projector functions. For example, to put a baby to sleep, you can turn on a lullaby with a projector that, to a calm melody, will display slowly moving pictures on the ceiling. The child will definitely pay attention to this and will watch the performance. At this time, mom can calmly go about her business.

When choosing a mobile, look at its functionality - whether it can be washed, parts can be replaced, attached to different places, etc.

Mobile in the first month of life

If you have been using a mobile phone since birth, then follow some rules.

The mobile must be hung above the crib so that from the baby's eyes to the hanging toys there is at least 30 centimeters. It is also necessary to hang the mobile so that the toys do not spin directly above the baby's head, but above his chest, so it will be easier for the baby to focus his vision.

A mobile for a newly born baby is a great opportunity to develop visual activity.

Baby mobile from 2 to 4 months

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

Toddlers at this age already concentrate their attention well on details - they carefully follow the movement of toys, turn 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 draw attention to themselves. 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 mobile phones are too entertaining for some babies, and then they are difficult to calm down. It is better for such babies not to turn on the mobile before going to bed, even with a projector and lullabies.

Mobile for baby from 4 months to six months

At this age, the baby already knows all the toys and melodies by heart, so it is recommended to pick up such a mobile in advance, where you can change hanging toys so that the baby does not get tired of them.

Babies after 4 months already begin to develop motor activity, trying to grab and hold various objects. In this case, the mobile will also be very useful - the baby will reach for toys that move and are not so easy to catch.

It is important to remember that babies at this age are already trying to get up, grabbing the bars of the crib, and may well reach for the toys of the mobile, pull them towards themselves and knock the mobile down. Therefore, make sure that the mobile is firmly installed and, preferably, do not leave the child alone with the mobile at this age.

If the child is very attracted to toys, then just remove one toy and give it to him.

Baby mobile from 6 months

At this age, the child already has an interest in other subjects, and the mobile ceases to interest him. The kid wants to learn to sit, grab and hold objects, press buttons. A mini-mobile is suitable here, which is equipped with a music block - the baby can press the buttons and understand that the music changes from this action. In addition, he can safely grab toys and study their shape and content - they are completely safe.

And the old mobile will still serve you for a long time - the baby will still fall asleep well to a lullaby and a projector.