The History of Baby Mobiles

Mobiles first entered the world as a form of sculptural art. In the 1930s, an American artist named Alexander Calder began experimenting with mobiles by introducing moving pieces into the sculptures he’d been working on, which were mostly circus animals made from wire and wood. It’s thought that baby mobiles evolved from this concept. Eventually, parents began attaching visual mobiles with baby-appropriate themes like animals or stars to cribs or affixing them to nursery ceilings. In the late 1950s – 1970s, Irmi mobiles were very popular. They were made in New York and featured intricate, hand-painted elements. Examples of these mobiles can often be seen in nursery photos of children of contemporary celebrities like Sophia Loren. Today’s modern baby mobiles are made from many different materials (although felt is especially popular) and come in many themes and styles. All are designed to entertain little ones and help soothe babies to sleep.