How to Build a High-Contrast Baby Mobile

High-contrast baby mobiles calm infants and increase their creativity. These devices mount to the side of a playpen or crib in a place where the infant easily can observe them. This baby mobile is made from items found around the house.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Duct tape
• Pipe foam
• String
• Glue

1. Print 2 copies of high-contrast pictures for the mobile. Find templates and pictures at the Sleeping Baby website. Browse the site's "Mobile" section for images that work best for your child's room. The site also explains how each picture must be cut and folded for the mobile.
2. Cut out the high-contrast templates and glue them to the cardboard. Cut the shape from the cardboard using the template as your guide. Glue the top pieces to the bottom pieces and allow them to dry.
3. Bend one clothes hanger into an upside down "V." Duct tape the 2 legs or sides of the "V" until every part of the hanger is covered except for a small loop at each end.
4. Bend the other 2 hangers until they are straight across. Tape them like the hanger in Step 3.
5. Twist the hook pieces of the hangers together so the legs resemble an octopus. Duct tape all the wires together and cover the wire.
6. Cut and slide the pipe foam over the wires to protect the infant.
7. Bend the top part of the mobile over to create a hook at which all the wires meet. Tape the hook to the other wires to hang the mobile.
8. Poke a hole in the center of the top of the cardboard design.
9. Tie a string to each of the mobile's designs. Secure the loose end to the other end of the hangers. Tie one string in the middle. Hang the mobile's pieces at different lengths to vary its shape.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint or decorate the pipe foam to make it brighter or more colorful.