That’s real ‘child labour’

A US company is combining babygrows with mops so that babies can polish the floor as they learn to crawl. Website BetterThanPants.com is hoping to clean up with its £25 invention which it calls the Baby Mop.

Inspired by a spoof Japanese advert for a similar invention, it promises to “teach your baby a strong work ethic early on in their life”. And it adds that the baby “will get a nice workout, burn off energy, and do muscle toning. And sleep better too.” Mike Parker from BetterThanPants.com said: “We have sold about 100 in just one month since adding it to our site. “So far all the feedback from customers has been very positive, however we get some negative emails surrounding the idea of the actual product.

“The idea formed to make the actual product from a Japanese commercial on the web. “I believe the idea was submitted as part of a contest on ridiculous inventions in Japan but was never actually sold anywhere.