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Original poster

Being wierd about DD having Barbie dolls

161 replies

happysunshinedays · 25/07/2010 20:45

She's 4 and going to big school in September. On the last day of Preschool she had a wobble that night and said the other children wouldn't play with her. She's got loads of good friends out of school and generally very social, lovely girl.

Then she told me that other (seemingly very popular girls) in her class love Barbie. Have also heard about High School Musical as being a Preschool trend.

I don't want her to be the odd-bod in the class obviously, but saw some Barbies for sale today and couldn't bring myself to buy them! All boobs and legs!

Trying to find the line between her natural desire to fit in and encouraging her to grow up too quickly.

Any words of wisdom??

OP posts:
Exogenesis · 25/07/2010 21:27

My DD 4 has a few Barbie dolls. At first I wasn't keen but, to be honest she doe not see them as I do. To her they are just another toy and are mummy sister. They all have wild names and fly around alot she doesn't notice the long legs and boobs to her they are just a doll and if she can shampoo the hair and dress them up so much the better. I will NOT let her have a brat doll they are EVIL [GRIN]

webwiz · 25/07/2010 23:12

I resisted Barbies for ages for my two DD's I think the first ones in the house came from SIL. They all ended up with felt tip all over their faces and their heads pulled off and lined up on a shelf I suppose that meant they were in tune with my feminist ideals.

Ixia · 25/07/2010 23:34

I swore Barbie was never making it across the threshold into my house - have you seen how thin they are now, arms like matchsticks. But DD (5) was given one for her 4th birthday and one for her 5th . She doesn't play with them, preferring her baby dolls.

I was only allowed Sindys and Pippas as a child, Barbie was deemed way to racy

Ixia · 25/07/2010 23:35

too even...

EvilTwins · 25/07/2010 23:50

I'm not a fan of Barbie either and refused to buy them for my DTDs. However, for their 4th birthday, they ended up with four each, including this particularly vile one Honestly, she looks like S&M Barbie without her wings - the picture doesn't do her justice. However, they also got NASA Barbie which is quite funny - she even has clodhopper boots (which keep falling off as her feet are high-heel-wearer shaped.

EvilTwins · 25/07/2010 23:51

Sorry - to see NASA Barbie, you have to scroll down past the man in ridiculous furry ears.

MathsMadMummy · 26/07/2010 00:07

I don't like them either but they're better than Bratz IMO.

DD has a Barbie scooter but only really knows who Barbie is because we got the DVDs of Swan Lake and Nutcracker (to introduce her to the music!) which she loves.

I guess it's ok if she plays with other toys as well though, and you make sure she has a healthy body image etc etc (although how depressing is it that we have to think about a 4yo's body image?! )

BitOfFun · 26/07/2010 00:22

MathsMadMummy- is that the Mumsnet version of "I only read Playboy for the articles"?

ChippingIn · 26/07/2010 00:37

LO's have had barbies since they were 3 and 1!! The eldest got her first one for her 3rd birthday and the 1 year old got to play with it (chew it's feet mostly, but soon got the hang of stuffing putting her in the car and pushing it along). I have to admit to feeling a bit and thinking she was too young, but got over it!! At that time we didn't have a Ken, but she miraculously multiplied rapidly - I've now lost count of how many Barbies, Kens and 'others' we have (ahem - I blame birthdays & ebay ). They love them and we they have great fun making places to take them - the beach/shops/hairdressers/tree climbing/driving/surfing/swimming/walking the dog/teaching/baking... they do not line them up catwalk style admiring their 'attributes'!! They have a bath one each & they get a thorough scrubbing & hairwash everynight in the bath!

They also play with all their other toys - including their baby dolls!

Bratz are another story though - they get ousted very quickly & quietly from the house! Trampy little madams!!

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 26/07/2010 01:02

Sindy dolls were so much better.

kayah · 26/07/2010 01:09

please do not despair - my both kids DD who is nearly 13 now and ds nearly 11 both played with Barbies fory years

my daughter grew to be a tomboy now and my son wouldn't even touch anything to do with Barbies

I think they stopped to respond to Barbie stuff around 7th b'day each

My DD didn't know about Barbies until she's learned about them from friends at school - peer pressure and pink was in

I reacted very nervously to her requests but now she plays drums, listenes to Green Day and dreams of playing guitar well

MathsMadMummy · 26/07/2010 01:12

BOF

I blame DH. his own DD had some of them as they were obsessed with Barbie anyway, and he said they were quite good. I said OK, but only because of the music! I'm too much of a snob to buy any of the non-classical-ballet Barbie DVDs

I just remembered DD has a laptop toy thing that DH's DDs handed down, I was a bit but actually she learnt all her letters and numbers from it!

God I'm a Mumsnet cliche aren't I, just hand me the Fruit-Shoot-seeking missile will you?

Slur · 26/07/2010 01:12

wot activate said.

When your baby starts school barbies is small stuff (psst the big stuff is eek what if she hates it ALL and weeps ALL day and, what if she can't find the loo and What if she doesn't like the teacher and what if she wanders into the juniors and starts smoking crack with the big kids and worse still what if you forget to PICK HER UP!!!!!!)

And breathe.

My dd started last year, since graduating reception she now knows about barbies, high school musical, and Moxie girlz (who ahem are somewhat cringey "be true be you!")

It all comes out in the wash.

Unlike nits.

scanty · 26/07/2010 01:15

Seriously, Barbie is some jumped up tarty, high maintenance American bimbo. Get your daughter a good girl next door English rose Sindy! All problems solved and a good role model!

Slur · 26/07/2010 01:20

nah sindy has fat ankles.

Even Barbie's a bit porky for Loubs

scanty · 26/07/2010 01:22

shame on you Slur! Sindy has cankles? - unthinkable!

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 26/07/2010 01:23

My sindy could bend!

www.sindydolly.com/ballerinaactivesindys.htm No fat ankles here!

Slur · 26/07/2010 01:28

yup 'fraid so.

Has been decree by Man with Shoes, nowt to be done. I doubt even a neat dose of underage prepubescent body dysmorphia could save her from her HUGE FAT ENORMOUS GIANT WOBBLY ankles.

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 26/07/2010 01:30

She has better proportions then stick barbie.

Slur · 26/07/2010 01:30

well hey, sod Sindy you could get her one of these....

dolls..

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 26/07/2010 01:31

That'a a barbie head dear

Slur · 26/07/2010 01:39

belle dear I do hope you're not taking me at face value...

FWIW this topic is in my mind because I had a very interesting discussion with my dd the other week about the merits of Moxies vs. Barbies. She asked me which I preferred and I said Moxies.

At first I said because I found them more interesting (into film directing and so on - ye gods the convos you have with your five year olds) but she very sensibly pointed out that Barbies could be into all sorts of adventurous things. So I thought I'd be more straight with her and I said weeell also I thoguth that while Moxie had weirdly big heads they were less unrealistic than barbies because they didn't have crazily tiny waists and big breasts. It turned into quite an interesting five minute chat about Moxie girlz chests and heads vs Barbies and how Barbies were supposed to be like women but weren't and how Moxies were suppose to be like girls like her, but weren't really.

We didn't come to a conclusion.

We went to watch Shrek instead. Which has a very nicely proportioned ogre princess in it.

(with ankles Mr Louboutin would entirely disapprove of )

franklampoon · 26/07/2010 01:40

does DD actually WANT a Barbie? DO NOT get her one just to fit in with the other kids. Slippery slope!!

nooka · 26/07/2010 01:40

You don't need to buy her Barbies for her to fit in. Really. In any case as soon as she has birthday parties she will be given some. I said no way for my dd, and she ended up with a draw of about 20! None of which were bought by me. Luckily they seem to have a very short play period as they are fairly revolting.

The Barbie classical DVDs are however really good, lovely music and not too cloying, with the Barbie characters being actually fairly decently characterised. We liked Swan Lake best, and Rapunzel was good too.

nooka · 26/07/2010 01:42

lol Slur, sounds like the sort of conversation I'd have with my dd (although she is nine now and likes to be taken very seriously)