Mobile vs. Soother

[LoveBeingMrs]

I'm debating between getting a mobile that dangles overhead or a soother that attaches to the side of the crib. The two that I'm considering seem to have similar features: remote control, soothing music, light display, and adjustable straps that allow them to attach to any size crib railing.

(1) Fisher-Price 2-In-1 Precious Planet Projection Mobile (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3243098)
vs.
(2) Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Soothing Seas Aquarium (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2674699)

I'd really appreciate any feedback!! :thanks:

[srkaplan]

I voted for the soother because I think you would get more longevity from it, but would have voted for you to get both if I could have. DD really loved watching her mobile until 8 months or so (when she was more stationary and on her back most of the time). Once she was able to stand and reach it we had to remove it. From then on, she has had a soother in her crib and she really enjoys that as well. She is able to turn it on herself when she wakes up from naps and in the morning and it keeps her entertained.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Ummm...both. :) If you are having a baby shower I would put both on the list. If you can only get one now I would get the mobile and then get the other one for a b-day or holiday in the future.

I'd be far more inclined to get the Tiny Love Symphony in Motion mobile instead though because the one you picked has that classic mobile flaw- it isn't that interesting to look at if you were laying under it. The faces aren't tipped down for the baby to see and there isn't enough contrast on them (babies see sharp contrasts like black, white and red best). But, the light show is pretty neat. I guess I love the whole motion and sounds of the Tiny Love one.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2331939

We have a different version of the FP aquarium (2 different ones, actually) plus the FP rainforest one on his crib rails now. He is almost 2yo. Those toys are fun for him to play with as well as relaxing. He really loved the mobile when he was a baby though. For ds1 we used the mobile's music box past his 2nd b-day so even though we had to take the decorative part down around 5-6m for safety we still got use out of the music feature.



Beth

[sunshine873]

I'd be far more inclined to get the Tiny Love Symphony in Motion mobile instead though because the one you picked has that classic mobile flaw- it isn't that interesting to look at if you were laying under it. The faces aren't tipped down for the baby to see and there isn't enough contrast on them (babies see sharp contrasts like black, white and red best). But, the light show is pretty neat. I guess I love the whole motion and sounds of the Tiny Love one.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2331939


Beth

:yeahthat: I didn't vote, because I only have a mobile, but I have to second the vote for the Tiny Love Symphony in Motion. It's great for baby to look at and the music is actually something that I like to listen to too! DD will be sitting up soon and then we'll have to take the mobile part down :( but we'll leave up the music portion and hopefully she'll learn how to turn that on/off.

[neeleymartin]

i voted soother. if you can only get one, get a soother, but i wish you had a "both" as an option. we have both and have used them almost equally.

we use the soother at early morning rise and it tends to buy us a few extra minutes of sleep.

we LOVE our mobile. was given to us. never thought we needed one. we use that for another fun play item, not at night, or during naps. both our boys have LOVED it. fwiw, we have the tiny love(bright colors, geometric shapes, classical music)

[lchang25000]

We have both and use them just as equally also. The soother is attached to the changing table (for distraction) and the mobile is attached to the crib.

[MoJo]

I didn't vote since we never had a mobile, but we have a couple of soothers (not the one you're looking at) and they get used regularly.

We have one that attaches to the crib, but DD seems to like the musical seahorse (I think it's Fisher Price) a lot. It's nice because I can easily pick it up and bring it with us when we travel, and even DH who doesn't like toys that make noise doesn't mind listening to it.

[LoveBeingMrs]

Thanks for the input! I'm most likely going to go with the soother. Both would be nice, but my DH and I are hesitant to put too many 'toys' in the crib. We'd like the crib to be for sleeping only if possible.

I also read the soother could be helpful for plagiocephaly/flat head syndrome. You attach it to the side you want DC to sleep on (after the first 3 months of course).

[poohbear]

Soother! We never use our mobile. We have the fisher price aquarium soother with the remote control and I highly recommend it. Our baby loves it!!! And with the remote, you can just walk in and push the remote instead of walking all the way to the crib to start it again. HTH.

[Piglet]

You attach it to the side you want DC to sleep on (after the first 3 months of course).

Why only after 3 months? The mobiles are really only designed to be used before baby is sitting up and the soothers are great in those early months when you are desperate for anything that can hold baby's attention.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Thanks for the input! I'm most likely going to go with the soother. Both would be nice, but my DH and I are hesitant to put too many 'toys' in the crib. We'd like the crib to be for sleeping only if possible.

I also read the soother could be helpful for plagiocephaly/flat head syndrome. You attach it to the side you want DC to sleep on (after the first 3 months of course).

You'll find your own sleep groove. Personally we don't mind toys in the crib because he plays himself to sleep and plays when he first wakes up. He's totally happy in there and dh and I can catch a bit of extra sleep. :)

Not sure I understand the 3m thing? I always let my boys sleep in whatever position they were comfortable in (no positioners...). No flathead issues. Not overusing the carseat may have helped with that though.

Beth

[LoveBeingMrs]

So far, we have the Graco Sweetpeace Soothing Center (http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=15012293&), the Sleep Sheep (http://www.buybuybaby.com/regProduct.asp?order_num=-1&WRN=-1824251820&sku=16013277&), and now we're most likely going with the Ocean Wonders Aquarium (http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=15139153&) for 'soothing'... is that enough/too much?

[Piglet]

So far, we have the Graco Sweetpeace Soothing Center (http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=15012293&), the Sleep Sheep (http://www.buybuybaby.com/regProduct.asp?order_num=-1&WRN=-1824251820&sku=16013277&), and now we're most likely going with the Ocean Wonders Aquarium (http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=15139153&) for 'soothing'... is that enough/too much?

If it were me, I wouldn't over-buy those things. I would see what kind of baby you have and what he/she likes. Then buy the extras. DS1 was a great sleeper (still is). The other kids, not so much, but each of them had their own "thing". DS1 loved the mobile and started sleeping in his crib from day 1. DS2 was hard to soothe and ended up sleeping in our bed for a few months. DD didn't have a crib because DS2 was using it so she ended up in a bassinet in our bedroom until 3 months. Some kids hate the crib from the get-go and no amount of "soothing" is going to change that fact. Some kids would think the toys are for playing and some will lull to sleep thanks to them. Don't over-buy - you have MONTHS of shopping once baby arrives ;) And remember - those are all relatively new inventions. Kids were soothed for millienia without them. My own kids never had any of those items and we all survived the early months (you just forget how much sleep means to you and push through it).

[jent]

We have the aquarium & DD loves it. Though, she didn't really seem to care about it when she was very young, but when she was the age where she could stand up and press the button herself, she was fascinated by it. She wanted the music on every night, & sometimes I would hear the music in the middle of the night-- she woke up and soothed herself back to sleep by pushing the button herself.