Make a mobile for your baby – and get your older kids to help!

From butterflies and teddy bears to clouds and raindrops, now you can make a DIY cot mobile for your baby.

Benefits of a baby mobile

Baby mobiles are more than just a fun decoration to add to your baby’s nursery. Baby mobiles also help your baby’s physical development, muscle strengthening, and brain development.

• The simple act of your baby’s eyes following the movements of a mobile in motion helps to strengthen and grow the muscles that control this eye movement.
• As your baby acquires more head control, he or she will begin to turn or lift his or her head to follow the motions of a mobile. These motions help to develop the muscles that control head movement.
• Reaching for the mobiles also aids the development of spatial awareness by allowing your baby’s eyes to comprehend depth and the brain to comprehend distance.

Make your own baby mobile

The good news is you can make your own DIY cot mobile and even get your older children to help. What better way to spend a fun-filled Saturday afternoon together as a family?

How to make a butterfly mobile

You’ll need:

• Large or small embroidery ring
• Ribbon to hang from the roof
• Scrapbook paper for the butterfly shapes
• Scissors
• Thin beading wire or fishing gut

To make:

1. Use pretty scrapbook paper to cut out butterflies of different shapes and sizes.
2. Secure them in place with thin beading wire or fishing gut.
3. Remember to make a knot in the wire so that the butterflies don’t slide down.
4. Tie 2-3 equal lengths to the ribbon and hang from the ceiling.

How to make a teddy bear mobile

You’ll need:

• Two embroidery rings
• A few small stuffed animals
• Sturdy rope or ribbon to hang from the ceiling

To make:

1. Tie the sides of the ring together with a little ribbon and attach the stuffed animals to the rings (These toys have ‘velcro’ hands so that they can easily grip the ring)
2. Then secure the rings to the ribbon and hang them from the roof by screwing a hook into the ceiling.

How to make a cloud and raindrop mobile

You’ll need:

• Large or small embroidery ring
• Ribbon to hang from the roof
• Felt for the clouds and raindrops
• Fabric glue or cotton and a needle for stitching
• Stuffing
• Fishing gut

To make:

1. Cut out cloud and raindrop shapes from felt.
2. You can glue the sides or stitch them, then stuff and sew closed.
3. Position on different heights with some gut and attach to the ring.
4. Secure the ring to the ribbon and hang it from the roof by screwing a hook into the ceiling.