A few years ago I worked in a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). The information we had then indicated infants prefered (ie showed increased response to) black and white. We used to make and hang black and white mobiles in their "incubators". Never quite understood how they could tell the increased response was pleasurable or scary but the babies always seemed to enjoy the movement of those mobiles. I think it's a contrast thing so stands to reason brights have higher contrast than pastels. Don't know whether current data still supports this or not.
Originally Posted by Holice
A very opinionated friend once told me that babies recognize bright colors before they see pastels.
After that revelation, my crib quilts have mostly been brights.