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Baby Mop: Put your baby to work in a onesie with a mop attached to it

And you thought chores were only for the five-year-old and up set.

Though it fits squarely into the "novelty" category, the Baby Mop onesie has proved popular enough to cycle through various incarnations since it was first introduced by Japanese designers in 2008.

And who can blame people for snapping up these tiny outfits — with "100% cotton" mops attached to the underside — when they come with sales pitches like this (via Metro U.K.):

"After the birth of a child there's always the temptation to say 'Yes, it's cute, but what can it do?'

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Until recently, the answer was simply 'lie there and cry' but now babies can be put on the payroll, so to speak, almost as soon as they're born.

"Just dress your young one in Baby Mops and set him or her down on any hard wood or tile floor that needs cleaning."

Other retail sites have taken up the mantle, adding selling points like "Teach your baby a strong work ethic early on in their life."

Nearly five years in, the item continues to be a popular gift at baby showers for moms-to-be with a great sense of humour.

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Because the idea of putting infants to work, even in completely adorable circumstances, certainly doesn't sit well with everyone.

"This is the laziest product I've ever seen. Babies shouldn't clean or muscle tone.......your product is offensive," writes one concerned parent with a penchant for literalism.

However, most people seem to be in on the joke.

"My wife and I are planning on having another child just so we (can) buy one of these and keep our stone floors clean. We're actually hoping for twins," another commenter cracks.

For efficient homeowners without children, fear not. The mop idea also extends to pets.