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Original poster

I refuse to buy DD a branded doll! -

75 replies

Redlorry75 · 03/10/2006 22:55

I just wanted to get some other mums opinions. My DD is just 3. And I've noticed she's starting to succumb to TV advertising and recognises the hideous baby born and baby annabel adverts, which I find a bit disconcerting. Esp as I already imposed a 'no Barbie' ban on our house as soon as she was born. I am not anti-pink, or anti-doll, but I make sure DD has a good selection of toy cars and non-gender specific toys. However we do have a 'fashion' doll in the house and 3 cabbage patch kids. But I just feel that baby born, baby annabel and barbie are more of a brand - and a financial con (have you seen the price of baby annabel outfits?).

DD is more than happy to play with her ELC pram with a teddy in it or one of her other dolls and happily sits them down to eat or pretend to change them, and all her accessories have been gathered from various places, some second hand, without thought to brand etc.

I know when she gets to to school and hears what other little girls have I will probably have to have a rethink. But at the moment I feel if she is happy with the toys she's got why step into the breach and get all this heavy branded stuff.

My friend and Godmother thinks I am depriving her, and has hinted that her DD's have chosen a barbie present for DD for Christmas. Also MIL has asked if she can get some of this stuff. I have said a firm no to both parties, and suggested other less costly but more (I feel) appropriate things -besides it would all be similar to what she has already.

Am I being a meanie mummy?

OP posts:
Piffle · 03/10/2006 22:58

MIL has bought dd (just about 4)dolls tbh I'm so not interested in dolls, we just name them, ignore the brand and dd plays happily with them.
I've bought dd a couple from toy sales as ell.
I don't like barbie but if dd did show a real desire I think I would relent tbh, I had them and they were so inconsequential I think if the right messages are given outside of dolls etc, no problems ensue

hana · 03/10/2006 23:01

no don't think you're mean - dd's dolls are a mixture of my old ones ( cabbage patch included) and the ELC one with big fat tummy. she does have a few barbies that were presents, we've never bought her any. She's only beginning to notice commercials and toys marketing but its not really a big deal - she is 5. I mean she talks about baby Anabel (even thinks she has one and calls her Baby Anabel) but if she doesn't have it, no big deal - I don't think you'd need a rethink when she gets to school - wouldn't you then be bowing to pressure?
my dd1 has just turned 5 btw

moondog · 03/10/2006 23:03

RL,easiest way to avoid this is to not watch tv or at least not watch ads.
Mine never have.

hana · 03/10/2006 23:04

have never watched tv or never watched ads?!

moondog · 03/10/2006 23:04

Never watched ads.
Don't watch much tv either.
I do let them watch DVDs 9or rather videos as we still have here!)

hana · 03/10/2006 23:07

my dds mosty watch their dvds or cbbebies - sometimes on a sat morning they might watch something on channel 5 - and the commercials are awful, hate the american voiceovers ( I mean this is the uk, why not uk acccents?!)

TarkaTheHeadlessOtter · 03/10/2006 23:07

ooooh Moondog - cod told me i was mean when i voiced a very similar parenting style to yours!

Original poster
Redlorry75 · 03/10/2006 23:07

Thanks for this so far. We have Nick Jr on a lot as DD is Backyardigan, Fifi an Dora mad. And Dora is benefitting her as she is starting to spea the odd Spanish word. But before then we just used to watch films we had on DVD or video.

OP posts:
waterfalls · 03/10/2006 23:09

FGS, how can you be depriving her by not getting her a doll? If your dd is happy with what she has, theres no peoblem. my dts will be 3 in December and I hope to hold of as long as possible too, especially barbie and Bratz etc.

moondog · 03/10/2006 23:10

TV gets on my tits.
Every now and again I have a huge rant,sweep up all the videos and shelf them for about a month.

We are doing that now.House is lovely and peaceful.

Chandra · 03/10/2006 23:28

"I know when she gets to to school and hears what other little girls have I will probably have to have a rethink. But at the moment I feel if she is happy with the toys she's got why step into the breach and get all this heavy branded stuff. "

I think that's where the problem lies... at some point everything is about fitting in and they will want the branded thing.

We never saw much TV, and normally we got what my parents considered "better" versions of what we have asked for... and there was always that "this is not what I asked for" sinking feeling after opening the gift. Now don't get me wrong, we played with everything and were OK, but it was not what we so expectantly waited for. So, please give her a break from time to time and allow her to join the school trends.

handlemecarefully · 03/10/2006 23:37

I don't mean this unkindly, but surely there is bigger stuff to worry about....

Socci · 03/10/2006 23:45

Message withdrawn

Chandra · 03/10/2006 23:49

I very much agree with that Socci.

sunnydelight · 04/10/2006 21:18

I bought Baby Annabel for DD last Christmas (just before her third birthday). After weeks spent online searching for my idea of a "really special doll" I realised that actually what my daughter would like is the whole crying, feeding baby thing. The doll has been played with every single day since, unlike the rest of her varied collection of dolls (including a very similar ELC own brand one!) - don't ask me what the attraction is, but there obviously is one! BTW it fits nicely into tiny baby clothes from mothercare - same price as the branded tat and much nicer.

hulababy · 04/10/2006 21:21

DD has baby Annabel and she got her at 20 months old for Christmas. But it wasn't TV advertising that sold it to her. The doll was out in ELC. Everytime DD went in ELC she wanted to see and play with this particular dolly. She was so excited to go and see the dolly wach time we passes, we fell for the charm and sweetness of DD's reaction DD is now 4y6m and Baby Annabel is still going strong, although DD tend sto have her turned off a lot more now

hulababy · 04/10/2006 21:23

We don't do "banned" toys here. If DD likes it and it is near present buying times, she can have it. I never had anything banned and grew up normal

TooTickyTheAppleMuncher · 04/10/2006 21:24

moondog, I envy your backbone (One day I will just flip and rid the house of anything watchable!)
RL, thereare some lovely dolls out there - ones made from natural materials, with nicefaces, fairly traded... try googling "natural toys" and similar phrases. Some German toys are gorgeous...

KellyKrueger1978 · 04/10/2006 21:25

isn't cabbage patch a brand?!
dd has baby annabel. It is a lovely doll. But there was no way I was buying lots of overpriced accessories. She has the change bag, because it is a sheep shape and really lovely, but the pram, cot, clothes etc are different. I don't thinks he would notice branding. Even dolls such as barbie - to her all fashion dolls are barbies and she is 6!

FrankenZooey · 04/10/2006 21:27

I would stop watching commercial TV if it bothers you. We are another no tv / no ad household.

You can't deprive your children by not buying them stuff. That's a crap myth perpetuated by people who want to sell you things.

HuwEdwards · 04/10/2006 21:38

ditto Hula

I don't understand why parents 'ban' toys, specially dolls.

Was talking to my 3 yo about a Barbie doll and remarking on their strange shape she said - 'but mum, it's just a doll'.

pointydog · 04/10/2006 22:30

Don't know why you're bothered by the cost if grandparents want to buy it.

I don't understand why this is an issue worth fighting with close family. You don;t mind her having baby dolls, you just don't want it to be an Annabel?

Hideehi · 05/10/2006 09:47

i think you need to not worry about what other people buy her, I was like this with my first child and have now given up, people buy what they like and most of it goes in the bin after 3 months but it's their money.

oliveoil · 05/10/2006 09:54

I hate the term gender specific

Children will play with whatever catches their eye, if that happens to be a Barbie, so what?

And what is wrong with branded toys, you talk about them as if they are spawn of the devil.

I think you need to loosen up a tad

Hideehi · 05/10/2006 10:32

I must say I do agree with your barbie ban, although I haven't upheld it in our house. I think the OP's problem with branded toys is that she doesn't apreciate her baby being marketed too, which I have to say I agree with.
Where does it end ? My DD wanted a fruit winder after seeing them on TV so I bought her them, she agreed they tasted like crap and she'd rather have the fruit but we had to spend £2 to reach that conclusion, you can buy a lot of fruit for £2.
Same with the toys, most of ours end up broken or not touched, what a waste.

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