I don't think it should go as far as to have to have a doll to teach little girls it is natural. I think that it should be a mother's AND Dad's place to teach them that it is natural. That is what we did with Hannah while I was nursing Josey. She would just get her doll and "nurse" it. I think it is something that will come naturally without the help of a doll. Know what I mean?
I think if a little girl saw her mother nursing, she would just mimic it without a 'special nursing doll'. I guess it's got to do with my own comfort zone, the 'pregnant Barbie' made me uncomfortable at first, but then I saw how naturally my nieces were playing with it, and I thought, okay, this is not so bad. But I think it gave the wrong idea that all Mom's will be delivering C-Section!
I know it's perfectly normal for little girls to 'play mommy' but there's something unnatural about seeing one so little 'nursing'. I guess I should just get over myself.
I think if a little girl (or boy) is asking questions, these might be very good tools to help teach them. My only concern would be too much information too soon.
I guess it's up to each individual parent. I'd love to know what the 'experts' think!
Great post, Jill! What do you think?? All the best, Eileen
I think that we rely way too much these days on batteries to do things. My boys have trucks that make revving sounds, and siren sounds...and you know what? When the batteries run out, their little mouths do just as good a job. I feel that sometimes in trying to make the play more fun and more "real" we actually do our children a disservice by taking away their make-believe time and limiting their imaginations ultimately (when the idea behind it all is to expand their imaginations...)
Sad as it is, nothing in this world surprises me anymore, just like the 'pregnant Barbie' that Eileen mentioned and now the breast feeding doll. I think something beautiful and sacred like this should be taught in the home. I think some in society are once again rushing our little children into adult roles.
Hmmmm. What's next? (I DARE NOT GO THERE!) Don't think a doll is necessary for this natural function. Parents can teach by example. If they don't, oh well. That's what LaLeche League is for (which is for adult mothers by the way, not little kids). Why do children need this graphic-ness at such a young age? I repeat, WHAT'S NEXT? Don't like it. Susan
As conservative as I am, I don't have a problem with it. It seems to be a natural thing, far more natural than sticking a toy bottle in the doll's mouth. I'd rather see my grandchild playing with that than with a "Bratz" type doll, or dolls that look like hookers.
Oh,geez Jill...I guess I am the only one that finds this doll and it's action disturbing on SO many levels...sorry! It grossed me out...I would never buy this for Whit and I would be really upset if she were playing with this over at a friend's house. Is this made in America or overseas? I didn't recognize the brand?
My thoughts are mixed. I think this doll is a fad that will fade into the sunset, just like all the other motor-driven dolls and toys that have come and gone over the years. I agree that toys that need one's imagination to play with them are far superior to those that only do one thing and need batteries to do it. I'm not grossed out by this doll, and I bet that a lot of little girls will get a kick out of it. They'll think it's fun and will enjoy pretending to to be breastfeeding mom. But, since I'm often around breastfeeding families, it's not uncommon for me to see little girls lifting up their tops and "breastfeeding" their babydolls, just like their mommies do. To them it's perfectly natural. I do prefer this doll to the dolls that come with bottles, though. To me (I know, I'm weird) it's the doll bottles that are strange. But, that's just me.
I would never buy one of these dolls, but they don't offend me either. On some level I sort of think I should be bothered by this but I'm not. Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things in the world. (I know, I know, other things are natural too but we don't need to play act them.) I just felt so totally comfortable nursing my babies and I have such fond memories of doing so. It's hard for me to look at that doll and feel badly about it. I would have a much bigger problem with my grandchildren playing with dolls that are dressed immodestly.
Oh, and I don't think these dolls are sold in this country. Not yet.
EVERY one of my children...except for Jet (because he is the youngest) have "nursed" their dolls..or in Cannon's case Pooh Bear while I nursed our current baby. The doll doesn't turn me on or off...it's just there. When kids think to do this on their own it's darling...when it is so spelled out with sound effects..I don't enjoy it as much. I don't like to hear crying anyway. I AM WITH YOU ON THE BRATZ DOLLS!!! We've never allowed them here. My girls were given them at birthday parties and things...they went right back to Target or the trash can. I had no idea there is a pregnant barbie. Is there a market for that? Who's buying it? Is it a teen barbie or a mother barbie dressed in motherhood type cloths? I'll have to google that one.
I loved Dennis' comment! Although this is a bit creepy I don't really have a problem with it. Within its context I actually think it is serving a good purpose. Most French women do not breast feed their babies so I can see why a doll would be part of a larger "naturalist" movement trying to teach the younger generation that breast feeding is normal and natural.
Why does it not surprise me Natalie that you know this about French women? You are such the world traveler. I didn't realize most do not breast feed there. Interesting. Well maybe the doll serves a good purpose then!
I don't like the doll at all. The little girl in the video is strapping on fake breasts!
I think even breastfeeding moms are smart to pump and use a bottle once or twice a day. Dad needs to be included in feeding the baby and moms need breaks. Besides, you never know when you might have to use a bottle.
I don't think this is anything that parents need to teach. Women can decide if they will or they won't; in the meantime, let the kids play with dolls/bottles, BOTH the boys and girls!
20 comments:
I don't think it should go as far as to have to have a doll to teach little girls it is natural. I think that it should be a mother's AND Dad's place to teach them that it is natural. That is what we did with Hannah while I was nursing Josey. She would just get her doll and "nurse" it. I think it is something that will come naturally without the help of a doll. Know what I mean?
I think if a little girl saw her mother nursing, she would just mimic it without a 'special nursing doll'. I guess it's got to do with my own comfort zone, the 'pregnant Barbie' made me uncomfortable at first, but then I saw how naturally my nieces were playing with it, and I thought, okay, this is not so bad. But I think it gave the wrong idea that all Mom's will be delivering C-Section!
I know it's perfectly normal for little girls to 'play mommy' but there's something unnatural about seeing one so little 'nursing'.
I guess I should just get over myself.
I think if a little girl (or boy) is asking questions, these might be very good tools to help teach them. My only concern would be too much information too soon.
I guess it's up to each individual parent. I'd love to know what the 'experts' think!
Great post, Jill!
What do you think??
All the best,
Eileen
I think that we rely way too much these days on batteries to do things. My boys have trucks that make revving sounds, and siren sounds...and you know what? When the batteries run out, their little mouths do just as good a job. I feel that sometimes in trying to make the play more fun and more "real" we actually do our children a disservice by taking away their make-believe time and limiting their imaginations ultimately (when the idea behind it all is to expand their imaginations...)
So there are my $2 worth
*smile*
Cynthia
Sad as it is, nothing in this world surprises me anymore, just like the 'pregnant Barbie' that Eileen mentioned and now the breast feeding doll. I think something beautiful and sacred like this should be taught in the home. I think some in society are once again rushing our little children into adult roles.
... I don't like it.
I was the youngest in my family, and have not seen much breast feeding in my day.
But, I don't think that I would have been comfortable with a doll like that.
It seems to me that something like this makes breastfeeding so. . . commercial and fake.
I guess I agree with some of the comments above-- this is something for parents to teach their children, not for a toy to teach.
I guess my feelings toward breastfeeding is that it is something that shouldn't be so casual.
Hmmmm. What's next? (I DARE NOT GO THERE!) Don't think a doll is necessary for this natural function. Parents can teach by example. If they don't, oh well. That's what LaLeche League is for (which is for adult mothers by the way, not little kids). Why do children need this graphic-ness at such a young age? I repeat, WHAT'S NEXT? Don't like it. Susan
As conservative as I am, I don't have a problem with it. It seems to be a natural thing, far more natural than sticking a toy bottle in the doll's mouth. I'd rather see my grandchild playing with that than with a "Bratz" type doll, or dolls that look like hookers.
-Den
Oh,geez Jill...I guess I am the only one that finds this doll and it's action disturbing on SO many levels...sorry! It grossed me out...I would never buy this for Whit and I would be really upset if she were playing with this over at a friend's house. Is this made in America or overseas? I didn't recognize the brand?
My thoughts are mixed. I think this doll is a fad that will fade into the sunset, just like all the other motor-driven dolls and toys that have come and gone over the years. I agree that toys that need one's imagination to play with them are far superior to those that only do one thing and need batteries to do it. I'm not grossed out by this doll, and I bet that a lot of little girls will get a kick out of it. They'll think it's fun and will enjoy pretending to to be breastfeeding mom. But, since I'm often around breastfeeding families, it's not uncommon for me to see little girls lifting up their tops and "breastfeeding" their babydolls, just like their mommies do. To them it's perfectly natural. I do prefer this doll to the dolls that come with bottles, though. To me (I know, I'm weird) it's the doll bottles that are strange. But, that's just me.
I would never buy one of these dolls, but they don't offend me either. On some level I sort of think I should be bothered by this but I'm not. Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things in the world. (I know, I know, other things are natural too but we don't need to play act them.) I just felt so totally comfortable nursing my babies and I have such fond memories of doing so. It's hard for me to look at that doll and feel badly about it. I would have a much bigger problem with my grandchildren playing with dolls that are dressed immodestly.
Oh, and I don't think these dolls are sold in this country. Not yet.
EVERY one of my children...except for Jet (because he is the youngest) have "nursed" their dolls..or in Cannon's case Pooh Bear while I nursed our current baby. The doll doesn't turn me on or off...it's just there. When kids think to do this on their own it's darling...when it is so spelled out with sound effects..I don't enjoy it as much. I don't like to hear crying anyway. I AM WITH YOU ON THE BRATZ DOLLS!!! We've never allowed them here. My girls were given them at birthday parties and things...they went right back to Target or the trash can. I had no idea there is a pregnant barbie. Is there a market for that? Who's buying it? Is it a teen barbie or a mother barbie dressed in motherhood type cloths? I'll have to google that one.
Jill, it was Barbie's friend Midge that was pregnant.
You can read about it here if you are interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midge_Hadley
Walmart ended up taking her off their shelves because too many customers complained.
She sells now on ebay and amazon for well over $100!!
Have a great weekend!
All the best,
Eileen
Seems pretty innocent to me. Might lead to a teaching moment...for Chickee.
What really freaks me out about this doll is its eyelashes...super thick and GOLD eyelashes. What's wrong with this baby??
Heidi...I thought the very same thing! What's with those eyelashes?!
I just don't know what to think or say. This is a little weird to me. But like Dennis said, they could be playing with worse dolls.
Where do you find these things.....! I thought this was disturbing despite my laughter. I think that whole idea STINKS. YUCK!
I loved Dennis' comment! Although this is a bit creepy I don't really have a problem with it. Within its context I actually think it is serving a good purpose. Most French women do not breast feed their babies so I can see why a doll would be part of a larger "naturalist" movement trying to teach the younger generation that breast feeding is normal and natural.
Why does it not surprise me Natalie that you know this about French women? You are such the world traveler. I didn't realize most do not breast feed there. Interesting. Well maybe the doll serves a good purpose then!
I don't like the doll at all. The little girl in the video is strapping on fake breasts!
I think even breastfeeding moms are smart to pump and use a bottle once or twice a day. Dad needs to be included in feeding the baby and moms need breaks. Besides, you never know when you might have to use a bottle.
I don't think this is anything that parents need to teach. Women can decide if they will or they won't; in the meantime, let the kids play with dolls/bottles, BOTH the boys and girls!
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