So many ways to keep baby happy

When it comes to keeping infants happy, one of the tricks is getting the right toy at the right time. The Lamaze Infant Development System from Learning Curve, RC2 Brands, Oak Brook, Ill., dedicated to encouraging creative and imaginative play, is helping to make these decisions easier by categorizing its toys by stages in color-coded boxes.

Stage One is for discovering the world, with toys that gently stimulate the senses with engaging patterns, contrasting primary colors, and pleasing sounds. These are in green boxes. The Grip & Grab Rattle is easy for babies to grasp onto for shaking and watching the balls fall through the clear corners of the pyramid-shaped toy. It also features teething nubs to soothe baby's gums.

The Tug and Play Knot Block features a series of cords knotted inside a clear cube, the ends of which have shapes that jingle, clink, and squeak. It has rings and teethers with various textures and the grabbing, tugging, and pulling builds coordination and strength.

Stage Two is for exploring and experimenting. These toys have simple and engaging activities such as peek-a-boo and interactive music and are found in red boxes.

Stage Three is intended to foster cognitive, physical, and social skills. These blue box toys use concepts such as sorting and stacking and are for babies who are "moving and doing." Bongo Beats has a lively monkey sitting behind three bongos. Three balls are placed on top of the drums and the baby pounds them in with a mallet. Unique percussion sounds will play when each drum bongo is activated while the monkey dances to the beat.

Another lively musical toy is the Walk n' Roll Safari. A giraffe, lion, and monkey are on three attachable circus train cars with a pull cord to make a parade. Each animal can be pushed separately to hear its individual sound, such as the crashing cymbals for the giraffe or the monkey's drumbeats.

For more information, visit www.learningcurve.com.

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