The real problem facing child-beaters is how to give little Billy a what-for without leaving those nasty welts and bruises. Now, for far less than the cost of a good lawyer, parents can dish out mark-free whuppings thanks to B-Stik, a new product brought forth from the mind of Boca Raton, Florida resident Steven Robyor. Made of high-density fabric, the foot-long B-Stik looks like a friendlier police baton.

"It’s designed for parents to hit their children with," Robyor explains. His inspiration came after hearing about a toddler who died after being punched in the stomach for soiling his pants. Robyor hopes to "fill a technological gap in disciplining children."

Critics feel the B-Stik is just another bad child-rearing idea that teaches violence. Most posters to the bulletin board of Today’s Modern Mother are of the same mind, with one commenting, "I wouldn’t even use it on my dog." Coincidentally, Robyor’s Web site also recommends the B-Stik for animal training.

» Scott Saxon