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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not buy ds the barbie doll he really wants for Chrismtas?

62 replies

lollipopshoes · 28/10/2010 11:32

Am a big fan of not gender stereotyping children, but I really don't want him to have a barbie.

It's not so much the doll-ness, more the barbie-ness that I object to...

OP posts:
Bue · 28/10/2010 13:35

I wouldn't buy a DD or a DS a Barbie. Could you find another doll that you both would hopefully be happy with?

RockBat · 28/10/2010 13:36

I wouldn't buy a Barbie either, hideous things. Buy him a vintage Sindy instead, much better :o

dockate · 28/10/2010 13:42

Buy it! My DS carried a baby doll around with him for months when he was 3. I also loathe Barbie, and am dreading 'that stage' for DD (now almost 3), but it really is just a passing phase. Maybe choose a less blonde-and-pink one?

PutTheKettleOn · 28/10/2010 13:45

I hate them too, but DD managed to steal acquire one from her cousins. She now lives stark naked in the bath, where DD washes her hair every night!

If you can manage to get away with getting him another type of doll I would try that, but otherwise it's not going to scar him for life, I'm sure he has plenty of sensible female role models Smile

Discowife · 28/10/2010 13:48

Barbie has had a breast reduction in recent years. She isn't a freak anymore. Get him the damn barbie. (make it the vet one) and be happy he doesn't want one of those prostitute bratz dolls

switchtvoffdosomelessboring · 28/10/2010 13:48

YABU

Buy him a barbie. Its his Christmas, buy him what he wants.

If you asked your DH to buy you a pair of lovely shoes you had you eye on and he bought you wellies instead, you'd be pretty pissed off.

Its only a doll, its not like he has asked for a working AK47.

piscesmoon · 28/10/2010 13:49

People seem so keen to poject their own wishes onto a child. If they want a Barbie why not? Why substitute it for one of your liking?
If you don't make a big issue out of it they get over it and move on, but if you get all snobbish about it they are still left hankering after it. Pick one up second hand. I don't see why a boy can't have one.

whatdoiknowanyway · 28/10/2010 13:53

I was dead against Barbie and my, then, 3 years old daughter challenged me on it. As in
'You don't like Barbie do you Mummy? Why?'
'Well, because I don't think she's very clever' (just realised that sounds awful but 3 years old not really open to terms like 'not a very good role model Smile)
Anyway, response was
'But she's a vet, she's a doctor, she's a teacher, she can dance etc...'
She got her Barbie.
Admittedly I think the Doctor Barbie 15 years ago had a white rather than pink coat but even so...
I'd give DS the doll! They're a phase and it passes.

BinkyB · 28/10/2010 13:54

Get him a Barbie! Just make sure to take lots of photos to embarrass him with at his 21st / stag do / wedding..

I've just bought my boys buggies with dolls in and they love them.

Also I had a load of barbies as a kid and I don't think it did me any lasting harm.. I had 'day to night' Barbie and used to love the way she moved seamlessly from briefcase to clutch bag Grin.

YummyorSlummy · 28/10/2010 13:56

You are all being a bit precious imo, buying your son a barbie doll is not going to result in him growing up to only like women who look like Jordan! (actually, Barbie is much prettier than that...) and on that note buying your dd a Barbie doll won't result in them getting mahoosive breast implants at 18 and bleaching their hair. People who do these things don't do it because of a barbie doll!

bruffin · 28/10/2010 13:58

Pisces It's the wooden toy thread all over again Grin

piscesmoon · 28/10/2010 14:03

I nearly mentioned it bruffin and then thought better of it!
You would think that people didn't have enough toys themselves when they were DCs because it is all about them and what they like or dislike! I don't like Barbie but I see no need for my DCs to think the same. If they want one, don't fob them off with your choice just because it is doesn't fit your image and house decor!! Get one from a carboot sale and they will have got over it in a couple of months.(If they don't, it proves they really liked it).

Original poster
lollipopshoes · 28/10/2010 14:22

thanks all.

barbie-ness here we come Grin

OP posts:
DancingHippoOnAcid · 28/10/2010 14:33

Its a doll. Really ,it is harmless.

I am sure he has already worked out that real women do not look like barbie as they are not 6 inches tall and made of plastic! Grin

DooinMeCleanin · 28/10/2010 14:36

'IMO children realise early on that real puppy dogs aren't exactly like their stuffed toy, that cars are not quite as flashy, trains don't normally have a funnel for the steam and catepillars aren't made of lots of segments of different colours and don't wear lots of pairs of shoes.' Dd2 must be the excetion to this rule. Shortly after we got our puppy, dd2 helped feed her. After which the puppy settled herself on the sofa next to dd2. Dd2 lifted up the puppies tail and stared intently at her anus Grin. "Dd2, what on earth are you doing to that puppy?" I asked her. "Puppy poo poo is broked" she told me, looking confused. When I asked her what she meant, she went and fetched Barbie's dog, fed him a little poo pellet, lifted his tail up and he pooped.

YABU btw. I don't think children spend that long overthinking Barbies anatomy.

WetAugust · 28/10/2010 14:39

Get him a Barbie advent calender and then guage reaction between 1st Dec and last chance to buy one on 24th Dec.

Original poster
lollipopshoes · 28/10/2010 14:40

oooh wetaugust, that's a fab idea!

OP posts:
atswimtwolengths · 28/10/2010 14:41

If it makes you feel better, buy a Barbie and either Ken or Action Man. He'll have more fun with two dolls than he will with one.

Are you sure he'll still want it when it's out of its box, though? They are pretty disappointing when out of their packaging.

Original poster
lollipopshoes · 28/10/2010 14:43

he is adamant he doesn't want an action man. He wouldn't mind some transformers but the only actual doll he wants is a barbie.

OP posts:
atswimtwolengths · 28/10/2010 15:38

Oh then just get him the biggest, boldest Barbie you can find. It's his Christmas present!

hocuspontas · 28/10/2010 15:47

Make sure you know exactly why he wants one. There's no point in spending a fortune on a princess/carriage/palace set-up when all he wants is to massacre it in the bath. (Been there, done that)

GibbyS · 28/10/2010 15:49

I hated all the Barbies my DD had bought for her, including President Barbie and astronaut Barbie. But she did have one girl doll which wore combats etc and was much more acceptable to me, but I'm afraid I can't remember the brand name.

Blondeshavemorefun · 28/10/2010 15:52

buy barbie and her pert boobs and also an action man [hsmile]

Gory09 · 29/10/2010 06:53

"Get him a Barbie advent calender and then guage reaction between 1st Dec and last chance to buy one on 24th Dec."

Confusedmy DS loves Ben10 , what he likes are figures to play with, If I gave him an advent calender to stick to the wall that would really desapoint him and he would not pay much attention to it. If that happened with your DS not to be too interested in the callendar because he cannot actually play with it he would then not get him the toy he actually can play with? Or did I totally misunderstand the idea behind the calendar?

bekkio · 29/10/2010 07:00

DS1 never wanted a barbie but he had a doll in a buggy, pink peppa pig socks ( that he wore every day until they had holes in) still loves Aquabeads and those bracelet making kits. I can't stand the "Barbie" concept either but it's no different to all the other plastic rubbish they get, play with and then discard. I remember my FIL passing comment about the the doll being a "girls toy" and my son saying "but grandad daddy's have children too !" that shut him up [WINK]

Bek x