OK - I am going to get flamed - DD Christmas present

[StealthPolarBear]

DD (15months) got a "baby" complete with high chair, push chair, bouncy chair, feeding bowls and spoons and a bottle.
The bottle has accidentally vanished.
Because DS never got "girly" toys he play breastfed his toys at slightly older than DD - DD has already been taught to feed the baby a bottle.

(NB I didn't swoop in and snatch it off her - she played with it and then when I was tidying it all away that was put into another bag)

This was all from MIL - should I mention it to her or not? I don't want to be argumentative but I think she might actually understand. Or would it just be bad manners?

Shine, that's the one

"Well when ds was teeny weeny and in a wrap sling, i fashioned a matching one for dd's teddies out of a muslin square. She got 'aww'd at by old ladies a lot when we used to nip out to the shops together. " OMG - that is ADORABLE......

I am really shocked at those of you who throw away the bottle. It sounds really militant to me, it is only a toy! Surely your children will have seen other mothers bottle feeding.

To be honest amelem, she hadn't really got a clue what it was for.

Eh? Does it really matter at your dd's age whether she "pretends" to bottle or breast feed her doll.

My dd (5) likes to do both as she has seen both, however I don't care what she does as long as she is having fun.

"The issue is to do with normalisation and the "baby needs a bottle" message." Sorry but this is insane, if my dd has kids it will be up to her whether she bfs or ffs and it won't bother me a jot what she does.

Maybe I have got the wrong end of the stick with this thread, but if I haven't, then the world is going mad!

Don't get it?!

There is nothing wrong with bottle feeding and nothing wrong with dolls bottles.

Are you all going to insist bottles are removed from childminders,nurseries,schools etc too ?

shiney, what is JMO?

Shrug. I have nothing against other people giving their DC's dolls bottles to play with. Just to me, in my own home I prefer not to. Working on the idea of breast is normal, formula is great if you have a problem which cant be solved.

Breastfeeding is certainly not common or seen much around here, therefore just redressing the balance a tiny bit

ahhh
I feel that playing is helping to shape their attitudes of what is culturally normal. I don't want them to buy into the message that bottlefeeding is by default how babies are fed. Obviously some babies have bottles and they will see that all round them, of course they will. But given the choice, I'd rather the stuff they were given to play with didn't emphasise that.

This is a boring thread - shall I move it to AIBU and add a slow-mo leap with me shouting No-o-o-o towards DD as she opened it?

Yeah, go on then Stealth

How peculiar. All four dcs bf and all peers, as far as I'm aware, and I've never thought of 'losing' a bottle. I've never sought one either, but I can't imagine a child playing with a bottle normalises feeding to the point that it makes them choose to bottle feed their own child. What if they can't bf and then feel a bottle is abnormal?

Stealth def move this to AIBU, you've raised an interesting topic.

DD is a usual toddler, cuddles and kisses her dolls and then drops them on their heads or kicks them out of the way in a dash for a chocolate tree decoration

How hilarious that you are so hung up on BF and yet allow a 15 month old to eat chocolate!

I'd say, get rid of the bottle if it makes you feel better, but maybe keep quiet about it becasue it does make you seem slightly like a loon.

Thefeministparent - to me it says that bottle feeding is not the default choice rather than it being abnormal - there is a difference.

Perhaps your DC should act out severe mastitis, lack of support, a baby who fails to latch. Another doll could be a BFC, then they can have a bottle

Ooh and yes definitely AIBU am in the mood for an argument

chipncurry, why is it odd to give a 15 month old chocolate?

What has letting a 15 month old eat chocolate got to do with anything?

A bit bonkers, I'm afraid.

DD1 fed her baby with a bottle or by sometimes shoving it up her jumper. She was fully aware that she herself was bf and watched me feed DD2 similarly.

I think her opinions on the bf/ff debate will be shaped rather by what she hears, sees and concludes as an adult than by what she did with her toys when she was a small child.

Jilted - because there's no need - they'd be just as happy with a breadstick or a bit of fruit. Chocolate isn't the devil's work, and fine for older children but I think it is a shame to give it such young children. Just my opinion!

Why is it a shame as a treat? What harm is it going to do?

bit daft

DD is 3 and still bf occasionally - but never bf her dollies I don't get it! She loves holding them and bottle feeding them, despite rarely being bottle fed herself, it is weird!
BUT I have to say I don't mind - will just be mum from hell re bf-ing when she has her own

Bit OTT really