Say Hello to the cutest Baby Mobiles
The baby mobile. Did you know that the very first mobiles did not necessarily move? They were actually constructed as sculptures. Literally, they were works of art.
A well known American artist named Alexander Calder is thought to have invented - or been the inspiration for the mobile. In the 1930s he began experimenting with the sculptures he'd been making (mainly circus animals made of wire and wood), and introduced moving parts into the pieces. Thus the mobile was born! Evolving into popular accessories for baby nursery cribs, many moms-to-be wouldn't dream of leaving them off the list. They are now looked at as hanging decor meant to entertain our babies and hopefully soothe them to sweet slumber too. Ideally, after baby gazes intently at the crib mobile, sleep will come. One can hope… ;)
There are an array of baby crib mobiles on the market today from beautifully handmade wooden pieces to softer fabric and felt objects. And some are made with music boxes. But did you know that baby mobiles can help foster your baby's developing motor skills? Your baby will start to follow moving objects with their eyes at around 3 months. Soon after, they start reaching for the objects on the baby mobile. When it seems like your baby is just laying around, those little eyes and brains are taking it all in. They’re working really hard to focus on the colors and shapes around them. So, beyond the beauty of the mobile, they do serve a very important developmental purpose! The slow, fluid movement of the hanging mobile can be captivating and so soothing to those little eyes.
A LOOK BACK AT VINTAGE MOBILES
Does anyone remember the vintage “Irmi” Mobiles? They’re from the late 50's through 70's, but if you’ve ever seen photos of old, classic nurseries, you’d probably recognize one of them attached to the crib. Intricately hand painted and made in NY, Irmi was very popular in those days and definitely brings back some nostalgia just looking at them. The photo (below left) of Sophia Loren and her baby looks like that might be an Irmi with music box. She is one of my favorite classic hollywood beauties and I just love this photo of her in the nursery.
The vintage black and white (below center) is one that I found online and just looks like a classic nursery set-up doesn’t it? And how cute are those wooden bumble bees?!
And that is me on the right. Playing with a fabric mobile clearly hung too low! Tisk, tisk. I also couldn’t help but notice all the bedding in all three photos! Something we’ve ditched in recent years for safety purposes.
LET’S MEET A MOBILE FAVE OF OURS!
Hello Birdie Birdie
Handmade nursery mobiles for your little ones - what a fun business! I e-met Nasaa, the founder of Hello Birdie Birdie in early 2021, (through IG of course!) and I instantly fell in love with her beautiful handmade mobile creations. Intricately crafted, neutral and just adorable! From the sheep and the llama to the zoo animals and classic stars and moon, you just can’t go wrong. As a child, her family was sustained from the land they farmed and the animals they raised in her home country of Mongolia. Skilled craftsmanship and attention to detail was important too. Now as a mother of four children of her own, Nasaa is committed to creating organic, quality made items for our little ones. All of their felt animals are designed by Nasaa herself and crafted by skilled artists in Mongolia - they bring her style and vision to life! Each animal is made of 100% organic Mongolian wool felt and all of their mobiles are assembled by hand in the USA.
Each mobile is designed to be suspended from the ceiling and allows you to adjust the distance from the crib to ensure the safety of your baby as they grow.
Take a peek below at just a few of our favorite styles from Hello Birdie Birdie. You’ll want to head to the website as well to see so much more!
#1. Stars & Moon MOBILE
A classic. Gender neutral and will work with almost any nursery theme. This mobile creates a starry display in a cloudy white felt. The muted tones complement a neutral nursery with style, and the celestial design is the perfect way to soothe your newborn to sleep. The look and quality of this piece would make for such a special baby shower gift.
Made of 100% Mongolian wool felt, and suspended from a wood frame. This allows the mobile to rotate gently and silently without disrupting your baby’s sleep.
MEASUREMENTS:
Mobile is 11"x17"
Mobile includes five stars and one moon
#2. SNUGGLY SLOTH MOBILE
A sloth snuggling on the moon?! What could be more precious? This little guy will surely bring a smile to your face every time you see it. Filling your special nursery with the most adorable touches is such an important part of completing the overall feel of the room! Don’t hold back, add what you love and you won’t regret it. Not only is the sloth mobile perfect for the crib, it would be so cute just hanging in the corner of the room too. A sweet little surprise.
Made of 100% Mongolian wool felt. This allows the mobile to rotate gently and silently without disrupting your baby’s sleep.
MEASUREMENTS: Mobile is 9" X 23"
Mobile includes one large moon, a sloth and a star.
#3. OCEAN SHELL MOBILE
The ocean shell mobile easily creates beachy vibes for a serene seaside oasis. The sun is shining here in Southern California and we’re already enjoying the glorious days of summer. If you’re drawn to coastal inspired designs, consider this mobile for a fresh take on the traditional beach vibe. The good news is, you don't really have to live by the ocean to create a coastal nursery, incorporating beach inspired elements into the nursery will emit that sense and transport you to a tranquil seaside no matter where you live.
MEASUREMENTS: Mobile is 11"x17"
Mobile includes 5 shells .
#4. DALMATION MOBILE
Ahhh, the Dalmation! Who else loved to watch 101 Dalmations as a child? I sure did! These black and white spotted pups are the cutest! And while we’re chatting about black and white, this is the perfect opportunity to mention that just after birth, a baby sees only in black and white, with shades of gray. Black-and-white shapes stimulate the development of the optic nerves and encourage young babies cognitive development without over-stimulating them. As the months go by, they will slowly start to develop their color vision at around 4 months. So, along with being one of the cutest baby mobiles out there, the Dalmations would be a great choice for cognitive development!
Mobile is 11"x17"
Mobile includes five Dalmatians.
#5. SAFARI MOBILE
Who doesn’t love safari animals? These five guys will become instant BFF’s with your little one. If you don’t want to hang anything over your crib, also consider hanging a mobile above your changing table - hopefully will keep your little mover from squirming long enough to complete a diaper change without hassle!
MEASUREMENTS:
Mobile is 11"x17"
Featuring a Zebra, Lion, Giraffe, Elephant and a Rhino.
Safety
Here are a few safety tips to remember when using crib mobiles.
If your mobile attached with an arm & bracket, it should be securely placed on a rail that is well out of reach of baby. Or, if hanging from the ceiling, at an unreachable height from baby’s grasp.
Once a baby begins sitting up or can stand supported by crib rails, it's time to put away your crib mobile, or adjust the height.
Make sure to select a mobile with objects that are choke safe and intended for child play. This way you can cut the shapes or animals off the string for your older baby to play with.
A baby mobile may not have been at the top of your nursery must-have checklist, but, once hanging in your little babes nursery, we guarantee you’ll fall in love with it. They’re such cute additions to the nursery and hopefully, will also help keep baby fascinated and soothed. Trust us when we say that we know the list of things needed for your baby’s arrival can be completely overwhelming - especially when it comes to designing the nursery. I honestly have not had many requests for them in my recent projects, however, I do think they are an overlooked item and would highly recommend adding one to the list!
What’s Next…
Accessorizing a nursery doesn’t stop with the mobile (although sometimes less is more). Filling this special space with beautiful, organic products takes time and thought, and I can help! Check out my Guide to Healthy Nursery Design to start creating a healthy space that will benefit the whole family.