How to Make Baby Mobiles

Think about how you want your mobile to look. Mobiles are intended to entertain your baby, which leaves you with lots of options. Some good choices are photographs, small toys or stuffed animals; just make sure to avoid anything sharp or any items that could be swallowed or put in baby's mouth. Once you decide what type of items you want to use, choose five items if you are using two rods, or seven if you are using three rods.

Start by attaching the dowels or plastic tubing to form the body of the mobile. If you are using two rods position them in the shape of a plus sign, securing them in the middle by wrapping the string securely around each rod. Wrap diagonally in both directions across the point where the rods touch. If you are using three rods position them like an asterisk so the distance between each rod is equal, and then attach the string the same way. You will hang decorations from these rods, so you want the structure to be balanced.

Cut lengths of string so your items hang from the mobile at the length you want. Make sure the string is not long enough that baby can become wrapped up in it; if the mobile is going to be within baby's reach, the string should be short and you should supervise use of the mobile just like you would any other small toys. Decide the level you want your toys to hang, or if you want them to hang at different levels, and cut your string accordingly.

Attach the string to the dowel or tubing by knotting it three times and cutting the excess string as close to the knot as possible. Secure with a dot of nontoxic glue, and follow the same process to attach the toy at the other end. If your toys are different sizes, hold the mobile in the air to see how it balances.

Decide how you want to hang your mobile. You can use extra dowels to attach the mobile to a crib in a "hang man" shape, or you can attach the mobile to a ceiling using a ceiling hook. Again, whichever method you choose, make sure the mobile is securely in place and will not fall onto baby.