Breastfeeding Doll

[jcat107]

Have you seen this new doll that is being sold in Spain? I think it is unbelievably inappropriate for young girls to be pretending to breastfeed a baby. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way putting breastfeeding down. It is a very beautiful and natural way to nourish your baby but it is not appropriate for a child to pretend to do this. Girls can wait until they are grown and mature enough to have a baby of their own to learn about this way feeding a baby. I can not believe that a parent would willingly allow their little girl walk around with a baby up to her chest pretending to feed it. What happened to letting children be children? Why can't a little girl just play with her doll?

[Justus*]

Yea it's kind of crazy. My coworker pulled the clip up online yesterday.

[lismom2]

Well...fwiw, my little girl pretends to bf her dolls anyway...so I don't think a breastfeeding doll is inappropriate, just filling a merchandise niche.

[freckles]

My daughter pretends also. My 2 year old helps his brother's head to my breast. I think my 2yr old son has even pretended. Nothing innapropriate about it. Like you said "its beautiful and natural...."

It is never to early or shameful to educate your children about what breasts are intended for.

[Bec caV]

It's no more wrong than them having a doll period. Girls learn their parenting skills very early from playing with dolls. In most countries there's no social stigma on breastfreeding as there is in the US.
Girls will only mimic what they know as acceptable behavior. If they have been taught babies are only fed by a bottle, they'll mimic that, if they are taught babies are fed the way nature meant for them to be fed, by the breast, they'll mimic that.

If our children are exposed to breast feeding early on and taught there's nothing wrong with it, they'll be more likely to breast feed their own children.

[*Babylon*]

Inappropriate? I think make up sets for 3 years old girls is WAY more inappropriate than this doll. I heard some complaining about "sexualizing" (is there such word at all?) little girls, but the same people have no problem dressing their girls like grown ups. Furthermore, for once boobs are portrayed doing what they are meant to do, and not as decorations on a blonde bimbo like Barbie.

[NaomiK]

I think its ok. I dont think you need a particular doll to pretend to breastfeed though. Like Becca said - they are going to mimic what they see. My daughter mimics bottle feeding, spoon feeding, diaper changing, etc with her dolls. I am sure that if I had another child I was breastfeeding she would no doubt mimic that also.

Babylon - Very good points

[lismom2]

Inappropriate? I think make up sets for 3 years old girls is WAY more inappropriate than this doll. I heard some complaining about "sexualizing" (is there such word at all?) little girls, but the same people have no problem dressing their girls like grown ups. Furthermore, for once boobs are portrayed doing what they are meant to do, and not as decorations on a blonde bimbo like Barbie.

Try reading So Sexy So Soon by Diane Levin & Jean Kilbourne (of 'killing me softly' fame)
http://www.amazon.com/So-Sexy-Soon-Sexualized-Childhood/dp/0345505077/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251726015&sr=8-1
and
the Mommy Myth by Susan Douglas and Meredith Michaels
http://www.amazon.com/Mommy-Myth-Idealization-Motherhood-Undermined/dp/0743260465/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251726081&sr=1-1

These are both really great books on the sexualization of children and the effects of the media on both children AND moms.

[mamatiff]

I personally don't think it is wrong, however, there is no reason for a young girl to have a doll like this. I do agree that our society tends to push girls to grow up too quickly. I think it is inappropriate to have children imitating breastfeeding because of a doll they should learn it from their mothers. I breastfed my two sons and think it is very beneficial and healthy for both mom and child. However baby dolls should be baby dolls not sex symbols(i.e. Bratz and Barbie) or a way for your baby girl to learn how to use their breasts (even in the right way) from a doll(or tv). Things like this should be learned from parents.

[NaomiK]

That is the point mamatiff, they ARE learning this from parents. They are mimicking it on the doll. They can do it on any doll though. Unless this doll actually comes with instructions for the child to read to tell it how to breastfeed then I dont see how the doll is teaching them that. The parents are.

[Jill_at_StorkRadio]

yes - kids do this anyway it is just them mimicing their own experience. also there is nothing sexual about bf so not sure i see it as inappropriate.

[mable06]

I'm glad our society today now accepts breast feeding. We now have the right to feed our babies in public and not get treated like we're breaking the law for exposing ourselves. I'm undecided about the doll because little girls should be encouraged to use their imagination. Unfortunately, there are little girls out there that were never breastfed because their own mothers think it's disgusting. Those little girls will probably grow up to think the same. Maybe with the promotion of this new doll people will start to see how beautiful and natural breastfeeding is.
I had a female co-worker tell me once that breastfeeding is gross and no one wants to see womens boobs in public. I felt sorry for her for feeling that way, knowing she missed out on the most awesome bonding experience with her own daughter.
Even though someone is sitting back making lots and lots of money from this little doll that really isn't necessary, I'm glad for what it's promoting.

[angiem8705]

I don't think i would teach/encourage my DD to BF a doll. But if she mimicked it on her own i wouldn't stop her i guess, but i probably wouldn't want her doing it in public as she might lift her shirt and end up giving some creapy perv a show. but either way no you don't need a special expensive doll just any old doll would work. companies will sell anything nowadays.

as for the make up sets and bratz dolls, OMG they disgust me!!! The bratz dolls are basically little w****s and i can't stand them. and make-up sets used to be ok, jus a little colored lip glosses and glitter is fun, but kids don't need eyeshadow and eyeliner and all that.

[dd]

The only problem I have with this doll is that it is a waste of money. Like many of you said, girls can pretend using any doll.

I still think America has a long way to go when it comes to accepting-- not accepting, but embracing breastfeeding. Women's breasts are way too sexualized here and it has caused us to lose sight of the main purpose of breasts, which is to feed our babies. I hate that when Elena was younger I was so nervous about BF in public because I was worried about what people would think. Women shouldn't have to feel that way.

I hope my daughter does learn that breastfeeding is natural and wonderful. And if she wants to pretend with her baby dolls someday, that's ok with me.

[adinanikki]

Breastfeeding is exactly that, natural and beautiful. It is a part of life and as a parent I am flattered when my child mimics the things that I do. There is nothing sexual about it. Breasts were made for breastfeeding, our society has made them sexual objects. No one has any problem with children "growing up too quickly" when they cook in a play kitchen or play house with their friends. Breastfeeding is just a natural way of mothering a baby and I am proud that my daughter understands that. She has yet to breastfeed any of her dolly's (she's more of a plays-with-trucks-type) but she knows what breasts are for and she understands that that's where all of baby's nourishment comes from.

[rickip]

This is interesting... I'm inclined to agree with those who don't see the NEED for this type of doll. Kids can, and DO, do this with any doll. I looked up a clip for it, and saw the halter top for the little girl which comes with two "strategically placed" daisies to hold to doll up to, to stop its crying and start sucking noises. I guess, too many dumb accessories, and yeah, I wouldn't want to see my daughter walking around with this shirt on. BUT I appreciate the promotion of breastfeeding, and when I had my daughter, I bought a doll for my then 2-yr-old son (just a regular old doll!) and he would sit next to me, pull his shirt up, and nurse too. How cute is that? My kids know that milk for babies come from Mommy's breasts, and they were fed in this way too.