Crib mobiles are used to stimulate young infants for a few months, but can cost a lot of money. Make your own crib mobile kit for gift-giving or reselling, and give a lovely crafted gift to a new mother. Crib safety is of utmost importance in your mobile kit. According to Consumer Reports, "Crib mobiles are for looking at, not for touching. They often have string or small attached pieces. Make sure your little one cannot reach the mobile so he can't become entangled or pull anything off."
- Skill level:
- Moderate
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Things you need
- 30 cm (12 inch) diameter wood embroidery hoop
- 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide satin ribbon -- approximately 2 m (2 yards)
- Scissors
- Glue gun
- Glue sticks
- 6 pieces satin ribbon -- 1.2 cm (1/2 inch) wide by 37.5 cm (15 inches) long
- 6 mini cuddly toys 7.5 cm (3 inches) or smaller
- Stud finder
- Pencil
- 4 cup hooks
- Hammer (optional)
- Tape measure
- Invisible nylon fishing line
- Large zip plastic bag
- Instruction sheet
- Photo of finished product
- Safety warning note
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Instructions
- 1
Keep the centre embroidery hoop. Discard the external hoop with tightening mechanism. Place a pea-sized dab of glue beneath the end of the 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide ribbon. Adhere the ribbon to the internal side of the hoop. Wind the ribbon around the hoop, gluing every 2.5 cm (1 inch), until the hoop is covered with ribbon. Cut any excess ribbon. Glue the end to the inside of the hoop.
- 2
Tie the end of one 1.2 cm (1/2 inch) wide ribbon around the neck of a mini cuddly toy. Repeat for the other animals and ribbon.
Use small cuddly toys 7.5 cm (3 inches) long or smaller. (Plüschbär 1 image by Steffen Zehrfeld from Fotolia.com) - 3
Tie the other end of the ribbon, not connected to the toy, to the hoop, spacing the ribbons/toys 7.5 cm (3 inches) apart. Tie the ribbon in a knot.
Crib mobile
- 1
Locate a ceiling stud above the crib with a stud finder. Mark the stud location with a pencil.
- 2
Trace the diameter of the hoop onto the ceiling. Screw four cup hooks into the ceiling, two on each "side" of the circle, 7.5 cm (3 inches) apart, with at least two hooks being inserted into the ceiling stud/joist. Screw the hooks into the stud until the threads are no longer visible. It might be necessary to use a hammer to tap the hook into the stud.
Screw cup hooks into a ceiling joist. (hook screws image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com) - 3
Measure and cut four pieces of fishing line so the mobile will hang 32.5 to 37.5 cm (13 to 15 inches) above where a baby would be positioned in the crib. Figure in 10 cm (4 inches) extra -- 5 cm (2 inches) to tie around the hoop and 5 cm (2 inches) to form loops to connect to the hooks.
- 4
Tie the pieces of fishing line 7.5 cm (3 inches) apart around the hoop. Form the opposite ends of the line into a 2.5 cm (1 inch) loop. Tie securely. Hang the four pieces of line onto the hooks inserted into the ceiling.
Hang the crib mobile with invisible fishing line. (fishing reel image by Brett Mulcahy from Fotolia.com)
Hanging instructions
- 1
Type Section 1, Steps 1 to 3 and Section 2, Steps 1 to 4 as instructions for your kit. Place the instructions and all mobile materials in the zip bag.
- 2
Place a photo of a finished crib mobile in the bag.
- 3
Put a note in your crib mobile kit warning parents to remove the crib mobile at the appropriate age. According to Consumer Reports, when the baby "...is able to push himself up on his hands and knees, the mobile should be removed from the crib."