breastfeeding baby doll. Would you buy one

[VoldemortsNipple]

Daybreak today showed a doll that's causing quite a storm in the US.

The child places a bra type thing on and then pretends to breastfeed the doll which begins to suckle. I have older children so I wouldnt be buying dolls of any type. But I am fighting with myself if the doll is morally right or wrong.

Mumsnet jury. What's your verdict.

Sorry can't link, I'm on my phone.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

I can't quite see the point although might be missing something.

My DC's have all breastfed various dolls / teddies / dinosaurs / cars when I have been feeding...they didnt need a special vest.

[ThePosieParker]

It's weird....why does a child need a bra for imaginary play?

[WidowWadman]

My daughter tries to breastfeed every single doll and stuffed animal she owns, and also has tried to breastfeed her little sister - I don't see why you'd need a special doll?

[WidowWadman]

Don't see a moral issue though, by the way. A pretend suckle vest is probably no different to pretend emptying bottles, dolls that can cry, wee etc.

I personally don't like too many functions on a doll, but that's a matter of taste, not morals. Unless you think that breastfeeding is somehow immoral.

[PacificDogwood]

I've not seen the doll either, but would second what peppapig said: my older two 'BF' various teddies and other toys (including books ) when I was feeding Nr3.

No need for 'special' doll or bra thing, yuck!! And what about little boys who want to play at BFing? Surely they are more likely to become supportive partners to their BFing other halves when they are grown up, non .

[biddysmama]

no, im an extended/tandem nearly triandem breastfeeder, all you need to breastfeed is a baby and breasts, dd breastfeeds all her toys, ive bf cars before, its just a way of getting money out of the bottle free houses that arent buying the fancy bottle feeding 'real' dolls

[biddysmama]

widow my 28 month old dd told my 11 month old the other day that he was having her 'yummyyummys' (her word not mine) today, not mummys he didnt look impressed when she lifted her top for him

[Shannaratiger]

I agree my daughter did exactly the same when I was breast feeding her younger brother. If children only see people around them bottle feeding them that is what they will want to copy, if they haven't got an actual baby bottle they will find something to substitute. It's adults who think that children want everything to be totaly realistic, children just use their imagination and improvise!

[TheCountessOlenska]

Hmm - sounds unnecessary and deliberately provocative IMO.

I object to dolls that come with bottles, and that bothers me more than this because you see them everywhere! I've never used a bottle so they have no relevance in this house!

[DirtyMartini]

This is at least the third time there has been an "outcry" in the media over a BF doll. I don't recall the others having a special bra/vest thing though. I don't get why that is necessary? Or even why a special doll is needed.

As for morally right or wrong, I am even more confused by this question. How is it a moral issue in any way if a child pretends to BF? They mimic all sorts of parenting behaviours. It is a normal and rather sweet thing to do.

[WidowWadman]

"And what about little boys who want to play at BFing? Surely they are more likely to become supportive partners to their BFing other halves when they are grown up, non wink."

According to my mother in law, my husband often breastfed his teddy when he was little. He's very supportive of breastfeeding, but he wasn't overly thrilled when she posted it on facebook...

[biddysmama]

i put a picture on facebook of my dd nursing her dolly, my grandad said i should take it off because it wasnt appropriate

[PacificDogwood]

@ widow's MIL - see, this is what happens when Parents get access to Social Media .

I had a doll a a little girl which 'spoke' (you put little round discs in her back - v v spooky) and I really did not like it at all. All her stupid set phrases totally interferered with what I wanted to play at the time. I v quickly 'lost' all the records...

I am still feeling queasy at the bra top though. That's just wrong!

[LoveBeingAtHomeOnMyOwn]

You can already get dolls that pretend to drink from the bottle but totally agree it's not needed, any doll can be bf!

[DirtyMartini]

What is it that people are so weirded out by, d'you think? Is it that they think it is somehow wrong because playing at breastfeeding implies (shock, horror) having imaginary breasts to feed with? Even though that is not, to the child, what they are focusing on at all?

I suspect it is that, because I can't think of anything else it might be. And we all know that there is Probably Something Sexual about the whole scenario

[DirtyMartini]

Yes the bra thing is v fucked up IMO. (not having seen it, admittedly - just the concept is ick)

[michelleseashell]

It's a bib the kid wears with two little flowers and then when the flower and the doll's mouth line up, the doll makes sucking noises.

Sounds sweet to me. No weirder than breastfeeding micro machines.

[biddysmama]

i dont find it wierd, just not needed, like i said, you need a baby and breasts to breastfeed, not a special top

[sootytotherescue]

I've started another thread on this with a link if you want to pop over and see it. other thread

[DirtyMartini]

Ohh OK, so it's to make the doll do its thing? OK. (have also just seen descriptions on other thread) Fair enough, I thought from the OP that it was just some kind of bra garment for the sake of it.

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

How can it be morally wrong?

Unless its because they are trying to make money out of it.

But toy companies have been doing that for generations.

It may be a bit stupid. You dont need a special bra/vest/bib you just need a doll.

But morally wrong?

FFS we live in a culture where you can buy playboy bunny duvets for 8 year olds.

And a breastfeeding doll is morally wrong?

[VoldemortsNipple]

Maybe morally is the wrong word.

widowwadman don't make assumptions about my opinions on breastfeeding. They are negative and unfair on the many women who choose to bottle feed. Personally I have 3 DCs and they have all been fed differently from exclusively brueastfed to exclusively bottle fed and a mixture of both.

Like many on here, I think the technology of this doll is unnecessary. Children mimic what they see. Christine Blakley voiced that she thorght it sexualised childen by making them aware of their bodies.

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

Christine Blakley is a twit.

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

I have several small boys atm and they are all very aware of their flipping bodies.

[flaminglip]

lol @ michelleseashell bf-ing micromachines!!