Comments on: Auto Mobile: Do-it-Yourself Baby Mobile for Cars

By: Kara

Kara — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:18:44 +0000

Instead of using rope, how about nylon webbing? You can buy it by the foot and any side release buckles you need at REI.

http://www.rei.com/product/603006

By: AJ

AJ — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:29:40 +0000

Okay. I couldn’t see the knot, just the loop, so I was curious whether you used another method. Boy Scouts aside, I wouldn’t trust the average person to tie a knot that won’t slip, unless they go overboard tying a bunch of knots on top of each other.

By: Kendra

Kendra — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:25:53 +0000

AJ,

My hubby is man of many talents, one of which is the ability to tie knots. He tied it for me and said he just used a square knot, tho there may be other knots that work better. There actually books out there on how to tie various knots, we have one titled "The Handbook of Knots".

Does that help, or knot? (yuk yuk yuk)

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:02:16 +0000

Kendra, that’s an interesting setup. How did you secure the loops that go around the handholds?

By: Kendra

Kendra — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:51:13 +0000

A great idea, but it does seem ridiculously easy to replicate for far less than $20.

We recently rigged up a rope "slide" contraption for a road trip, you could certainly do the same thing across the back.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/2057/200807maine131sb6.jpg

By: Carole

Carole — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:28:08 +0000

It strikes me that this would be easy enough to make on your own. And yeah it might be distracting to the driver – but no more than having a kiddo or two in the back seat already does.

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:36:32 +0000

I have a couple concerns about a metal clothes rod in a car crash. First, some unhook simply by being lifted up. Second, if the car's frame crumples/dents near a handhold, I'd worry about the clothes bar breaking / snapping down onto the baby.

The same goes for a bungee cord to a lesser degree, a metal hook suspended with elastic-like tension that snaps free in a crash.

My wife suggested using rope, but I'm doubtful she could secure it tightly while withstanding the tugging of an infant (if the toys hang low enough).

I'd have to see an Auto Mobile, but my impression is the tether is composed of two long strips of Velcro covered by a fabric wrapper.

By: Uta

Uta — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:30:39 +0000

Great idea. I might try this with a simple bungee cord for any long trips. Thankfully, most shorter rides, the boys (1 + 3) are pretty content looking out the window or making each other laugh. Love your blog.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:35:42 +0000

I have an auto clothes rod in my car that I hang toys from. It was only $5.00 and it works great. I use soft toys in case we are in a crash. My 19 month old loves it.