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Did You Have a Mobile?

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Our brains feel so full at the moment, that every decision in the nursery has us – me? – second guessing. Do we need this? Do we need that? Ultimately, our hope is to get the basics in the room, learn more about who our baby is as a tiny human, and work from there. We value the advice we’ve received from friends and family – from you! – but we also know that every child is going to have different needs and wants. For now, while we have the ability to have sole input on baby girl’s environment (before she’s likely to have all the opinions I had as a toddler!), our inclination is to keep things calm, (mostly) neutral and uncluttered, as you saw last week.

In our minds, we can imagine how the room is going to come together, but there’s one item in particular we’ve been stumped on – a crib mobile! I remember cranking the music knob on the puffy zoo animals that swirled above my siblings’ cribs, but my goodness, mobiles have come a long, long way from the mobiles of yore. We keep returning to our inspiration photos, and we’re taking note on the items we like in those rooms. We’ll have a vintage mirror behind the crib, so I’ve been more on board with the idea of an off-centered mobile, like some of our favorites above. But! Is it necessary? I’ve been tempted to DIY our own version (these kits could make it easy!), but with so much on our plates, my creativity feels zapped, and I welcome the idea of purchasing something sweet online. There are so many categories of cute – sheep and bunnies and llamas! – but we love the peaceful palette that brass and wood bring to a space, too. (This one that Julia used is so pretty!) Here are a few favorites we’ve been considering:

1. Paper Mache | 2. Geometric Brass | 3. Boho Llama | 4. Brass Wall Mobile | 5. Crop Circle | 6. Agate | 7. Capiz Sail Boat | 8. Flying Sheep | 9. Lasercut Wood | 10. Dragonfly | 11. Clouds | 12. Wool Felt Bunny | 13. Gerald Mobile | 14. Moon Phase | 15. Dreaming In Dax

I guess time will tell if we find the one, but I imagine baby girl will also be quite content without should we choose that route. That said, the felt bunnies and floating llamas have my heart, but I love the simplicity in those capiz boats and crop circles! Do babies love it, or is it more for show? Did or do you have a mobile?

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  • Anna10.12.17 - 6:24 AM

    I know we had one for my first (who is now 8) but I think we skipped it with the younger two. What held my babies’ attention more was a little mirror in the crib so they could admire their reflections. Bonus is that it’s easy to take with you when you travel.

    Like this:
    https://smile.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Silver-Lining-Activity/dp/B01HG1LAJA/ref=sr_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1507807352&sr=8-9&keywords=crib+mirrorReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 8:58 AM

      Ooh, I love that idea. That mirror is so sweet!ReplyCancel

  • Eric10.12.17 - 6:41 AM

    Our kiddo, now 5 had a colorful hot air ballon mobile. I remember having a fish mobile and my parents have repeatedly told me that ishes (add an F at the front) was my first word.ReplyCancel

  • Aisling10.12.17 - 6:52 AM

    We had a noble over the changing table to distract our baby, very useful for distraction during changes. The biggest problem is that babies like bright garish colors that clash and grown ups tend to prefer quieter color combos.ReplyCancel

    • Vanessa10.20.17 - 2:05 PM

      I second the one over the changing table! The best distraction. Beside the crib we have a light/white noise machine that projects stars/moon on the ceiling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbjsp0LzLsoReplyCancel

    • Vanessa10.20.17 - 2:05 PM

      I second the one over the changing table! The best distraction. Beside the crib we have a light/white noise machine that projects stars/moon on the ceiling. It also helps that I don’t have to worry about hitting the mobile picking up the baby during sleep deprived night feedings.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbjsp0LzLsoReplyCancel

  • Rebecca10.12.17 - 7:12 AM

    I made one out of cardstock paper triangles in different colors and patterns and attached them to the inside hoop of an embroidery hoop. I love how it looks and he did like watching it when he was a little guy when the fan or heat would blow it around. That being said, I don’t think it is necessary! It’s def not going to help with sleep (although it might keep your little one distracted for a few minutes). They look really pretty though!ReplyCancel

  • Jess10.12.17 - 7:14 AM

    Ugh this is something we’re struggling with! I think we’re leaning toward no mobile right now but I’m not 100% sold either way.ReplyCancel

  • Haley10.12.17 - 7:24 AM

    We’ve never had a mobile for our babies. I’m kind of thinking of making one for my 1 year old now. There are so many adorable choices.ReplyCancel

  • StephanieZ10.12.17 - 7:32 AM

    This doesn’t fit withh your theme, but pink cheek studios on etsy makes the most amazing mobiles. I’ve bought one for friends and also gotten the cutest custom made dolls from her as well.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 8:56 AM

      What a cute shop! Love the personalization options.ReplyCancel

  • Lindsey10.12.17 - 7:34 AM

    We didn’t with any of our 3 kids. They are only in the crib when they sleep, so I didn’t see any reason to have one and never missed it!ReplyCancel

  • Sarah Simon10.12.17 - 7:38 AM

    This was one thing I was stumped on too! I liked the idea of a mobile as more of an art piece in the room. With my daughter we ended up going without the mobile, as her room came together I realized I didn’t need one. I had also read some articles about mobiles being distracting to babies when they are trying to fall asleep.

    However, with my sons nursery I ended up making him a mobile for his space themed room. I used glow in the dark 3D planets and it turned out really cute!

    I do think a mobile over a changing table is a much better place – that’s where they need to be distracted! We have a pegboard above our changing table with all of the supplies and we ended up hanging a toy from that!ReplyCancel

    • Janet10.12.17 - 2:02 PM

      Mobile over a change table seems like a good idea I never considered before! How do you make sure it is now in changer’s way though?ReplyCancel

      • 'col10.15.17 - 8:41 AM

        My kid’s dad and I are both short, but we hung ours at the end where baby’s head would be and it was never a problem for us. Mirror near the change table is good too–babies love to look at faces, and it stays funny/interesting to them as they grow.ReplyCancel

  • Cindy10.12.17 - 7:49 AM

    My boys were completely enamored with the ceiling fan. Nothing could compare.ReplyCancel

    • Jacki10.12.17 - 8:38 AM

      Ditto with my son. Fan was one of his first and favorite words. He did have a mobile, and it did entertain him. But honestly, I wish I had it over the changing table to distract him rather than over the crib.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 8:56 AM

      Ha, love it!ReplyCancel

  • Hannah10.12.17 - 7:56 AM

    My baby is DELIGHTED by his mobile (this beauty – http://amzn.to/2wPOBrV). He can be soothed by it when he’s crying or enchanted by it when we need a hands free moment.

    We use this little gadget to turn it and play music which, I think, is where the magic is.
    http://amzn.to/2i8Z5Ah

    I was so against it initially but my husband convinced me and with the sticker peeled off, it’s honestly not that aesthetically horrible! And the joy that Theo gets from it is so worth it.ReplyCancel

  • Tricia10.12.17 - 7:59 AM

    I didn’t get a mobile. It was one of the things I skipped to save money (there’s so much other stuff to buy!) My daughter slept in a bassinet until 3 months and napped in various places. It’s also recommended to take a mobile down when they can pull themselves up to standing (unless you hang it high out of reach, I guess) so for us it would have been “useful” for a few months. I do appreciate them as a cute accessory but I doubt they’re really that useful. My daughter was more enamored with the black and white patterned curtains we had in her room.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 9:00 AM

      Luckily our ceilings are pretty high in that room, so we could hang it up and out of the way, but that’s definitely something to thank about. Thank you!ReplyCancel

  • Claudia10.12.17 - 8:00 AM

    My advise is this: get something thinking about your baby, not about what fits with your decoration… The combination of sights and sounds can really help babies develop their sensory integration skills. Those white or monochromatic mobiles are completely boring.ReplyCancel

  • Stacy G.10.12.17 - 8:26 AM

    Mobiles have come a long way. You’ve linked such beautiful options. I do not think there is a right answer. If you like mobiles, go for it. I do second the mirror idea. Babies do love to look at themselves.

    The little lumps don’t do much of anything for the first few weeks, so there’s no rush. :DReplyCancel

  • Katie10.12.17 - 8:31 AM

    I just straight up want #14 – the moon phase mobile. Like it’s added to a pinterest board right now. And I don’t have any kids/plans for any kids. :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 8:54 AM

      I think it’s acceptable for adults as well. :)ReplyCancel

  • katie10.12.17 - 8:31 AM

    We had one for both kids (the same one) – I don’t think they ever really looked at it, so I don’t know that it was needed. But it did add some color to the space, we used the one below.

    For music we had a sleep sheep that was attached to the side of the crib (outside) – that played some noises as they went to sleep, both kids loved that when they were little.

    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/202662051959729630/ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 8:54 AM

      That one keeps popping up in my searches, too! Love the colors.ReplyCancel

    • Brooke10.12.17 - 10:19 AM

      I love that one! I don’t have kids but I’d be tempted just to buy it :)ReplyCancel

  • Katie Richards10.12.17 - 8:32 AM

    We went with a paper cloud and airplane mobile from Etsy and still have it up in our 3 year old’s room. It’s light enough that the air circulation from the HVAC will cause it to move and he still likes to watch it at night before falling asleepReplyCancel

  • Ashley- At Home with Ashley10.12.17 - 9:08 AM

    I made one for my son when he was a few months old. I probably hung it too low because he had grabbed and ripped the little felt elephants down a few times. The tutorial for making it is one of the most popular on my blog. I bet a DIY modern mobile would be amazing! I felt like it completed the room, but I’m not sure if it actually helped his sleep…ReplyCancel

  • Emily10.12.17 - 9:09 AM

    We went with fairly simple mobiles for each of our kids. They matched the ‘theme’ of their rooms.

    If I had to do it again, though, I would get one with lots of bright colors, and lots of contrast, esp black and white. That is what babies see best.ReplyCancel

  • Anna10.12.17 - 9:12 AM

    Neither of my kids had mobiles, but both of them do have something hanging off their ceiling (just not literally on top of their heads. My daughter has a hot-air balloon http://authenticmodels.com/collection2/shop/flight/royal-aero-rainbow/ and my son has an aeroplane http://authenticmodels.com/collection2/shop/flight/flying-circus-jenny-medium/.

    I didn’t set out not to have mobiles, but when I found the balloon (my daughter is 4, so this is 5 years ago!) I just couldn’t leave the balloon out of her room. It worked out for the best because at her 6-week check our nurse told us she looked very visual and would be easiest to put to sleep if we took away everything that might be visually interesting (like a mobile) and play soft music instead. Worked like a charm. Sadly the nurse also said she would never sleep well in a pram for the same reason and would only nap properly at home in her controlled visual environment. This proved very true (our nurse is AMAZING), if a bit inconvenient!ReplyCancel

  • Shauna10.12.17 - 9:24 AM

    No mobile for us. We bought one and never hung it! We used one of those wooden play gyms from IKEA instead and THAT was the best. It took her from newborn to toddler and she played with it differently during different phases. And we could move it from room to room. Also we ended up moving the changing pad from the dresser to the floor once she started flipping over so the play gym was also great for distracting her during changes.

    Also, y’all should paint the floors in your new Michigan place. We bought an old house with painted floors. I never would have done it myself but I’m so glad the previous owners did. They are great! Highly recommended!ReplyCancel

  • Christina10.12.17 - 9:51 AM

    We had one over the changing table rather than the crib. Ours was forest animals, and she LOVED it—a great distraction for diaper changes, and overloaded our brains with cuteness whenever she was “talking” to her animal buddies.ReplyCancel

  • HeatherB10.12.17 - 9:54 AM

    We had mobiles for our son, not our daughter (not intentionally omitted for her…she just didn’t have a bedroom for the first 9 months!). I had one on my son’s crib, which was good. The one that was an unexpected help is the one we put over the changing table. Especially as he got a little older (and more wiggly!), the movement and music were a GOD SEND! The only thing that saved us on many a diaper change. I love the beautiful mobiles they have today, but the music is a nice element to the old-fashioned plush and plastic wind-up mobiles of yore!ReplyCancel

  • Rachel10.12.17 - 10:02 AM

    I had mobiles for both of mine, but we put them over their changing tables where they need more distraction. They were often a godsend when they didn’t want to stay still for a diaper change.ReplyCancel

  • SEM10.12.17 - 10:10 AM

    I think they are precious. I am drawn to the simple neutral shapes, but I am not sure what is most comforting or stimulating for littles. Have you considered making one with a weathered stick and some found objects, like shells or feathers? I think over a changing table might be nice too… for when baby gets more fidgety and you’d prefer her hands away from her business.

    :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 10:23 AM

      Sadly, a mobile over the changing table might not be possible in our closet solution, but we’ll have a mirror there!ReplyCancel

  • Ashley10.12.17 - 10:18 AM

    Our mobile is over our changing pad, as many other commenters have said. It’s been awesome! Our first was an early roller and it was very hard to change her diapers. The mobile bought us enough time to get her changed! I made the one we have and it was gender-neutral and a labor of love so one used it with all the babies. It’s so sweet to have something that has connected all three.ReplyCancel

  • Sasha10.12.17 - 10:37 AM

    We debated this too and ultimately got this paper bunny one for our little girl: https://www.houzz.com/product/95367275-circular-bunnies-mobile-contemporary-baby-mobiles (note: the string is fine and white, not blue as it appears here and the arms are very fine metal wire. The rabbits are white and gray)

    The company (Flensted: http://www.flensted-mobiles.com) has some beautiful, not-overly-cutesy but still recognizable animal mobiles and I liked how this was lightweight, moves well in the breeze/fan, and is geometric. I’m a big fan and our daughter LOVES it. We hung it from the ceiling but on the lower side and it just floats above the crib. My husband and I both knock into it all the time and it’s held up beautifully to the contact, which we often don’t even notice- something which might get annoying with a heavier piece.ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 10:43 AM

      Those mobiles are so pretty! Thanks for the link. :)ReplyCancel

  • Emily10.12.17 - 11:14 AM

    We have one, but we put it above the changing table! It’s a GREAT distraction during diaper changes as he becomes more mobile. ;) He loves looking at it! Here’s a picture of the one we have!http://www.everythingwasgood.com/2017/06/05/nursery-tour/ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 11:21 AM

      What a beautiful nursery, Emily! Taking notes. ;)ReplyCancel

  • Ally10.12.17 - 11:15 AM

    I don’t have kids so I can’t weigh in on IF you should get one. But I can say that the very simple ones really caught my eye – for me! The brass shapes and the agate mobiles would be something I would hang in a corner of my house. I just can’t help but think how classy and nostalgic a piece like this hanging in a window somewhere when your little girl upgrades to a big girl room could be! Think how sad it would be to one day have to get rid of all the little memorable pieces of her baby room eventually – this way you can still hang on to a little piece of baby-her :) I hear it goes faster than you think!ReplyCancel

  • Erin10.12.17 - 11:25 AM

    I have the felt wool bunnies from RH in my daughter’s room and I cried when my husband hung it! It felt like the finishing touch to the room. Definitely not a necessity but such a sweet addition!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 11:34 AM

      The felt bunnies kill me! You’re gonna make me cry!ReplyCancel

  • Lu Ann Freeman10.12.17 - 11:26 AM

    We have a homemade himili one, I personally love that it is dimensional from the baby’s point of view as well as from a standing adults. Doesn’t hurt that’s it’s also pretty.ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer G.10.12.17 - 11:48 AM

    My verdict after four kids: show.ReplyCancel

  • Annie10.12.17 - 12:14 PM

    We got this plastic, not pretty, mobile for our baby http://a.co/0A83AAU. Did it match our nursery decor? Nope! Did our baby love it? Yes! The high contrast black and white images are great for visual development. I fought it hard, since I was imagining something more pretty (which, let’s be honest is more for the parents than the baby, right?) But in the end, my husband won.ReplyCancel

  • Susie10.12.17 - 12:23 PM

    We’re completing our little boys nursery for this falls One Room Challenge and already picked #5 for our mobile! I love that it’s part of your roundup because we love YBH’s style!
    Honestly though, they really aren’t a nessesity, our first was never all that interested. And my husband hit his head on it… so we will see how long this next one stays up lol!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.12.17 - 2:09 PM

      Ooh, have you received it yet? Would love to know your thoughts seeing it in person!ReplyCancel

  • Raha Hezar10.12.17 - 12:56 PM

    You don’t “need” one, but there is something sweet and quintessential nursery to a mobile. Neither of my kids really cared about theirs and were enamored by the ceiling fan like others have mentioned, but Im still happy we got one. The nursery as a whole is more for the parent. Making it cute and sweet is for us (the baby would be content in a hideous pack-n-play in some non decorated room) so I say go for it!! Get the mobile you love! Make it the room you love! You deserve it!!ReplyCancel

  • Pat DonBrosky10.12.17 - 1:04 PM

    The Bunnies, THE BUNNIES!!ReplyCancel

  • Paige Flamm10.12.17 - 1:11 PM

    Those mobiles are all so cute! We never had one for either of our kids but I love how they look!

    Paige
    http://thehappyflammily.comReplyCancel

  • Kaleigh10.12.17 - 1:31 PM

    A friend of ours knit us a gorgeous little mobile, otherwise we would not likely have had one. In saying that though, our son loves it. I hope that it finds him comfort each night.ReplyCancel

  • Emily S10.12.17 - 1:53 PM

    I agree with others. Babies like bright colors, this is waht they will be able to see first with their poor vision shortly after birth. We had a neutral room, but then I had my crib below the window and had some bright colorful curtains there, and my baby would wake up and not cry, but stare at the bright curtains. She loved them. I understand the desire for a neutral calm photogenic nursery, but don’t rob your baby of the fun that they have of looking around at all things colorful.ReplyCancel

  • Anne10.12.17 - 2:07 PM

    We don’t have a mobile over the crib, but do over the changing pad. We had enough sleep issues in a dark room with white noise that I can’t imagine the distraction of one over the crib.
    If you decide to go with a mobile, look up at it from the bottom – that’s the angle she’ll be looking from. So many people (bloggers, anyway) seem to choose beautiful, sculptural, almost monochromatic mobiles that have zero interest when viewed from below. I made pinwheels from double sided scrapbook paper, choosing high contrast patterns that worked with our colors.ReplyCancel

  • Laura10.12.17 - 2:11 PM

    We didn’t put a mobile up until our son was about 2 months old. We gave him a simple one with knit dogs on it from Pottery Barn for Christmas. He sort of noticed it at first, but became increasingly aware and enamored with it as he got older. Even when he was about 5 months, I could pop him in his crib and crank the music box to entertain him while I did simple tasks, like put away his laundry. I definitely recommend one with music, too.ReplyCancel

  • Taylor10.12.17 - 2:58 PM

    I have a mobile for my daughter. I made a hanging pom pom mobile similar to this: http://www.aburstofbeautiful.com/2015/05/diy-pom-pom-mobile.html/ Although I made mine white monochromatic, removed the pom poms between the hoop and the hook, and made the hanging bits different lengths.

    Can’t say my daughter looked at it much. She spent the first 4 months in a bassinet in our room anyways. Mostly it is just pretty.ReplyCancel

  • Lisa10.12.17 - 3:06 PM

    We ended up moving the mobile over the changing table–we ended up spending a LOT of time there and the mobile was SO helpful. We would tell little stories and make up songs about the mobile animals. It was high contrast and garish looking which newborns seem to love. I think if you are selecting one for the crib you can go more neutral as I don’t know any newborns who have actually slept in their crib. :) The crib mobile will be for your design pleasure and then hopefully soothing for your 6 month old. Remember to think about what it looks like from below and as much as I like graphics, my baby liked things best she could give names to and saw repeated in books–it is exciting to make connections.ReplyCancel

  • Cair10.12.17 - 4:06 PM

    I didn’t have one for my daughter, and she grew up ok, phi beta kappa even. I do like the idea of something over the changing table though. A few extra seconds of distraction there is worth a lot.ReplyCancel

  • Heather10.12.17 - 4:20 PM

    I have the felt bunny mobile for my 4 month old and it is adorable! Very well made, so sweet with he perfect amount of whimsy. I hope you guys go for a mobile!ReplyCancel

  • Zandy10.12.17 - 5:23 PM

    Love all these options! One thing to think about is where your monitor will be located/ what type of monitor you use (if you’re getting one). We have the Nest and it pings you every time there is movement or sound in the room. A mobile would trigger it more often than your baby moving her sleep ?ReplyCancel

  • Molly10.12.17 - 6:27 PM

    Before I read this, I thought to myself “oh it’s not really necessary. I didn’t have one growing up and I’m not torn up about it. Besides it’s hard to see the mobiles in some of the pictures at the top anyway.” But now I’m thinking “I have to choose only ONE favorite?!?” They’re all so cute and I didn’t know that I could love mobiles this much ? For what it’s worth my favorites are 3, 7, 9, 11, and 12. (Sorry I couldn’t narrow it down more) I got especially excited with number 3 because the llamas seem hilariously sassy to me for some reason and the pom poms would compliment the curtains you picked out! Also the shade of pink in it is a sweet touch that could tie the pink from the closet in to make the room flow together. And if you do end up going with the neutral color room option then it would add interest without being too loud of an addition. I’d imagine they are useful for keeping baby preoccupied or distracting her from crying, but I’m sure you’ve done the research. As always thanks for sharing! Believe it or not this blog gives me so much happiness and gets me through tough times (like when I have to pull an all nighter to study before an exam and I fiiiinally get a break and reward myself with a read on your page). On top of that I stumbled upon your home tour video at a time when I was really questioning my passions and your posts guided me away from a path that wouldn’t have been a good fit for me, so thanks for that too!! It’s kind of crazy that you two have made such an impact on my life and we don’t really know each other. Anyway good luck in your mobile decision!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.13.17 - 10:10 AM

      Hi Molly! You pretty much narrowed it down to our favorites as well, haha. Just when I think I definitely want the felt bunnies, I think about the pink llamas for the same reason you mentioned. So difficult when so many of them are adorable!

      And thank you very much for the kind words. It means so much to us that we can be a little bright spot for you, but the feedback we receive from our readers makes us smile extra big. It’s a win-win, it seems. :DReplyCancel

  • Melissa10.12.17 - 7:25 PM

    I would call mobiles decorative accessories, not a necessity. We had a battery operated one and my daughter liked it but the real winner with both kids was an obnoxious fish tank that played music. No matter how much we try, it’s rare for kids to like the pretty toys – they like the ugly, noisy toys the best!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Elisabeth10.12.17 - 8:22 PM

    We did have a mobile! It was made by a local to us company and had blue and orange birds (https://www.dundryhill.com). What I most liked about it, though, is that it was actually interesting to look at lying down underneath. Most mobiles I’ve found don’t seem like they’d actually be that interesting for the baby, which to me defeats the purpose!ReplyCancel

    • 'col10.15.17 - 8:48 AM

      This is super important! If the mobile is for decoration, that’s totally fine, but if you want baby to engage with it there has to be something for her to look at from her perspective.

      Which helps me clarify my ideas, I guess: I lean no mobile over the crib (crib is a sleeping place, she says idealistically, having had a child who barely ever slept there…), but absolutely get one for decor if you love it. Then hang it so the baby can see it when you’re holding her; it will be something fun for the two of you to do when she’s a few months old.ReplyCancel

  • Jane10.12.17 - 8:46 PM

    We got one for Maple from the Moma store. I loved it b/c it was (is) birds, and is pretty enough to be appreciated for years. It’s art, after all. We hung in a corner of the room, not over the crib, because I read the concept that baby should be choosing to look at it, not be stuck seeing it every time she’s lying looking straight up. I liked that idea. It sounds kinda wacky when I type it, though :)

    To be honest, she’s been interested in it like once or twice, in over 2 years…but I LOVE IT! lol.ReplyCancel

  • Katherine Putnam10.12.17 - 8:48 PM

    My sister-in-law made half a dozen cute tissue paper puffs that hung at my baby shower and we opted just to hang those above the crib. Both of my boys were entranced watching them sway in the breeze from their ceiling fan. It was an easy way to keep them entertained for a few minutes if I had to leave them in their crib to tend a quick emergency (a quick scrub and outfit change after a ridiculous diaper blow out, an urgent boo-boo for big brother, or a dinner that needs rescued from the oven). I had no plans to hang anything over the crib until I saw the puffs at my shower, so you could always put a pin in it and see if inspiration strikes later!ReplyCancel

  • Marisa10.12.17 - 10:46 PM

    We had a mobile over the changing table (which was just a dresser with a pad on top) for both of our daughters and it was great entertainment for them during diaper changes. They both slept in our bed for the first year but we wouldn’t have wanted extra stimulation where they were sleeping.ReplyCancel

  • Natalie10.13.17 - 6:48 AM

    If you want a mobile for room decor, go for it but it won’t likely be “used” much by baby. It is definitely not a necessity. I bought a simple Ikea one and never ended up hanging it. Having some kind of play mat that you can hang toys over their heads will get a lot more use than an over-the-crib mobile. You can get a little collection of little hanging toys that clip to those plastic rings and swap out the toys on the play mat, and you can also use them to hang toys on the car seat handle.ReplyCancel

  • Amanda B10.13.17 - 8:39 AM

    Before my first child was born, I meticulously made a mobile very much like that felt bunnies one, only with paper airplanes made of storybook pages. I don’t think he noticed it until he was about 3, lol. What he did love was the tacky battery-powered music-playing light-up spinning mobile we bought out of desperation to help him go to sleep on his own.

    I still LOVE the paper airplane mobile I made! If you have the mindset that a mobile might really just be an art piece that the parents enjoy, it may take the stress out of picking the “right” one for your baby. :) Good luck! I love your taste, can’t wait to see how it all turns out.ReplyCancel

  • kara10.13.17 - 9:52 AM

    i diy’d a mobile for friends that just featured extreme close-up, laminated photos of the faces of friends and family. the photos were hung with pretty paper clips from a center ring that said “look who loves you!”. it was really sweet and the faces were just the right size for his little brain to engage with.ReplyCancel

  • Kendal G10.13.17 - 11:21 AM

    I’m of the opinion that you need VERY little for a baby/toddler — about 1% of what the baby industry will tell you you need to buy. BUT a mobile is a necessity for early brain stimulation. Look for something (or make something!) that’s high contrast. I used a large embroidery hoop, fishing line and colourful feathers from the craft store. We moved when she was 14 months and I didn’t rehang it, but it’s important for a newborn to have a mobile. Mattress, diapers, soft clothing, mobile. Everything else is unnecessary.ReplyCancel

    • Mary10.20.17 - 7:15 AM

      I upvote this. Very good list. Even the mattress is unnecessary when you cosleep.ReplyCancel

  • Laura10.13.17 - 6:55 PM

    Next to our daughter’s crib we have a mobile, tiny white string lights on a dimmer, and artifact uprising prints of us with her. 2 years later, she loves the lights and the pictures and could care less about the mobile. That said, they’re super cute so just get the one YOU like!ReplyCancel

  • Kaylan10.14.17 - 7:17 PM

    *i* wanted a cute mobile for our son, but we never got/made one because we were living in a construction zone at his birth and lots of small things slipped to the wayside. So few things are true necessities for tiny babies, but if it makes you happy that matters a lot too :) I spent a lot of time in a chair holding my son staring at the walls. It would have been nice to have a couple pretty things to rest my eyes on.ReplyCancel

  • Jenny10.15.17 - 7:18 PM

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/175687333/nursery-decor-100-merino-wool-felt-bird?ref=shop_home_active_8

    We got that one. I love it. We never did a changing table- didn’t have room until we bought a house and by then he was 9 months old. I just think of it as art. He got a kick out of it when he was young, now I probably enjoy it more.ReplyCancel

  • Emily10.15.17 - 9:54 PM

    I did a DIY one with felt flower stickers hung from an embroidery hoop over the changing table. Changed it up easily to fish stickers after a year.
    Yes vote for mobile, and I’d suggest over changing table personally :)ReplyCancel

  • Anna Kristina10.16.17 - 9:22 AM

    We got the Kikkerland photo mobile (https://kikkerland.com/products/mobile-photo-clip) just for fun, but then figured we could use it in the nursery! We hung it over the crib, and I decided to clip in paint chips in rainbow colors for now. They are long + wide, so I folded them into triangle tubes, and our daughter loves it! They look like long rectangles of bright colors when you’re in the room, and when she’s in the crib, the view looking up is triangles. I read somewhere babies like geometric shapes. She loves watching it when we pop her in her crib to do something (like start a load of baby laundry, hah!). It doesn’t bother her at night (insert every baby is different caveat here). Our pediatrician actually recommended something to look at when she’s falling asleep when I asked about how to help her learn to fall asleep on her own (we rocked to sleep until recently, when she turned 5 months and we felt she was ready to make the transition). That said, you do you. The room is just as much for you as it is her. She’ll appreciate what you put in it, and won’t miss what isn’t there, because she’ll be in a wonderful home with parents who love her!ReplyCancel

  • Annelies10.17.17 - 2:01 PM

    I didn’t use a mobile over my daughter’s crib, as we used the crib for sleep only, and I preferred to have as little distraction/stimulation there. We did occasionally use flickering Christmas lights over her play crib in our lounge, which worked a treat! And we had a had a pretty one over the changing table that worked as a distraction for changing diapers (boy, you will need to distract that baby at times to wipe and change!), that worked with the aesthetic of the room. So many good ones to choose from, good luck!ReplyCancel

  • Adrienne10.18.17 - 5:50 PM

    We’re currently in reno craziness so my 7 month old has never had a mobile hung up (although we have one!). I did string some garland over her make-shift changing table though and she absolutely loves it, especially when I make it swing. Once we finally get her room set up (in the next 2 weeks!) I’ll be putting the mobile over the changing table for sure and not the crib. She’s a wiggler, that one and needs the distraction. <3ReplyCancel

  • Mary Sue10.20.17 - 7:08 AM

    My kid loved to bang the mobile against the wall, when I carried him on my arm while passing the thing. If mobile is near a wall, make sure it doesn’t break easily.ReplyCancel

  • Ro11.3.17 - 9:22 AM

    I made one for over the crib and a tiny one over the changing table. The one over the crib ended up being for looks because my boy will only sleep in a very dark room so he can’t see it (although him and his dad say goodnight to the animals on it at bedtime. So cute and also helped him learn some animals). The one over the changing table was a great distraction as he got older and less pleased about be changed.ReplyCancel

  • Staci11.3.17 - 12:32 PM

    #5 reminds me of Alexander Calder. I love it. Binging on a backlog of YBH posts today and all of these nursery updates have me feeling warm and fuzzy.ReplyCancel

  • Matney11.3.17 - 3:09 PM

    I loved the idea of a beautiful mobile when we had our baby a year ago, BUT…I read a really great book (that ended up guiding most of our first 6 months) and that opinion was that babies need to learn to associate their cribs with sleeping only and not with play. No distractions in or above the crib. I love all the comments about a mobile above a changing table though- that’s certainly where it wouldn’t been most helpful for us! Mobikes sure are beautiful these days though and your nursery is stunning! xoReplyCancel

  • Heather11.8.17 - 9:07 PM

    Late to this post, but we have a paper, decorative mobile for the crib and then had a musical, bright plush mobile for the pack n play in the living room. She has a space/robot theme, so the bedroom mobile will (I hope) grow with her, i.e. go above her desk or move to a corner of the room. But, the mobile for the pack n play was amazing to keep her calm/distracted/nap on the main level when she was super little. She had a matching musical mobile for daycare too.ReplyCancel

  • JessicaDee11.21.17 - 2:30 PM

    Mobiles are big in Montessori. Here is an interesting post about it.

    http://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2017/10/tips-for-using-montessori-mobiles-.html

    There are a ton of mobiles at my son’s school and he loves them and he is already 13 months old.

    At right around 3 months my son was CRAZY for mobiles; think Kicking, smiling, and cooing for 15 minutes or more.ReplyCancel

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