is a cot mobile really necessary or are they there just to look pretty

[tinkisgoingtohaveagirl]

hi

had a cot mobile with dd found that i hardly used it.
have got a tiny love activity centre on side of cot for new dd, and activity panda and a tomy plastic butterfly that sings

Before our first was born I thought things like that were just there to look pretty. However, in hospital I noticed that she was following the pictures on the curtains when they were moved, and realised that she needed something colourful with a pattern on to look at at home. We got her a mobile that took batteries so it went round on its own and it was amazing to see her lying there really watching it go round.

I had those black & white and then colour contrast ones by wimmer ferguson and they all loved it, would stare intently at it for ages.

cookie Battery opperated sounds like a great idea. DS loved his when it was moving so I had to keep getting up to wind it up again. Came unstuck when I tried to have a bath cos by the time I got in it needed winding up again so he screamed! I think they are useful for a limited period. Couldn't fix mine to the moses basket tho.

my guy likes his (very simple sailboat) mobile over his changing table.
for the record would point out that babies do not need constant motion, bells and whistles, etc.
they are happy to stare at a light.
the biggest geniuses of humanity did not have battery-operated mobiles in their nursery.

PIL bought dd a huge Tiny Love mobile which wasn't suitable for a moses basket, shouldn't be used after 6 months when she would (as it happened, wasn't) in her cot and it would have killed her if it and fallen on her!

think i will go for rainforest mobile is electronic the one i had for dd was a wind up one.
then i can place new baby in moses then into cot to watch it while i am having a shower

I think it was the music that ds liked more than the actual movement iyswim

My DS has a M&P rotating wind up musical mobile above his cot and a black and white Social Baby mobile above his changing mat. HE loves them both, but has a different reaction to each. The musical one will keep him entertained for .... well, minutes.

No -necessary I would say. We used ours as a signal for sleep time (a bit pavlovian). Cot, kiss, mobile on, ZZZZZZZZZ.

I never used one. I only put DS in the cot when he was asleep / ready to sleep. He did like those baby mats with the kind of mobile thingy attached, though.

Agree with Smartie - we had a clockwork musical one, and both DCs loved it and found it relaxing beofre sleep. The music quietened things down and the movement sort of hypnotised them !!

I have a tiny love symphony-in-motion mobile and both of mine have loved it so although it's not necessary, mine's been worth every penny.

DS1 especially would watch it for ages and then fall asleep so it was a godsend in the early months as provided me with an opportunity to grab a shower and get dressed! Personally I would go for one with black & white/bright colours rather thn one that matches a bedding scheme etc as think they're more likely to interesting for the baby to watch!