Baby Clinic

Development

Baby Toys: mobiles

Black and white shapes for contrasting visual interest, musical distractions to amuse a tired infant, and pretty toys that sway gently as your baby goes off to sleep.

Mobiles that hang from the ceiling or attach to a cot side encourage your baby to follow shapes and colours with her eyes as her eyesight begins to develop. In the first six weeks or so, simple black and white shapes work well, placed at a distance no further than about 30cm. Once your baby can reach up, make sure any hanging toys are moved further away and cannot be pulled down and cause injury.


Brio My Very First Crib Mobile, £39.99, birth+ This mobile projects soothing images like drifting clouds and gentle sounds for your baby to drift off to sleep being reassured by. www.kidsen.co.uk	Premium Musical Mobile: Made with Love, £28, birth+ Small movements and melodies can be activated. It can be fitted to a wall (it comes with a bracket) if it doesn’t attach to the side of your cot. It also matches other items in the Made with Love interiors range. www.mamasandpapas.com	Fisher-Price Rainforest Peek-a-Boo Leaves Musical Mobile, £34.99, birth+ At little more sophisticated than most animated mobiles, this model has shiny leaves that waft up and down and a smiling dragonfly that plays peek-a-boo to a sweet melody. www.argos.co.uk

Jungle Mobile, £20, birth Babies can watch the characters move gently to the sweet tune on this colourful jungle-themed mobile. It coordinates with Mothercare’s jungle bedding range. www.mothercare.com	Clip and Go Musical Mobile, £20, birth+ This mobile plays five continuous, familiar tunes and features three soft toys. It can travel with you, clipping on most car seats and pushchairs. www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk	Lamaze Fly and Chime Friends, £10.99, birth+ Suitable for hanging over a cot, pram or pushchair this mobile features a pretty butterfly who bounces up and down playing soothing chimes, accompanied by three colourful bug friends. www.lamazetoys.co.uk