We hate to admit defeat. Jacinda wrote us with what seemed like a simple request:
Dear AT: Have you seen any mobiles that are nicely designed but also feature music and movement? I would like something that looks beautiful but also satisfies baby Clare's fascination with music and/or lights.
Without knowing your aesthetic, Jacinda, we're going to guess that by "nicely designed" you mean something other than hanging fuzzy animals.
That turns out to be a tall order. We see beautiful mobiles all the time, but if your daughter likes the bells and whistles of lights and music, you may have a tough time finding something that satisfies both of you.
The mobile above is part of the Migi Splash line but can be purchased separately ($40). Designed by the MiGi girls (former Martha Stewart Living editors Michele Adams and Gia Russo), it plays music and is subtler and simpler than many mobiles we've seen, but still only a small step away from fuzzy animals.
The Musical Stimulation Mobile ($25) uses high-contrast black and white images to draw your baby's attention while playing Brahms' Lullaby. It's more modern than most mobiles of this ilk, but you may find it a bit stark.
Readers - any ideas for Jacinta? Perhaps something with lights?
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With our first two children, we used this mobile:
http://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Toy-201770-Infant-Stim-Mobile/dp/B00009ZIKH/ref=pd_sim_ba_title/102-2000335-3836160
With our second two, we had one from Tiny Love, similar to this one (but ours did not have a light)
http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Love-Symphony-Light-Mobile/dp/B0009PANI0
Because these mobiles attach to the crib and are not really meant to be pulled and yanked and placed in the mouth, you have to remove them once the baby can stand up in the crib....most mobiles are used for such a short period of time, they aren't worth the $$....I only used the ones I did because they were gifts.
I advise instead to purchase a mobile that hangs from the ceiling that will move with slight breezes or a touch of mommy's hand and function as art long after the baby is standing--just raise the mobile as the child grows taller. Then get a radio and a motion lamp. All of these would last forever and be appropriate to continue to use as the baby grows up.
This one is cool because you can change out the cards and use your own designs, family photos, etc:
http://modernnursery.com/itemsDetail.cfm/animalmobile/0/item_num/BK-WG-MB
This one is so "right now"....I want it in my own bedroom:
http://modernnursery.com/itemsDetail.cfm/birdsofafeathermobile/0/item_num/IGE-BF
Lovely bunnies:
http://modernnursery.com/itemsDetail.cfm/bunnyrabbitsmobile/0/item_num/NTR-MB-BNY
Calderesque and affordable (and handmade)
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=39825§ion_id=5028242
Add a mini disco lightball
http://www.bizrate.com/partysupplies/oid336616266.html
And a great radio/cd player like this one on sale this week at Target
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-2/qid=1188253687/ref=sr_1_2/601-0903048-5048917?ie=UTF8&asin=B000HZTGXA (It also has an input for an MP3 player)
view polkadot's profile
I have the lovely bunny mobile over my son's changing table and he'll look at it. But I have a Tiny Love mobile in his crib and he LOVES it. It's the way the arms move and drops the little pieces in the center that fascinates him. My niece had the same reaction to the movement. It may not be the most beautiful mobile, but you can't beat it for function.
view shabil's profile
These guys carry a lot of unusual mobiles.
http://www.koclicko.com/catalog/28/49_3_mobiles.html
Crocolino climber is especially awesome!!!
view joebelt's profile