How to Build a High-Contrast Baby Mobile

Babies don't have very good eyesight when they are born: They can't see much, and they can't see very far away. They can distinguish high-contrast images more easily, so images in black and white can help babies start to distinguish shapes and patterns. A high-contrast mobile is a good choice for your baby's development since it hangs over your baby's crib where he will see it multiple times a day. Making a mobile will save you money and give you the flexibility to get the look you want to match your nursery's decor.

Things You'll Need

  • Large embroidery hoop
  • Scissors
  • Thin ribbon or string
  • Black-and-white pictures or patterned paper
  • Card stock
  • Glue

Instructions

    • 1

      Wrap ribbon around the edge of an embroidery hoop to cover it. Glue the ends of the ribbon when you have wrapped the entire edge.

    • 2

      Tie four long pieces of ribbon on the north, east, south and west positions of the hoop. Tie them together at the top. This is where you will attach the mobile to the ceiling.

    • 3

      Print out black-and-white pictures or purchase patterned paper. Your pictures can include spirals, checkerboards, chevrons, polka dots and wavy lines. Choose a variety of patterns. You can also purchase patterned scrapbook paper instead.

    • 4

      Cut your pictures or patterned paper into shapes like squares, circles or triangles.

    • 5

      Glue the shapes to a piece of cardboard or card stock. Cut the cardboard or card stock to match the shapes.

    • 6

      Cut a small strip of card stock and bend it into an "L" shape. Glue this to the back of one of the mobile pieces so that the bottom part of the "L" is attached to the piece and the top part is sticking into the air.

    • 7

      Glue a piece of ribbon or string to the top part of the "L" on the card stock. Attaching the ribbon to this piece instead of directly to the mobile piece ensures that the shapes all lay flat when they are hanging so your baby can see them more easily.

    • 8

      Attach the card stock piece and string to each of the remaining mobile pieces following the same steps.

    • 9

      Tie each of the mobile pieces to the embroidery hoop. Vary the length so the pieces are staggered when they hang.

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