Fairly specific question re cot mobiles

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

DS2 is uber curious. I've seen him force his eyes open just as he's falling asleep because he thinks he's seen something that he MUST ABSOLUTELY INVESTIGATE!! He fights sleep all the time. He's his own worst enemy really.

Anyway, was chatting to a friend today whose DS1 is same age (5 mo) and she's just started getting him to fall asleep by himself in his cot and says the cot mobile really helps, as she turns it on and he stares at it and drifts to sleep happily.

My DS2 is fed/rocked/fed some more/patted etc for at least an hour before I can finally get him to just close his eyes. Am planning soon to start to break all this and get him napping in his cot in the day time by putting himself asleep. Perhaps even at bedtime (she says hopefully).

So was wondering if a little mobile to look at might help him. Thought it might distract him/keep him company while he's in his cot "drowsy but awake" (yeah, right, because THATS gonna happen..) and he can happily drift off...

So, my question (finally) is - if you have a super curious/awake/alert sleep-fighting beast child, did you ever try a mobile and did it help...?

I used a mobile for my first two children. Aside from getting in the way when reaching into the cot, I don't think it made any difference in either a positive or negative way to the sleep of DC1 (terrible sleeper) or DC2 (better sleeper).

I think your friend is fibbing. Are you sure she doesn't sneaky use a dummy or comforter or similar?

I thinky friend's baby may have a toy rabbit he chews on too...

I had a friend who swore blind a cot mobile made her baby sleep better. She had one that had a remote control so if baby woke and started grumbling she just pressed the button from her bed and baby went quiet and back to sleep.... I remain skeptical that this was the case but never tried so can't say for sure if it would make a difference.

That's more likely to be the sleep cue than the mobile, I would say.

I put my DD down awake and leave the room. I don't know how long she takes to go to sleep since I rarely hear another peep from her (if I do I go in to her). But I would imagine if she wants stuff to look at, there is stuff in an around the room (at nappy on time, she gets especially interested in my bedroom light, for example).

I wouldn't be inclined to create stimulation at a time I want my DD to go to sleep. Dull and boring with nothing to distract from sleep is the way I go. Having said that I know there is a large market for things like mobiles and light projectors and things that play music etc. So maybe some babies prefer things to do at bedtime?

... I should add in all that that I do not have Miracle Self-Settling Perfect Baby (which doesn't exist). DD sucks on a dummy to get to sleep.

DS as a baby had a mobile that played Bach for 17 minutes. It was the only reason I ever got 17 mins to have a bath or wash my hair. I think I loved it more than my son did.

My DS1 has lullabies that play on his monitor while he falls asleep and has done since birth. I remember lying in bed when he was a few days old as we all slowly fell asleep, listening to them. It was lovely! I'll miss them when he decides he doesn't want them anymore

We use a slumber buddy- elephant that plays music and projects stars on the ceiling. Using it for naps and proper bedtime helps I think. My 7mo falls asleep holding the elephants foot!

I thought it worked on dd1 when she was little but as she got older I realised it made no difference at all.

If you did get one I would get a no-tech can spin by hand if you like and hang it from the ceiling, that way you won't have to take it off when he starts sitting and can grab at it.

My daughter was quite similar - curious and not easily falling asleep. She was entertained by a mobile but never ever fell asleep while it was on!