Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating an understanding and recognition of polyphonic and orchestral music in infants and small children includes a housing, a speaker within the housing, a plurality of input devices such as buttons positioned on the housing; and a music generator within for storing and playing at least one prearranged multi-channel musical composition that is constructed and arranged to be able to, in response to actuation of at least one of the input devices by a user, change the identity of channels of the multi-channel composition that are being played over the speaker without interrupting the musical composition as it plays. The apparatus is used in a process that permits an infant or small child to experience complex, polyphonic music from a quality source in a way that maximizes the child's opportunity to learn from and develop in response to the music.

Abstract: An infant blanket/towel is provided having one or more teething elements and/or pacifiers attached thereto. The invention is conveniently used by draping the blanket/towel across the infant's chest and stomach and initially providing one of the teething or pacifier elements into the infant's grasp. When and if the infant drops the teething or pacifier element, the element does not fall to the floor or otherwise out of the infant's reach. Because the blanket/towel generally remains draped across the infant, the pacifier or teething element merely slips down onto the infant's chest. By the infant's natural tendency to grip the blanket/towel and thrust the blanket/towel into its mouth, the infant frequently can relocate the pacifier or teething element and re-position it into its mouth.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an article such as a baby bottle includes a handle that is sized and configured to be gripped in one hand of a user, and a reservoir defined within the handle for storing a detergent. A push-pull cap is provided on the handle for dispensing detergent from the reservoir when the handle is squeezed. A brush is connected to the handle, and is sized and configured so as to be able to fit into an open end of a baby bottle to scrub the baby bottle during cleaning. The push-pull cap is advantageously located on a portion of the handle member that is remote from the brush member, so that a user will be able to dispense detergent and scrub without putting down the apparatus, and also have the flexibility to scrub without fear of unwanted detergent leaking into the brush, such as during a final rinse. A novel brush configuration is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying and storing an article, such as a baby bottle, after washing and rinsing includes a tray having a bottom face that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface such as a counter-top, and an upper face. A plurality of pegs extend out from the upper face, and each peg is sized and arranged so as to be able to support an article, such as a baby bottle, after washing and rinsing. Each peg is mounted to the tray in such a manner as to be movable between a first storage position, wherein the entire peg is positioned relatively close to the upper face for storage and packaging, and a second, operative position. This permits the apparatus to be conveniently folded for packaging and storage purposes. Another aspect of the apparatus involves disk holding structure, connected to the upper face of the tray, for holding baby bottle disks in a location that is isolated from areas of the tray in which liquid may collect.

Abstract: A baby food jar is directly attachable to the top of a squeezable baby bottle so that the baby food jar can be inverted on the sgueezable bottle to gravitationally transfer the baby food without spilling. Thereafter, a feeding member includes a nozzle which attaches directly to the squeezable baby bottle. The nozzle terminates in a baby feeding spoon. Squeezing the bottle delivers baby food directly to the spoon.

Abstract: A system for dispensing liquid medicine to an infant includes a baby bottle having a threaded neck portion at an upper end thereof and a rim that defines an opening; a resilient nipple member; and a ring member for holding the nipple member tightly against the rim during feedings. The ring member has threads defined in an interior portion thereof that mate with the threaded neck portion, whereby the ring member may be screwed onto the bottle. A medicine cup that includes a concave cup-like portion is sized to fit within the threaded neck portion of the baby bottle. The medicine cup further includes a flange for supporting the medicine cup on the rim of the baby bottle which is sized so as not to interfere with said ring member during screwing and unscrewing of the ring member onto the baby bottle. The cup-like portion is constructed so as to be impervious to fluid transfer therethrough, so medicine will not leak from the medicine cup into the baby bottle.