Age: Infants. Award Year: 2003.

Newborns will be fascinated with the black-and-white, high-contrast patterns of the ten vinyl 3" discs and squares that dance and dangle on this nonmusical mobile for the crib or changing table.  Not as cute looking as other mobiles, but babies do react to the visual stimulation of this crib toy.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 200. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Sadly, this product has been discontinued. How do you make a good thing better? Add a remote control and new animals to this clever musical mobile with innovative motion. Small shapes slide on the arms of the mobile, making a clicking sound as the mobile turns. The sound quality is better than most and it plays several classical selections. Still top rated, Symphony in Motion with Calder-like shapes or other animals. PLATINUM AWARD '02.

SNAP This award-winning mobile now comes with a remote control so you can turn the music from a distance. Unlike most mobiles, this innovative offering has more visual interest of several kinds: it tips as it spins, causing objects to shift their positions in interesting ways. It also pauses, and the start-and-stop motion adds another kind of interest. Small shapes slide on the arms of the mobile and make small clicking sounds as the musical mobile turns. The sound quality on this mobile is better than most, and it plays several classical music selections. (800) 843-6292.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2004.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2005.

Cleverly designed, this “bug” has four patterned wings with colorful ribbons that flutter as they turn to the music. It’s a windup music box with old-fashioned sound, rather than the usual electronic type. This attaches to the changing table for three minutes’ worth of diversion. This toy has been discontinued.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2006.

This company continues to be the leader in activity mats for young babies. We’d put this mat on the “must have” list for the baby shower. The new feature this year is a kick-and-play area that babies can activate with their feet or bat at from their tummies as they get older. The key difference between this mat and so many others we tested is that the lights and music are soothing and not over-the-top loud or jarring. Comes with a mirror that babies will enjoy. Like the original, this has two arches and dangly toys for gazing at and batting. We also recommend the less expensive version without the lights and music. PLATINUM AWARD ’03. (800) 843-6292.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2006.

Sadly, this product has been discontinued.

A monkey, a lion, and a kangaroo are all positioned properly so that baby can focus in on their bright faces. Plays 15 minutes of classical music and nature sounds. This is the newest in our favorite line of mobiles. We still prefer the original Symphony in Motion Deluxe ($49.95 ), which is brightly colored with small shapes that slide on the arms of the mobile, making a pleasing clicking sound as the mobile turns. Comes with a handy remote control. In our opinion this is the best in the category, followed by the Calderesque Symphony-in-Motion Shapes ($39.99 ), the most attractive, but with no remote control. PLATINUM AWARD ’02.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2007.

We’ve seen a lot of so-called tummy-time products for infants. This one is a gem. An oversized, pear-shaped mat that pops open, has bright graphics, and is fitted out with disks that toys and arches clamp into. There are toys to hang on the arches for baby to bat at, and a mat that inflates for baby to lie on, tummy-side down. A mirror with music box can also be placed for baby to enjoy her own smiling face. Bigger than anything this company has done before, and our parent testers loved it. Not as portable as the original but still got high marks. Select either Tropic Isle or Sun Garden motif. (800) 843-6292.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2007.

A clever twist on the original Gymini design with a mat that flips from simple patterns for newborn to gaze at, to an activity mat with sounds and lights to activate on the flip side. Like the original, this has crossing fabric arches that hold dangly toys and a mirror for tummy time. One parent preferred the less expensive versions “without the lights.” We’d pass on the new Gymini Melody Maker ($67 )—we found the music uncharacteristically loud and jarring. Still top rated, Gymini Total Playground Kick & Play ($69 ) PLATINUM AWARD ’06. (800) 843-6292.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2007.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2007.