Mobile above cot

11 replies

WillSingForCake · 28/10/2011 19:51

Do you think its worth bothering with a mobile above the cot which plays music? Am wondering whether it'll help my DD (8 weeks old) to learn to fall asleep on her own (i.e. distracting her from crying) or whether it'll be overstimulating?

Anyone found them useful/big waste of money?

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Sowlers · 28/10/2011 19:56

I have nothing in our cot except some comforters, I found with DS1 that when he needed the music to get to sleep, he needed it again in the middle of the night if he woke! DS2 therefore has been deprived!

smackapacca · 28/10/2011 19:58

I think they're often a bit too 'tinny', and make them more alert.

I found white noise helped. My MIL gave us a little machine that played rain/crashing waves etc that gradually faded out. Loved it.

Oh and just an out of tune radio worked for us too.

Iggly · 28/10/2011 20:00

8 weeks is a bit young to expect self settling. But white noise worked well for sending DS to sleep if overtired.

AlwaysRocking · 28/10/2011 20:03

I have never used the mobile to help dd go to sleep, but have found it really useful as a way of keeping her happy in her cot for ten minutes while I have a shower etc, so would definitely recommend one for that reason.

cookielove · 28/10/2011 20:04

I work in a baby room in a nursery and we have 10 cots none have a mobile, we did have one briefly it mainly got in the way, and was accidentally removed when an unknown staff member pulled it off.

So i would vote No, you don't need one.

booberella · 28/10/2011 20:07

Agree with AlwaysRocking- our mobile makes her a little manic and excited so use it for occupying her while I get dressed etc. I know I've got a good 20 mins then! I have also seen her wake up in the night and just look at it for a bit whilst it's off and that seems to occupy her till she drifts off again.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 28/10/2011 20:10

Too stimulating for DS, and a PITA as they always get in the way.

We had one of these for DS. it projects simple shapes onto the ceiling. You can have just the lights, or just the music, or both. It's got a timer on it too.. definitely helped DS to learn to self-settle, but he was about 3 months old when we started using it.

Original poster

WillSingForCake · 28/10/2011 20:12

Thanks for all your responses - may try one over the changing mat (she gets quite upset if I take too long!) and assess how overexcited it makes her!

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JarethTheGoblinKing · 28/10/2011 20:15

..and we had this fish mobile from ikea over the change table which he loved.

HestonMoomintroll · 29/10/2011 07:22

I bought a Fisher Price one a few weeks ago and it's been a godsend. I can put my 10 week old down when she's drowsy and she'll watch it for ten minutes then fall asleep, which is way better than before (when I had to walk around with her for half an hour until she was fully asleep and then very carefully put her in her cot and then run like hell). I can also do her nightfeed then switch on the music and she'll drift back off rather than wanting wake up and babble at me. Sadly the magic does seem to be fading. She slept from 7pm till her 4am feed last night which was fantastic. But I haven't managed to get her back to sleep yet and I am so sick of hearing twenty tinny minutes of Brahms! Need coffee...

DribblersMum · 29/10/2011 07:31

I used a tomy starlight projection - which you can ste to a time and has a projection as well as a light. i found DS would know it ws bed time when he heard the music. I found it really helped. he also has a Mobile now - tiny love. not sure if it helps or not, but i don't really use the music bit - just the light and the twirly bits. he likes it and it helps him self-settle t night.

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