All You Need to Know about Montessori Mobiles to Get Started
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Montessori mobiles, simple yet beautiful. When I hung up the first mobile for Emma to watch, I kinda wished I was a baby for a while. But I also had a few practical questions such as: How do I hang up the mobile? How far from my baby’s body? If you have the same questions and other ones, this post can help. It covers the most asked questions about Montessori mobiles.
1. What are Montessori Mobiles for?
Montessori mobiles are scientifically designed to support your baby’s visual development.
They allow your baby to focus on an attractive and interesting object. It’s amazing to see how long babies can focus on the mobiles if we don’t interrupt them. The ability to focus is closely connected to learning. Our goal is, therefore, to support this focus since the very beginning.
The mobiles help your baby to practice tracking an object with his eyes. He is also learning about the perception of color and depth.
2. Where to hang THE Montessori mobile?
Hang the mobile in your baby’s movement area. The movement area can have a mat for your baby to lay on and a horizontal mirror that allows your baby to see herself. We set up Emma’s movement area in the living room. That way, I could see her while I was doing other things in the house.
Avoid hanging up the mobiles above your baby’s bed. The bed is a place where your baby rests.
3. How to hang the Montessori mobile?
Hang the mobile on a hook from the ceiling. A simple hook you can screw in the ceiling is the easiest way to do that. The mobile needs to hang about 12 inches from your baby’s chest.
Another option is to hang Montessori mobiles on a baby gym. Monti Kids carries one in their Level 1 box. The box also includes all the mobiles and other toys for your baby.
4. When to introduce each Montessori mobile?
Munari mobile - approximately 2-3 weeks
Octahedron mobile - approximately 6-8 weeks
Gobbi mobile - approximately 2 months
All the other mobiles (Dancers mobile…) - come after the three basic mobiles.
The timing above is just for orientation. Always observe your baby and trust what you see. Doesn’t she look interested in her current mobile anymore? Switch it for another one.
5. How to use the Montessori mobile?
Place your baby under the mobile (the mobile hangs above his chest) and let him watch without interruptions. Ideally, choose the time when your baby isn’t hungry and is rested. That way, you can avoid him losing it as soon as you place him on the floor.
Let him watch as long as he likes. He might be interested in the mobile for a few minutes only or be absorbed in the activity for as long as 30 min. Don’t have any expectations, and let your baby decide how long he wants to watch the mobile. He will let you know when he is done.
Don’t swirl the mobile. The mobiles are designed to be moved naturally with the airflow.
6. Do the Montessori mobiles work?
Same with other things, you won’t immediately see what your child is getting from these mobiles.
Our experience with the mobiles is the following:
Munari mobile - this was Emma’s first mobile. I wish I remembered more about Emma’s interaction with it, but I don’t. To be honest, I don’t remember much from the beginning of the postpartum at all. It was all surrounded by fog, and I barely knew what my name was. The only thing I remember is that she used to observe the mobile for 10-15 mins at times.
Octahedron mobile - by the time we hung up the Octahedron mobile, my memory came back. Yay! This mobile was Emma’s most favorite one. She engaged all her body when she was observing it. She used to squeak and swing her arms and legs with excitement. Her reactions spoke for themselves.
Gobbi mobile - this is the last mobile we used. We introduced it when Emma was 2 months old. She liked it, but her interest quickly turned into rolling over. She rolled over for the first time when she was only 2 months old. Since then, she hasn’t stayed lying on the back for a very long time. However, if your baby is interested, you can keep using the mobiles longer. The Dancers mobile would be the next mobile you can introduce.
7. Where to get the Montessori mobiles?
DIY - if you don’t feel like buying Montessori mobiles, there are plenty of tutorials online you can follow.
I was fortunate to get my Gobbi mobile from a friend. I bought both the Munari and the Octahedron mobile on Etsy.
Do you have more questions about Montessori mobiles? Let me know.
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