Beware the Breastfeeding Doll

Are North Americans really this uptight? I came across this article and got a good chuckle -- then I realized these people were serious. It’s an article on a breastfeeding doll – a controversial breastfeeding doll (as anything to do with breastfeeding would be). Here is what some of the less-educated members of our society had to say about it:

“the idea of breast-feeding is too grown-up for young children -- and may even promote early pregnancy”;

This doll may “speed up maternal urges in the little girls who play it”;

It is “like introducing sex education in first grade instead of seventh or eighth grade.” And (my favorite), “it could inadvertently lead little girls to become traumatized. You never know the effects this could have until she’s older”.

Traumatized? I’ve had some ridiculous warnings throughout my two year parenting gig and I just have to wonder, where do people come up with these thoughts? We’re talking some serious imagination here; do these people realize they just blamed early pregnancy on a breastfeeding doll? ? ?? ??? How does that make any sense?? Please fill me in. Somebody?

For the record, I wouldn’t get my child Bebe Gloten because I’m cheap and she already nurses her dolls. While we're on the topic, here's some pictures. Enjoy! I hope they don't cause you trauma...

Comments

FrontierDreams said…
I couldn't believe it when I saw sme peoples comments in that article. It really, really saddens me :(
But on a better note - LOVE the nursing pics!! I need to get more of my girls nursing before they decide to wean!
August 08, 2009
Anonymous said…
You used to breast feed your CareBear :) That was after you gave birth to it...

Hey, maybe that will be the next doll - Bebe with an umbilical cord ~~~~

Darci:)
August 08, 2009
Holistic Mommy said…
There's comments? You mean it gets better!? I'm going to go pop some popcorn, get into my comfy clothes and read the comments; I bet they'll be better than the article!

And Darci, nu uh, no I didn't :P
August 08, 2009
Anonymous said…
It is not the breast feeding aspect of the doll that promotes the maternal urge, and may encourage children to want to be parents too early - it is the doll itself. Doesn't the doll model a baby??

I have the solution -- from now on young girls ARE NOT allowed to play with dolls. No dolls for my little girl. She isn't allowed to play mommy until she is 30.

I mean heaven forbid we actually take the time to educate a child that being a mommy is a lot of work, and that while it is fun to play, it is something she should wait to do until she is ready in all the ways that are important. Nope can't do that. Instead I won't let her play with dolls.

Whaddya think???

Idiots.
August 09, 2009
Holistic Mommy said…
Hmmm,

Anonymous, I'm not sure I follow...
August 09, 2009
Anonymous said…
The point I was trying to make, is that one of the arguements against this doll was that people felt it encourages young girls to want to become mommies too early.My point why is it breast feeding the doll that promotes early pregnancy? According to this (faulty at best) line of reasoning, isn't just having a doll and pretending to mother a baby and having fun doing it, going to promote children wanting to become parents early? Why is it ok to push a doll in a pretend stroller (complete with bassinet and car seat features I might add), but not ok to breast feed a doll? Why does one promote earlier pregnancy when the other one doesn't. I just htought his arguement was really dumb, and wanted to comment on it. Sorry.
August 16, 2009
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