A breast feeding doll?

[Moh 10]

Does this make anyone else uncomfortable?
Now there is a doll that will (simulate) breast feeding- ON YOUR DAUGHTER.

DEMO

Is breast feeding a beautiful natural thing that we don't mind our young daughters pretending to do, or does this slip too close to something inappropriate for this age?

I'd be a little worried this may make girls want to get pregnant as soon as their bodies can.

More on the story

Even more about it

 

[purplediamond]

omg-I saw this doll the other day on the tv and thought how crazy anyone would be to buy one of these dolls for their kids-it just freaks me out to say the least!!!!!

 

[luckystar112]

Lol....okay, it''s a litttttleee weird. I wouldn''t buy it for my daughter. BUT it''s a lot more tame than I was picturing! I was picturing a young girl stuffing a doll up her shirt.

BTW....I''m not a mom, but are you supposed to pat a baby on their belly like that when they are done eating?

 

[justginger]

Creepy.

I''m with you, Moh - I think it''s encouraging girls to grow up even faster than they already are.

 

[idreamofcushions]

That might be the creepiest thing I have ever seen. Talk about disturbing!

 

[packrat]

Ohhhh my! No way is my daughter having that doll-nuh uh! That takes playing house a little too far.

Lucky-I''ve never seen anyone pat a baby''s tummy like that after they''ve eaten!

 

[oneandahalfrock]

OMG- it''s just not right... aren''t there enough young mothers out there as it is??? I''m sorry but BS like this does nothing good for the kids. *shakes head...ewww*

 

[kennedy]

Date: 8/8/2009 11:58:44 PM
Author:Moh 10
Does this make anyone else uncomfortable?

Now there is a doll that will (simulate) breast feeding- ON YOUR DAUGHTER.


DEMO


Is breast feeding a beautiful natural thing that we don''t mind our young daughters pretending to do, or does this slip too close to something inappropriate for this age?


I''d be a little worried this may make girls want to get pregnant as soon as their bodies can.


More on the story


Even more about it

Why exactly would this make young girls want to get pregnant as soon as they''re able? Would you say the same about dolls that come with a baby bottle? In both cases, children are intended to "feed" their dolls -- why would the breastfeeding doll be any more likely to result in early sexual activity? My 2 year old daughter "nurses" her dolls by lifting up her shirt and pretending to give them "boobie". Do I worry that this might lead to teen pregnancy? That is honestly one of the most ridiculous things I''ve ever heard. In fact, I''m glad that she associates breastfeeding with taking care of a baby as it will hopefully make her more likely to breastfeed herself if/when she has children and less likely to feel shame about it.

All that said, I think the doll is ridiculous. It''s mechanical and clumsy and that halter top is just plain silly. I have never been a fan of dolls that have a particular theme or function as I think they tend to stunt the imagination. I would not buy this doll for that reason, NOT because I think there''s anything obscene about it.

 

[Moh 10]

I see your point kennedy, but I think you may be reading too much into my post.

Personally I think breast feeding is a beautiful thing, in fact a 100% natural thing.

In Europe woman are much more free to breast feed in public and there apparently must be greater comfort with the subject since this doll is from Spain.

I introduce subjects not to convert anyone to my way of thinking, but rather to generate interesting discussions.
Controversial things do that.

Once you introduce people's kids into a discussion it get much more interesting and passionate.
I'm more asking questions here that stating anything.

 

[gwendolyn]

Ew, dolls that do things creep me out beyond measure. Ew ew.

 

[mrscushion]

Yes, it makes me uncomfortable. Besides seeming age-inappropriate, I''m not sure what a little girl learns from playing with this toy. It''s a girls-only toy to the extreme, and I''m not comfortable with that, either.

 

[Lorelei]

Whatever happened to Tiny Tears and her baby bottle? This is going too far IMO.

 

[Dannielle]

It seems age inappropriate and to be honest a bit creepy.

Won''t be buying my neices one for christmas, thats for sure.

 

[lucyandroger]

Honestly, I don''t get what everyone is so upset about. How is this doll different than dolls that come with a little bottle or that wet their diaper? The doll doesn''t make girls lift their shirt in public, which is what I thought people would be concerned about. Little girls have been playing "mommy" forever and it doesn''t make them have children as soon as their bodies can.

Actually, I think it''s kind of nice that a girl would be taught that breasts are important body parts used for feeding babies before they learn that breasts are play things for men that need to be a certain size and look a certain way.

 

[iheartscience]

Okay that is very creepy and the halter top thing is just weird. That was a cute little girl, though!

 

[DiamanteBlu]

Are you kidding me? Sigh . . .

 

[kennedy]

Date: 8/9/2009 7:10:22 AM
Author: Lorelei
Whatever happened to Tiny Tears and her baby bottle? This is going too far IMO.

What about this doll is going "too far"? Actually, I take offense to dolls that come with bottles as I think they teach children that babies should be fed with a bottle when in fact they should (in an ideal world) be fed at the breast. Wouldn''t it be a GOOD thing if boys and girls learned at a young age that breastfeeding is a natural thing and nothing to be ashamed of? The only reason people think this doll is "age inappropriate" is because our culture seems unable to separate out the actual function of breasts (to feed our children) with their status as sexual objects.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/9/2009 10:35:25 AM
Author: kennedy

Date: 8/9/2009 7:10:22 AM
Author: Lorelei
Whatever happened to Tiny Tears and her baby bottle? This is going too far IMO.

What about this doll is going 'too far'? Actually, I take offense to dolls that come with bottles as I think they teach children that babies should be fed with a bottle when in fact they should (in an ideal world) be fed at the breast. Wouldn't it be a GOOD thing if boys and girls learned at a young age that breastfeeding is a natural thing and nothing to be ashamed of? The only reason people think this doll is 'age inappropriate' is because our culture seems unable to separate out the actual function of breasts (to feed our children) with their status as sexual objects.

Absolutely it is a good thing for children to learn that BF is natural however I do not believe young girls need to strap on a harness with nipples and pretend to breast feed at such a young age to learn about the process. As for dolls with bottles it is very different to me than having a nippled harness, also do we want to send the message that bottle feeding is wrong and that BF is the only way? Some cannot breast feed, some don't wish to, others have real problems trying to do so but I believe in the right to choose for oneself.

As to teaching children the benefits of breast feeding personally I believe there are better ways of doing so than this doll and its harness.

 

[kennedy]

Date: 8/9/2009 2:19:18 AM
Author: Moh 10
I see your point kennedy, but I think you may be reading too much into my post.


Personally I think breast feeding is a beautiful thing, in fact a 100% natural thing.


In Europe woman are much more free to breast feed in public and there apparently must be greater comfort with the subject since this doll is from Spain.


I introduce subjects not to convert anyone to my way of thinking, but rather to generate interesting discussions.

Controversial things do that.


Once you introduce people's kids into a discussion it get much more interesting and passionate.

I'm more asking questions here that stating anything.

Moh -- You asked some provocative questions and I was trying to answer them. I don't think I was reading too much into your post -- I was just addressing the issues you brought up. The consensus seems to be that this doll is somehow obscene and inappropriate and I clearly disagree. For those who believe this doll will lead to teen pregnancy and the like, I would be curious to hear exactly why.

 

[Moh 10]

Membership here at PS is probably 90% women.
I posted this on another board that is about 80% men and immediately the sexual comments started flying.
And as frequently happens on boards one poster will try to outshcock the previous posts by suggesting we give our children dolls that do explicitly adult things.
That way we can get sex ed started early. Gimme a break!

Without a doubt the problem is what adult women's breasts mean to the sexual world of adult men and all the prudish shame and guilt that surround sex in American culture.
Europe is more relaxed about sex. (This doll is from Spain, a land in which gay marriage is legal.)
They may never admit it but many men find breast feeding erotic - not terribly illogical if you think about it since sex is about successfully sending your DNA into the future.

So on one hand this toy represents a sweet, pure and natural thing that shouldn't bother anyone.
On the other hand it gets a young girl to do something that many men (inappropriately IMHO) have sexualized.

Plus when people's children are involved it amplifies their emotional reaction to things.

BTW, I believe breast feeding has been proven to be healthier than bottle feeding and for that reason this doll could be argued to actually be preferable to giving your daughter a doll that uses a bottle.

 

[waxing lyrical]

My daughters pretend breastfeed their dolls. I don''t see the appeal in this particular doll. :shrug:

 

[kennedy]

Date: 8/9/2009 10:37:33 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 8/9/2009 10:35:25 AM

Author: kennedy

Date: 8/9/2009 7:10:22 AM

Author: Lorelei

Whatever happened to Tiny Tears and her baby bottle? This is going too far IMO.

What about this doll is going ''too far''? Actually, I take offense to dolls that come with bottles as I think they teach children that babies should be fed with a bottle when in fact they should (in an ideal world) be fed at the breast. Wouldn''t it be a GOOD thing if boys and girls learned at a young age that breastfeeding is a natural thing and nothing to be ashamed of? The only reason people think this doll is ''age inappropriate'' is because our culture seems unable to separate out the actual function of breasts (to feed our children) with their status as sexual objects.

Absolutely it is a good thing for children to learn that BF is natural however I do not believe young girls need to strap on a harness with nipples and pretend to breast feed at such a young age to learn about the process. As for dolls with bottles it is very different to me than having a nippled harness, also do we want to send the message that bottle feeding is wrong and that BF is the only way? Some cannot breast feed, some don''t wish to, others have real problems trying to do so but I believe in the right to choose for oneself.


As to teaching children the benefits of breast feeding personally I believe there are better ways of doing so than this doll and its harness.

I, too, believe in the right to choose (that''s why I said "in an ideal world" all children would be fed at the breast), but I think one of the reasons there are such low breastfeeding rates in most Western countries is because it''s not talked about. Many women feel extremely uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. I''ve had people give me dirty looks while I was nursing my daughter, as though I were doing something shameful that should only be done in the privacy of my own home. No, I don''t think we should teach our children that bottle feeding is wrong, but I do think we have a lot of work to do in terms of raising breastfeeding awareness so that women don''t feel it''s necessary to spend the first 3 months stuck at home. Please understand, I''m not defending this doll in particular (I actually think it''s ridiculous, but not because I think it''s obscene), I''m just questioning the consensus that this doll is somehow sexually inappropriate.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/9/2009 11:03:19 AM
Author: kennedy

Date: 8/9/2009 10:37:33 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 8/9/2009 10:35:25 AM

Author: kennedy

Date: 8/9/2009 7:10:22 AM

Author: Lorelei

Whatever happened to Tiny Tears and her baby bottle? This is going too far IMO.

What about this doll is going 'too far'? Actually, I take offense to dolls that come with bottles as I think they teach children that babies should be fed with a bottle when in fact they should (in an ideal world) be fed at the breast. Wouldn't it be a GOOD thing if boys and girls learned at a young age that breastfeeding is a natural thing and nothing to be ashamed of? The only reason people think this doll is 'age inappropriate' is because our culture seems unable to separate out the actual function of breasts (to feed our children) with their status as sexual objects.

Absolutely it is a good thing for children to learn that BF is natural however I do not believe young girls need to strap on a harness with nipples and pretend to breast feed at such a young age to learn about the process. As for dolls with bottles it is very different to me than having a nippled harness, also do we want to send the message that bottle feeding is wrong and that BF is the only way? Some cannot breast feed, some don't wish to, others have real problems trying to do so but I believe in the right to choose for oneself.


As to teaching children the benefits of breast feeding personally I believe there are better ways of doing so than this doll and its harness.

I, too, believe in the right to choose (that's why I said 'in an ideal world' all children would be fed at the breast), but I think one of the reasons there are such low breastfeeding rates in most Western countries is because it's not talked about. Many women feel extremely uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. I've had people give me dirty looks while I was nursing my daughter, as though I were doing something shameful that should only be done in the privacy of my own home. No, I don't think we should teach our children that bottle feeding is wrong, but I do think we have a lot of work to do in terms of raising breastfeeding awareness so that women don't feel it's necessary to spend the first 3 months stuck at home. Please understand, I'm not defending this doll in particular (I actually think it's ridiculous, but not because I think it's obscene), I'm just questioning the consensus that this doll is somehow sexually inappropriate.

No I understand! I am in Europe and I think things are a little more relaxed here from what I can tell concerning breast feeding than the US, it seems things have come a long way in recent years which is a good thing! I think for me I just find the doll a little weird, I do believe that teaching children that BF is a good and natural thing is great, I just don't think this doll is maybe the best tool to do it. Better for Mom to involve her older children and show by example that BF is the natural way to feed but also to show when the child is older and perhaps asking more questions ( and old enough to process any answers) that although yes breast is best if you can and wish to do so, that not everyone can breast feed or wants to and that is also ok.

I am not a Mom so these are just my thoughts! I am really sorry also Kennedy that you have been made to feel uncomfortable for BF your baby in public, I don't know why some have a problem with it....

 

[purrfectpear]

So far the only person using the term obscene is you, Kennedy. As to why some of us find this disturbing and not when a little girl plays with a pretend bottle, it''s quite simple.

In America we don''t typically use wet nurses. The only person nursing our child is ourselves. I suspect most of us would find it "disturbing" to hand our child off and have a stranger nurse it. Bottle feeding on the other hand is something that the grandmom, sister, friend, or even daughter might perform for us.

It''s the issue of a prepubescent child pretend nursing with her own breasts that I think we find disturbing. Obviously it could not happen in the real world. A responsible child could bottle feed her little sister. Breastfeeding is reserved for women old enough to produce milk, not children. I wouldn''t want my child to play pretend episiotomy or labor either.

 

[fatafelice]

I wouldn''t have any problem with a daughter pretending to breastfeed if it is something she had witnessed and was imitating. That seems natural to me. I do have a problemw with the decorative nipple vest and the sucking motion. Those just aren''t necessary, IMO.

 

[kennedy]

Date: 8/9/2009 12:33:25 PM
Author: purrfectpear
So far the only person using the term obscene is you, Kennedy. As to why some of us find this disturbing and not when a little girl plays with a pretend bottle, it's quite simple.


In America we don't typically use wet nurses. The only person nursing our child is ourselves. I suspect most of us would find it 'disturbing' to hand our child off and have a stranger nurse it. Bottle feeding on the other hand is something that the grandmom, sister, friend, or even daughter might perform for us.


It's the issue of a prepubescent child pretend nursing with her own breasts that I think we find disturbing. Obviously it could not happen in the real world. A responsible child could bottle feed her little sister. Breastfeeding is reserved for women old enough to produce milk, not children. I wouldn't want my child to play pretend episiotomy or labor either.

First of all, people have used words like disturbing, creepy, inappropriate, and have suggested that this doll will lead to early sexual activity. My use of the word obscene doesn't seem like much of a leap here.

Second of all, why exactly is it problematic for a prepubescent child to pretend she's nursing her baby? It's very healthy and normal for little girls (and boys) to pretend to be all kinds of things, including mommies (or daddies). As I mentioned, my 2 year old daughter pretends to nurse her baby by lifting up her shirt and putting the baby to her chest. To her, breastfeeding is just a natural and normal part of taking care of a baby. Should children not pretend to be doctors, firefighters, or bears (my daughter's current favorite) because they couldn't be them in the "real world"? Should play only be realistic? I am very happy to let my daughter use her imagination to be all sorts of things, including a mommy who nurses her child.

Lastly, I fail to understand how exactly an episiotomy (a surgical procedure on the vagina) is at all analogous to breastfeeding.

ETA I am not defending this doll so much as I'm defending the idea that there is nothing wrong with a child pretending to nurse a baby.

 

[kennedy]

Date: 8/9/2009 11:18:15 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 8/9/2009 11:03:19 AM
I am really sorry also Kennedy that you have been made to feel uncomfortable for BF your baby in public, I don't know why some have a problem with it....

Thanks, Lorelei. I have long since learned to just tune them out. And hopefully things will change with the next generation so that women aren't made to feel embarrassed about feeding their children when they need to eat.

 

[packrat]

When I was little, I bottle fed my babies (dolls), and I knew that when I grew up and was a real mommy, I would nurse my real babies, like my mom did and like I''d seen other moms do. My little girl holds her babies up to "nurse" too-I love it and I think it''s sweet. I would consider myself such a proponent of breastfeeding as to be a "nursing nazi" as I''ve seen it termed. However, for a child to hold a doll to her chest and play pretend, I think is one thing. A child to strap on a bra with flower nipple things and hold a baby up to her breast that actually moves its mouth and makes sucking noises? I just don''t get it. To each their own I guess.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/9/2009 1:48:30 PM
Author: kennedy

Date: 8/9/2009 11:18:15 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 8/9/2009 11:03:19 AM
I am really sorry also Kennedy that you have been made to feel uncomfortable for BF your baby in public, I don''t know why some have a problem with it....

Thanks, Lorelei. I have long since learned to just tune them out. And hopefully things will change with the next generation so that women aren''t made to feel embarrassed about feeding their children when they need to eat.

Good for you! I am sure like most of the nursing Mom''s I have seen you are discreet, so it really baffles me why anyone would have a problem with it....

 

[packrat]

Kennedy, don''t allow other people to make you feel uncomfortable about doing what is natural and right for your baby. The ones that look at you all funny are the ones with the hang up. Just keep doing what you''re doing and know that it''s wonderful for your baby!