Research has suggested that babies up until six months of age find it easier to focus on black and white tones and graphics. High-contrast colours such as black, white and red encourage babies' visual and physical development.
Last year a nanny devised Art for Baby, a book with black-and-white images by famous artists (News, 9 October 2008). Lisa Snell, national childcare strategy manager at Busy Bees, said she came up with the idea to transform the environment for babies after hearing child development specialist Maria Robinson speak at an early years conference.
An area of the baby room at Shenley nursery in Hertfordshire was transformed using black and white resources.
The area includes a variety of textured areas for a baby to reach and grab, such as scarves, soft cushions and a display board at babies' eye level.
Nursery manager Mia Cole said, 'It's been absolutely fantastic. We've had lots of support from parents who have brought in black and white photos.'
Ms Snell has written a case study for National Strategies based on her observations of the baby room.
It includes the moment when a baby of around nine months appears to recognise himself in a black and white photograph.
She wrote, 'The young baby in the high contrast area reached forward and started patting one of the many photographs around them. I asked the member of staff if this was their photograph, she acknowledged that it was. The young baby had recognised their own photograph and had started communicating non-verbally using physical gestures.'
Ms Snell told Nursery World, 'I thought, "Wow!" - what a moment!'
She added, 'We have noticed babies are exploring and investigating more with their hands and eyes. When it was just a colour room they were not as engrossed.'
Lilac has also been used because Ms Snell said babies are supposed to find it a calming colour.
Black and white areas will be introduced in 35 baby rooms in Busy Bees nurseries from September this year.