Although toys are the tools by which the infant discovers self and world, too many toys may actually discourage, or inhibit, the discovery process. And all too many infants and children today, have all too many toys. This is a fairly recent phenomenon. Up until the last half-century, toys were given to children on their birthdays, at Christmas and perhaps at a few other holidays like Thanksgiving. The same was true for infants who were usually limited to a rattle, or a plush toy for the first few months of life. But the world has changed and the toy industry has become big business. The ability to mass-produce toys at a low cost, has led to a superabundance of toys. As a result, toys are no longer given a few times a year; rather they are purchased all year long. Infants as well as children have been targeted as consumers who can be sold any and all variety of toys. A toy packed crib, for example, presents the infant with too many colors, too many shapes, too many textures and too many sounds at the same time. Such an environment can overwhelm an infant. The golden rule of providing toys for a child is that less is best.