There is an amazing documentary called "Babies". It has no dialogue, no script. A director chose 4 babies from around the world. It's a look at one year in the life of four babies from around the world, from Mongolia to Namibia to San Francisco to Tokyo.
Thing is, the Namibian baby, had the least (actually, zero) toys. Nothing store-bought. No frills. And he is my favorite and was also the strongest, healthiest, smartest baby out of all of them. By the time all the other babies started walking: he was running.
Watch the trailer. It is so amazing to see.
The Namibian boy also had no nappies, no utensils, no wet wipes or dummies or bottles.
Just his environment.
So I feel really super kak about buying a Bumbo chair for Benjamin this morning. But it's a really cool rubber mould thing that he can sit in so that he can interact with the family. I'm really defensive about it now. Dammit.