I wish I had known about all the amazing benefits of using Montessori Mobiles when I had a newborn. I just missed the boat but it might be perfect timing for you or someone you know so here is everything I’ve learned about Montessori Infant mobiles so you will know exactly where to start.
A range of visual and tactile Montessori Mobiles is introduced at different stages of a newborn’s visual development over a period of 6 to 8 months, starting at 2 weeks and concluding around 8 months – when the infant’s eyes have fully developed.
When I first came across Montessori Infant Mobiles, I thought they were purely decorative but as it turns out they are so much more than just beautiful floating ornaments. Each one is fascinating in its purposeful design. I will take you through the entire range by age and discuss the benefits each one offers.
Montessori Infant Mobiles – A Complete Guide For Beginners
Your baby’s vision will gradually develop over 6 to 8 months. There is so much that needs to still happen and these wonderful Montessori mobiles are designed to help at every new developmental stage.
Your Newborn’s Vision Explained
Every baby is born with very limited vision and will need to go through 5 to 8 months of ongoing development to finally have full vision. Which is how long you will end up using the mobiles.
A newborn’s vision starts out very blurry because the muscles in their eyes have to get stronger so they can focus better. Like all muscles – they get stronger with practice.
Their range of vision also needs to develop which means they can only see about 10 inches away at birth – only far enough to see their mother’s face.
They have no depth perception yet and their eyes are still uncoordinated. They have to learn to work as a team before they will be able to judge distance among other things. This is where the moving parts and different heights of mobiles come into play.
It is difficult for a newborn to distinguish details and impossible to see the entire color spectrum so high contrasting objects like black and white images are easier for them to see.
According to the American Optometric Association, these are the key stages of development your baby’s sight have to undergo from birth to 8 months
Stage 1 of visual development: 0 – 4 months
- In the first four months, your baby will find it hard to tell the difference between two objects.
- Your baby will also have a hard time moving their eyes from one object to another.
- Once their vision has improved after the first few weeks – they will start working on hand-eye coordination.
- By the second month, your baby will be able to focus their eyes easier on your face and other objects nearby.
- In the first two months, a baby’s eyes are not well coordinated and can appear to be a bit cross-eyed. This will improve as their eyes develop the ability to coordinate as a pair.
- At 3 months, your baby will start to follow moving objects with their eyes. This is closely followed by reaching, grasping, and batting.
Stage 2 of visual development: 4 – 8 months
- During these 3 months, your baby will work on eye control as well as eye-body coordination.
- At month 5 your baby will start to use their eyes together in order to form a three-dimensional image – which is how we are able to perceive depth.
- Your baby should also be able to see most colors by the fifth month.
4 Benefits of using Montessori Mobiles
#1 Visual Tracking
Each mobile promotes visual tracking. Almost like when you first learn to read. The teacher usually had you following a tennis ball on a string with your eyes before you even started to read.
#2 Strong Muscles
Using Mobiles work to strengthen the muscles in the eyes, neck, arms, and core. This happens especially while using the tactile mobiles that your baby will reach for.
#3 Visual Discrimination
They also assist with visual discrimination by giving your baby different objects to look at in relation to one another. some objects will be closer/further and others will be darker/lighter.
#4 Concentration
Using a mobile provides your baby with the rare opportunity to just daydream and relax while working on some crucial development at the same time. Being immersed in an activity of our own choosing and being left undisturbed is how we develop concentration.
Montessori Mobiles Progression
From 2 Weeks: Munari Mobile (Visual)
This high contrast, black and white mobile, incorporates two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes and objects including a glass sphere. These elements are designed to spark a human being’s natural mathematical sense.
From 2 Months: Octahedron Mobile (Visual)
The Octahedron mobile consists of 3 octahedrons (red, blue, and yellow) made from light reflective paper and separated to create contrast. This mobile introduces the primary colors at a time when your baby’s eyes are able to see basic colors.
The Octahedron encourages your baby to use their two eyes together while tracking the three shapes. The equilateral triangles continue the mathematical exposure of the first mobile.
From 2 – 3 Months: Gobbi mobile (Visual)
The Gobbi mobile is usually 5 to 7 balls made from embroidery thread in gradients of the same color. The balls hang at a 45-degree angle from light to dark with the darkest ball being the closest to the baby’s face.
This mobile helps your baby focus their eyes by looking at an object close and further away from their face. It is introduced when your baby can see a full spectrum of colors. The color gradients improve chromatic sense by differentiating between shades of the same colors.
From 3 Months: Dancers Mobile (Visual)
The dancing figures promote visual tracking. The dancers have individual moving parts that add another level of challenge for your baby’s eyes. This mobile also helps babies learn which parts of objects are fixed and which can change.
From 3 Months: Stylized wooden figure mobile (Visual & Tactile)
This mobile has 5 to 7 objects that could be of any natural origin for example fish, birds, or leaves. It represents the concrete and realistic form and promotes movement and grasping.
From 3 Months: Three primary-colored spheres (Visual & Tactile)
This tactile and visual mobile has 3 three-dimensional discs in the primary colors. The longest thread is in the middle.
From 4 Months: Bell on ribbon Mobile (Visual & Tactile)
The bell on a ribbon promotes visual tracking, tactile and auditory development. The mobile is hung from a ribbon with a piece of elastic at the top so your baby can pull the bell towards themselves.
From 4 Months: Ring on a ribbon Mobile (Tactile)
The ring mobile is hung on a ribbon with an elastic at the top. The ring should be big enough for your baby’s hand to fit through so they can grab hold of it and pull it towards themselves. This mobile stimulates batting and grasping.
15 Practical Tips for using a Montessori Mobile
- Choose a warm spot near a window for natural light.
- Make sure there is natural airflow – just enough to slightly move the mobile.
- Don’t place the mobile above a changing station or sleeping area.
- You can use the mobiles anywhere in your home but if you have to choose just one spot – hang the mobile above your baby’s movement area.
- Place your baby on a soft rug, blanket, or mattress. A topponcino works too.
- Don’t interrupt them during concentration. Observe your baby before you make any decisions.
- Start with short periods at a time.
- Take a break if your baby seems to be overstimulated.
- Remember that your baby can’t hold their heads in the middle yet so place a mirror next to them. They can look at the mobile in the mirror.
- The correct position of the mobile is above the baby’s chest so they can look up and in front of them. Don’t place them with their faces directly underneath the mobile.
- Don’t place your baby under a mobile if they are tired or hungry. They need to be fed and well-rested in order to enjoy the benefits of the mobile.
- You have to use your observational skills to determine how long your baby wants to spend under the mobile.
- Every child is different and their progression through the mobiles should reflect this.
- Safety first – make sure it is completely safe before placing your baby underneath the mobile.
- Take care to store these mobiles carefully because they are delicate and can become entangled and misshapen if not packed away properly.
How To Hang A Montessori Mobile?
There is a couple of ways you can hang a mobile for your baby to enjoy but It will depend on which mobile you use as well as where you want to hang it.
Shelf bracket/L-Bracket/Plant Hook
Most of the visual mobiles need to be hung around 10 to 12 inches away from your baby’s face while your baby is lying on the floor on a rug or mattress. This means you will have to hang it very low to the floor and might not want to suspend it all the way from the ceiling. In this case, you might want to consider using an L-bracket used for shelves or hanging plants.
Tie a key chain to the mobile string to make it easier to hook onto the bracket. You will also be able to remove the mobile quickly to replace it with another.
Mobile stand/Tripod/Baby Gym
A Montessori mobile stand/tripod or a baby gym works great for tactile mobiles like the ring on a ribbon and bell on a ribbon mobile. The average baby gym is quite low already and won’t leave enough space for the visual mobiles to be hung at the right height.
A tactile mobile on the other hand should be hung close enough for a baby to bat or grasp which makes this method perfect.
The Perfect Mobile Hanger
The Perfect Mobile Hanger can be purchased on the Michael Olaf site. This wall-mountable attachment is made from Clear perspex so it won’t detract from the beauty of the mobile. You can hang most of the light mobiles from this hanger.
An Adhesive Hook
The lightweight paper mobiles can be hung from the ceiling using an adhesive hook. You could also use an adhesive hook on the bottom of a floating shelf or other furniture to suspend the mobile from. This is also a good option if you are renting.
Ceiling Hook
It is best to hang the heavier mobiles like the wooden figures from a strong hook in the ceiling. This is the most secure way by far.
Happy gazing!