Well, babies do need clothes, nutrition, a place to sleep, mental and physical stimulation and a means of transport usually. So I don't mind marketing as it enables me to see what's out there and make up my own mind. Yes, Lieby had too much "stuff" but most of the stuff I didn't use was bought as gifts by people told I didn't need what they were buying. If new parents don't research the needs of children and just believe a company with something to sell, more fool them.

I don't think baby gyms are necessary, but they are useful (and Liebs, at 5, still loves his and hunts it down to play with for hours). Music CDs aren't necessary, but I enjoyed some of them. Infant books aren't needed by the hundred, but Liebs has a large book selection (and is the only babe in arms to have been read all of Harry Potter, something he won't sit still for now). He has more clothes than he needs. I didn't need all the cloth nappies, but they did look cute, and I'll be buying more for Stormy at the right time for us.

What about the ethics of advertising chocolate? That's not a necessity but is still marketed. Such is life. Essentials we get no matter what, everything else needs an ad campaign!