A multi-billion-dollar industry has been built around providing gadgets to anxious parents. These include door locks, toilet locks, toilet paper guards and, my personal favourite because it seems so unnecessary, padded cushions to drape around a bathtub to avoid a possible bump should baby slip.

"Armed with concern and microscrutiny, parents are going to ludicrous lengths to take the lumps and bumps out of life for their children today," writes Hara Estroff Marano, author of a book documenting the trend towards over-protective parenting.