Most expectant and new parents today are very concerned with providing the right environment for their infants and toddlers. We see evidence of this growing concern in the recent popularity of creating an "infant gift registry" to ensure just the right items are purchased by thoughtful gift-givers.

Beyond the furnishings and safety products, strollers and car seats that are a must-have in the world of babies, there are environments that are equally important for the healthy growth of infants. Key among these is the learning and development environment. For a baby, this is all about discovery and play – different types of play – fostered by different toys that can help create the most happy, healthful and rewarding learning environments.

Recent research has demonstrated that during an infant's "curiosity" months (from birth through 1 year) there are two distinct developmental learning environments that need to be nurtured. One is "soothing," and the other is "stimulating."

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