Baby Mobiles and Educational Crib Toys

Baby Mobiles and Other Activity Toys for a Baby

Most infants will spend a great amount of time in their crib, especially since they sleep anywhere between 12 and 20 hours each day. Their crib is a safe place to play, relax, and enjoy their first few months of life, so it is important to have toys to keep your infant entertained. Mobiles and other baby crib toys are great to include in their crib, since they can keep them occupied as well as help them develop their sight, coordination, and hearing as well.

Baby Mobiles

If you decide to place a baby mobile in your newborn's crib, you have a pretty big decision to make. There are hundreds of baby mobiles on the market, all of which aim to please your offspring. There are a few factors, though, that you will want to take into consideration, and they will help to make your shopping experience a little bit easier.

If you are planning to have a matching nursery for your baby, you should definitely consider color when shopping for a baby mobile. Many mobiles actually match many of the common nursery sets on the market, so you can choose to purchase the one that matches your the nursery. If you don't have plans yet for a color or theme, some suggest you may want to consider using black and other dark colors. Because newborns are still developing their eyes, they see darker colors much easier than pastels or lighter shades. However, that phase will soon pass, and most of us opt for bright or pastel colors in the baby's room and for mobiles. Of course, your new baby will not really care about the color, and if you are not too concerned about the overall color theme of the room then anything goes. What is most important is probably a variety of colors within easy sight of the baby when lying in the crib.

Another factor you should consider is the durability of the mobile you purchase, especially if you plan on spending a pretty penny on it. Even though your newborn may not be able to grab onto it quite yet, he will eventually learn how and might break the mobile. That docile little baby fresh from the maternity unit will become more like a tiger prowling its cage, much sooner than you may think. You wouldn't want any small pieces to break off during play, so make sure you purchase something that can withstand rough play from your growing baby.

Versatility is another important factor to consider, because you won't want to end up purchasing a mobile that only fits on a certain type of crib. Your baby may like his mobile somewhere different each week, so purchasing something that can fit almost anywhere on his crib is ideal. It should also be fairly easy to move from one place to another, so you don't have to get out any tools each time you need to change the position of your newborn's mobile. Most mobiles come with a large plastic screw to attach to the crib, and they are very simple to take off and put on to different positions on the crib.

The final factor to consider while shopping for a baby mobile is the items that hang down from it, because you will want to purchase something you know your baby will enjoy. Even though newborns really don't have a preference in their first few weeks of life, you will want to find something that will entertain them without being too busy. Because very young babies can be easily overwhelmed with bright lights and colors, you should opt for something simple, brightly colored, but also entertaining enough to keep them occupied in their crib.

Other Baby Crib Toys

If you want to purchase something other than, or in addition to, a crib mobile, there are plenty of crib toys that are both educational and entertaining for crib time. Most such toys actually attach to the crib to provide a safe place for baby to sleep, so they can be left inside even during nap time.

Mirrors are great for newborns and babies of all ages, since they get a kick out of seeing another baby in their crib with them. Since they are usually not old enough to realize they are looking at themselves, they can stay entertained by laughing and playing with their own reflection. The mirror should be made out of a shiny plastic rather than glass, and should not contain any sharp sides or edges to keep your baby safe. Many baby mirrors also contain fun designs and small activities around the border of the mirror, so your newborn can reach and play with all types of fun things while in his crib.

Music players are also great to include in your baby's crib, since they can be entertaining but also soothing for when nap time comes around. There are music players that are equipped with lights and moving pictures as well, which make it fun for baby to listen to music and watch the pictures go by. One of the most popular music players currently on the market for newborns is designed like a fish tank, so your newborn can watch the fish swim by while listening to soothing music and watching lights. Many music players also contain small toys on them, so baby can stay entertained while playing with a rattle or button that actually interacts with the music player.

Clip on toys are great for both cribs and car seats, since they can be easily attached and removed whenever you wish. They come in a wide variety of designs and styles, ranging from toys that make noise when squeezed, rattles, or even toys that contain different textures. They can be attached to the slats on the crib, and can keep your baby entertained for hours. They are great for developing coordination, strengthening eye sight, and even helping your newborn's hearing, and they are fun for your newborn to play with as well.

Having something for your newborn to play with in his crib is important, especially since he will be spending most of his day inside his crib. You should buy something that will be fun and entertaining, but will also to help develop many of the skills that newborns need to develop. By buying something with bright colors, soothing sounds, and different noise making objects, you can keep him entertained while helping him to learn at the same time.