Hanging toys from ancient times decorated the cradles of babies. Rag and straw dolls, wooden birds appeared above the crib of a reason. This was the deep meaning of protecting the little man from the evil eye and evil spirits.
Modern man looks at the world with completely different eyes, gives his actions a different meaning, but tradition itself has actually survived to the present day. Modern parents buy a mobile phone and instead of ancient amulets, mount it on a crib for newborns, but for what they do it, read on ...
What is useful for a baby mobile
Our ancestors had their own intuitive knowledge, but now we can explain the need for a mobile for a baby from the point of view of science. Psychologists studying the developmental features of the child explain why they need a mobile for newborns: this device helps in the development of visual focus.
For a newborn baby, the world is a blurry colored spot. Suspended at the right distance, the mobile helps the baby learn to concentrate on the subject, follow it, and distinguish between the shape and color of the subject. By the age of three months, children are already making attempts to reach the toy - this also has an element in the development of vision, because the child estimates the distance to the object by eye and correlates their actions with this information.
Pluses of a mobile (an example of an ordinary cheap mobile):
An example of an expensive mobile (video)
How to choose a mobile
To understand how to choose the right mobile for a crib, you need to figure out what their characteristics and main differences are, what pluses in each of the options are for mom and baby. A good mobile must first of all meet the general requirements of a quality toy.
The main requirement is its safety for the baby. The attachment of the mobile to the crib should be strong, all other mounts should also not cause concern. All materials present in the details of the mobile must be of high quality, not oozing any smell. The elements of the toy themselves should not have external and functional defects.
The remaining recommendations concern specific options. Since it is not easy to find comrades for taste and color, everyone decides for himself which mobile he will choose.
Electric or mechanical?
Mobile is not in vain has such a name. Many mothers call this device a “carousel,” because toys suspended from a structure rotate like a carousel. This movement is provided either by a mechanical plant or by energy from batteries. In other words, mobiles are mechanical and electric.
- Factory mechanical mobile usually it lasts no longer than 5 minutes, and the range of reproduced sounds is limited: one melody like a barrel organ sounds there.
- Electric mobile able to rotate and delight the ear with a melody up to 25 minutes. In this regard, the electric mobile is much more convenient for mom: you do not need to repeat the plant every 5 minutes, on duty at the crib.
Some of the electric mobiles have a remote control. This also adds convenience: you can even adjust the operation of the device without going to the crib. True, it is hardly possible to call this parameter important in choosing a mobile phone.
Mobile Toys
Toys on a mobile can be removable or not. If the toys are removed, the baby will be able to play with them when he is a little older. They can be interchanged, or, being smart and quick-witted, replaced with other toys.
The toys themselves can be plastic or soft. Soft ones are pleasant to the touch, but they collect a lot of unnecessary garbage and dust on themselves, which can be removed only by washing. For a small child, plastic toys are more hygienic.
Toys should consist of large parts. It is better if the toys will have primary colors. The lapid, variegated colors are not very suitable for babies. This is due to the peculiarities of visual perception: it will simply be very difficult for a child to perceive color and shape. Acid colors are also better not to be allowed in the field of vision of the baby until it grows up.
Melody
- With the melody of a mechanical mobile, everything is more or less clear. It is very reminiscent of a melody from a music box or barrel organ, as a rule, always calm and pleasant to hear.
- An electric mobile can play several different recorded tunes, so when choosing such a device, you need to take the time to listen to them.
The melody should be pleasing to the ear, and the recording should be of good quality. You may not always want to listen to a looping piece of music, so pay attention to whether the mobile has a mute function.
Another point worth paying attention to is volume control. If music cannot be turned off and the volume is not regulated, think about whether you are ready for loud persistent sound to accompany each cycle of the mobile. Especially when you consider that under the rotation and sounds of the mobile, many children try to fall asleep.
Video:
Whose mobiles are better?
The most popular manufacturers of high-quality children's toys must have in their catalogs mobiles for newborns. Someone gravitates to a particular brand, and someone chooses solely on functionality. Here are the most famous and proven mobiles:
- Tiny Love. Its feature is that in addition to standard functions, the mobile is equipped with a night light.
- Tomy. Pleasant toys in the form of characters from Disney cartoons and the function of night illumination.
- Chicco. Very high quality mobile with remote control.
- Fisher Price. Mobile with remote control, backlight and additional mountings for the table.
- Tiny Princess. Electric mobile exclusively for girls. It has the function of a night light and control panels.
Whatever mobile you like, the most important thing is that it is safe and properly used. Then this toy will radiate only benefits for the development of the baby and give you joy and moments of relaxation.
Read on: All about the first rattles
I believe that you need to develop kids from birth! Indeed, despite the fact that the children are still very tiny, they already hear sounds, can view pictures ... Therefore, they need to turn on the music, hang bright toys at a distance of 20-30 cm from their eyes, or put books with large pictures. Since birth, I have been playing music on my mobile with my kids when they fell asleep. We had a Chicco mobile “Magic Stars”. I liked it because the music in it was calming and relaxing. Even during the games, I just turned it on in the background so that the children could listen, because music helps the baby develop and allows you to get a lot of positive emotions))) The mobile still has a projector of the night sky, after 6 months, my daughter looked at the picture changing on the ceiling with pleasure. The toys on the mobile are removable, until now we have been playing them. By the way, I really like this mobile: it does not need to be put into a drawer after a child has grown up, but just turns from a mobile into a music projector))) very convenient!
A very good article, thank you) I think one thing I forgot to mention is that for a cheaper purchase the module must be multifunctional, for example, if you remove the arcs with toys it will be a musical toy tape recorder, if you remove the toys you can play them separately or hook up the stroller. We still have our mobile from secrecy of fishing with us) Anex rides in our stroller in the form of toys on the hood, Leela likes when her native toys are always with her)
I tend to mechanical mobiles. In electric, music somehow sounds sharply. I bought it on Avito - a new one, with a tasteful design, the toys are not dust collectors, but I turn on lullabies from my laptop or sing along.