A CREDIT card teether for babies has sparked cries of outrage from experts and financial counsellors.

The plastic toy is stamped with numbers, an expiry date and the name "Ima Spender".

Social commentator Maggie Hamilton called the teether "the ultimate symbol of materialism".

Children were being forced to grow into "mini-adults" far too fast and clever advertisers were infiltrating their minds from six months of age, she said.

"This is not harmless or humorous. Childhood is an endangered species. It's very sad."

Garry Rothman, a senior financial counsellor, said the product trivialised the money problems scores of families had suffered since the global financial crisis.

"Credit card debt is a health hazard," he said.

"We are seeing a huge increase in bankrupts over multiple credit card and mortgage defaults. People think the GFC has disappeared but we are getting the fallout."

Victorian mother Penny Hartelt has done a deal with US company Heelarious to sell the Baby's First Credit Card Teether via her online gift shop littlegirlygadgets.com.au

"It's just a bit of fun. They are reading far too much into it," Mrs Hartelt said.

Originally published as Baby's first credit card 'just a bit of fun'