Breastfeeding dolls

[bealos]

My doula, Rebecca, has written this article in The Guardian about the "breast milk baby doll" - a doll that allows children to pretend to breastfeed. She says it highlights how confused we are about breastfeeding that people think the doll is 'gross'.

I have to agree that I think normalising breastfeeding in the eyes of young male and female children is essential - and boobs aren't just sexy things to gawp or giggle at. (I've started to see this a bit in ds1 who's 6).

Thoughts?

Further thoughts, from, er, me...

Friend pointed out that "don't kids pretend to breastfeed dolls already?" and yes, she's right. It's unlikely a doll needs to be created (read marketed) for this.

I think what's interesting is the debate is has created.

Completely, completely agree with that article. The claims that it contributes to the 'early sexualisation of children' is just bizarre and a concept that society as a whole needs to get over.

They were talking about this on the radio today but I had to turn it off as I was getting all cross just when they were introducing the article.

I agree it's totally normal, (just as ff is also normal) and little girls already pretend to breast feed their dolls just as they pretend to bottle feed their dolls. They were making out that this was part of brain washing kids about having to breast feed . Surely it's just making it normal??

I would argue that the formula companies have done such a good job at establishing bottle feeding as the norm, that their advertising methods, and dubious tactics in developing countries, could be more easily labelled as 'brainwashing'.

There was an infuriating debate about this on This Morning. I had to switch it off...

It's not just the formula companies, though - it's a generation of doctors and HCPs who genuinely thought bottle was best and passed that on to mothers. Breastfeeding spent a few decades being something that only the poor and weirdos did - we're still coming back from that.

I do agree that specific breastfeeding dolls are a marketing gimmick DD is perfectly happy to breastfeed any of her dolls - or in fact her teapot - and doesn't need a special vest to show her where her nipples are! It's the vest I find weird, not the doll. I mean, who doesn't know where their nipples are??

What was noticeable in the comments section was that the people who found the doll weird were the ones who didn't have children.

i agree that it seems a bit unnecessary. i 'fed' a cuddly toy as my baby sibling was fed and DS1 did the same with his when i fed DS2.

unless adults have made comments, toddlers don't appear to bat an eyelid at breastfeeding. i explain that DS2 is having a drink of milk and they just go 'oh'. pat him on the head and carry on playing.

i had a rant at work after hearing a moron local radio dj describe the doll as 'just wrong'.

I watched this morning and just shouted at the tv...

There are lots of people that cover up with a muslin, scarf or one of those bib things so I don't think the vest thing is that bad.
I think the flower nipples are ok too and may make feeding more appealing to little girls. The little bottles/dummies that come with bottles tend to be pink for that reason too.
Many little girls like toys with 'accessories' so I think this is quite a clever way of competing with little bottles.
Maybe they could introduce little bottles of Lansinoh, cake, pints of water and mini remote controls to sell with the dolls too!!

Are the flower nipples decorative or is there some kind of electronic wizardry in them that sets off the doll's 'sucking'? If it's the latter I guess that's understandable but if it's the former...

Just decorative as far as I know. DD always hoiks her top up for feeding anyway!

I think they do have sensors!

Nothing wrong with it, though you do t need. £60 doll,to do this. The DM ran an article about this doll last Saturday, the readers responses were well disgusting

I couldn't read the DM piece for fury. I managed to watch the debacle of the TM 'debate', I felt very sorry for the American Doula who must of been at the last minute - they couldn't even spell her name correctly - who was clearly totally unprepared for any debate, especially when faced with, "the one study into breast milk being better is inclusive" as an argument.

One Fucking Study.

A debate involving two female tried to breastfeed / didn't like it / couldn't do it women and the husband of on those women and an unprepared person, isn't exactly a level playing field.

Oh, of course, ITV, always pro breastfeed bashing.

If a breastfeeding doll is brainwashing, what the fuck have decades of dolls with bottles been doing?!?

My 20mo lifted her top up this morning to give her peppa pig car "didees" !
No need for breastfeeding doll (or cars) ,