Doll That Breastfeeds..... Have You Seen This?

Updated on April 01, 2011
A.R. asks from Rush City, MN
27 answers

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/now_at_nine/breastfeeding-b...

I came across this online, and I guess it's a doll that comes with a special top that the child wears and it lets the child "breastfeed" the doll. There is A LOT of negative publicity about the doll being sold here in the US now. I personally don't see it as disgusting or wrong.Breastfeeding is natural and it's a shame more people don't do it. I breastfed my son who is now 2, and I'm currently breastfeeding my almost 4 month old daughter. My son actually makes me pretend breastfeed his stuffed animal, I think it's adorable. What is your take on this new doll?

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So What Happened?

Oops! I didn't see that it was posted yesterday.

* and as to the comments about my DS and his toys, when he watches me breastfeed his sister, he wants his stuffed animal fed too, he also likes his stuffed animal to wear a diaper, and when his sister came home from the hospital with a colostomy bag, he wanted his stuffed animal to wear one too, so I put one on it. He is 25 months and has a great imagination. So sorry if its creepy that I would want to "play" with my son. He mimics what I do with his sister on his toys.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I agree with Melissa.
I breastfed my son and I'm all for breastfeeding if it's how a Mom wants to feed their child. It doesn't bother me if some choose not do.
But this is not a doll I'd get a child of mine.
It's too adult a function for playtime as far as I'm concerned.

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M.M.

answers from Bellingham on

I'm sorry, I just have to ask...HOW is this "creepy" or "disgusting"??? I don't get it. Baby dolls are meant to imitate babies, right? You have babies that poop, eat, cry, drink from little bottles with disappearing milk, how is this ANY different?? And it is NOTHING like inserting a tampon. Babies don't wear tampons, but they DO breastfeed. I see no similarities, sorry. I have seen my younger siblings "breastfeed" their baby dolls a million times, there's nothing "creepy" or "disgusting" about it, they are playing. Using their imaginations, and imitating mom...All perfectly normal toddler development. JMO.

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

While I completely agree that BFing is a normal, natural part of life, the idea of this doll, to me, is the female equivalent of Chuckie. Ewe.

And after seeing snippets of the commercial, I'm wondering if ANYTHING in this world is a beautiful, PRIVATE experience anymore?

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

Ewwwwwwww! Disturbing.

There is more to raising a baby than just sticking a boob in his/her mouth. The breast nazis need to get a life. Some people simply can't or won't for whatever reason breastfeed. ...Since breasts are highly sexualized in our society and you ladies know this to be true period...It is gross to buy this baby doll and have a little girl imitate what an adult woman does.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Creepy, very creepy!

5 moms found this helpful

M.J.

answers from Dover on

I breastfed both of my kids, so I am pro-breastfeeding for a variety of reasons. I do think that anyone who is anti-breastfeeding is simply uneducated & needs to read up on the subject. I am not a prude, I am an educated, enlightened woman who is current with the times.

HOWEVER~~~I have also seen this commercial & found it disturbing. Seriously, it gave me the heebie jeebies & my husband as well. There's something about this whole idea that changes the classic 'baby doll' into something creepy. To me, it's similary to having little girls play with pretend tampons. Gross, right? This falls into the same category for me. They don't need to play with ideas that are adult-body-function-only as far as I'm concerned.

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L.L.

answers from New York on

sorry...creepy....NO, not saying breastfeeding is creepy....relax.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I am as pro-breastfeeding as anyone, but at the same time I don't judge those who choose not to breastfeed (I started out breastfeeding than had to stop and switch to formula because of medication I was put on). That being said, I don't see why it is necessary to shell out $100 for a doll that mimics breastfeeding - if a little girl wants to pretend to breastfeed, she can do it with whatever dolls she has handy. People want to cite that it's acceptable to pretend to bottle feed, but the thing is, anyone can give a bottle - breastfeeding can only be done by mothers that have gotten pregnant and given birth and the idea of little girls being more "equipped" to breastfeed kinda skeeves me out. No, there is nothing sexual about breastfeeding, but it is something that can only be done by sexually-mature women that have had a baby.

At the same time, like others have stated, Bratz dolls are more disturbing. As is the padded push-up bikini top being marketed to girls as young as 7 from Abercrombie and Fitch.

5 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Sick....... disturbing............creepy.

Why would you pretend to BF your son's toys? I don't find that adorable.

To each his own.

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

What's next-the kama sutra for preschoolers?

3 moms found this helpful
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N.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Looked at the video and I personally don't have a problem with it. As long as they don't make a version of the vest that has a "life-like" boob on it, I don't see it as being inappropriate. I think it's great teaching children that breastfeeding a baby is normal. But then again, I'm a breastfeeding mom myself, so perhaps I'm bias.

One of the little children I know does this anyway. They are 3 1/2 and imitate their mom breastfeeding a sibling.

Just needed to add one more thing... Why all the stink? If people don't like a toy, then don't buy it for your kid. DUH... There are toys that I don't care for so I don't buy them for my 3 year old to play with. It's so simple.

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't know. I just can't really say how I feel about it. It's not something that I am very interested in... BUT it drives me crazy that people complain about it so much. Isn't the point of little girls playing with babies so they can be "little Mommies?" I really don't see how it is different than feeding a baby a bottle. Breastfeeding has so many proven benefits - shouldn't we be encouraging girls to nurse their babies when they grow up. I feel like a lot of mom's of younger children already watch their daughters breastfeed. If a little girl watches Mom breastfeed her baby brother/sister, they then are likely to imitate it with their dolls. I see nothing wrong with that and when our new baby is born I will be very open with my kids about why I am breastfeeding. I think it is important. On the other hand, little girls are already equipped with what they need (sorry). I'm not sure why they needed to market a special vest. I agree with others that say let children use imagination.

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R.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

that is terrible really- but I also think the dolls that poo and pee are terrible

3 moms found this helpful

M.C.

answers from Pocatello on

Really?

I don't think it is that bad! Boys play with pretend powertools... like saws and staple guns to mimic dad.... why isn't there an outrage that these toys "promote them to use dangerous adult tools". Or what about all those toy cars all our kids play with... danger, danger! (sarcasm)

There is nothing sexy about a breastfeeding baby! It is just the way we feed our baby... and in that context is no different than a baby bottle. I personally wouldn't spend the money on this doll... but I personally think is is kind of cute! Kids love to mimic their parents, and doing so doesn't make them suddenly "grow up"... There are a lot of toys that I would consider a lot more offensive than a doll who sucks on a flower! In all honesty, "tickle me elmo" creeped me out! Should I riot to take them off the shelves... uh no...

-M.

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L.F.

answers from Dallas on

The only thing I think is outrageous is the price. I like the idea of the doll and would get one for my DD if she was old enough. I hear the argument that this is making girls grow up too fast but how is it different from giving the baby a bottle instead? I think people are freaked out because they think it is some how sexual in nature but it isn't. It is a very natural thing, and I know little girls mimic their breastfeeding mommies anyway.

2 moms found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

Why not make one that uses a tampon, so we can teach them about that, I mean periods are natural?!

Sheesh.

Seriously, I extended breastfed both my children and I still think this is gross. Girls/teens already are trying to get pregnant at alarmingly young ages... lets just make it that more exciting for them!

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I watched the video. I don't see anything wrong with this. Baby dolls have come with bottles, always. A lot of babies aren't fed with bottles. I bet, as the person in the video said, most young girls who have witnessed a baby being BF have held a doll up to their chest to mimic feeding the doll. My daughter, who doesn't play with dolls alot, has done that. The only drawback I see is that we feel a toy has to "do" everything. What happened to imagination?

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J.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

I didn't see it yesterday either so don't feel bad! I love this idea! My son nurses his babies also. I think its interesting that so much of the negativity is how its inclusive only to girls. but as you have witness (and me too) that little boys nurse their babies too! I think they are great and wonderful and plan on buying one for my 4 year old.

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

Im the one who posted about this yesterday. I find all moving dolls creepy because of childhood chucky movies.....but....

i think a breastfeeding doll is not gross,,,,,should NOT be compared to teaching girls about sex. Breasts are for babies, the trend of not breastfeeding is in my opinion too prevalent.

if its NOT wrong to have a baby doll that is fed a bottle, its NOT wrong to have one that imitates breast feeding.

Im very sick of people who find breast feeding disgusting, It only reinforces the bad behavior and reactions of people against it, and unfairly shames the mothers who choose to breast feed, or convinces women "on the fence"...not to. People who want to shame a woman for breast feeding openly and honestly can go hide under a rock for all i care.

I wouldnt spend a hundred dollars on it, but its certainly no worse than the peeing, crying,sleeping, bottle feeding dolls.

1 mom found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

A baby doll that comes with acessories like a diaper, a bottle, a paci, a change of clothes makes sense to me. I know my 2 y/o would be excited to help mommy with a younger baby, she would love to hold a bottle, and has even tried with my friends babies. So it makes sense that a baby doll comes with things she is able to do with real life younger babies...but you can't pass off an infant to an older child to breastfeed. Same as you can't pass the infant to daddy and have daddy breastfeed. It is simply a mothering capability only, and I don't think it should be imitated by a child.
I'm all for breastfeeding....in real life....some things just shouldn't be imitated.
Ohhh and I don't like those stupid dolls that poop and pee either....seriously like I need one more thing pooping and peeing in my house. lol.
Just my personal opinion.

1 mom found this helpful

E.B.

answers from Seattle on

i am watching it now...it is not gross. the lil girls or boys have to put a smock on to pretend. now yes there goes imagination...it is not teaching sex to young to little girls. Its not lying to your child. or your older children. I would let the children understand this is a learning tool for life when you get older. I read other posts on the similar topic and it was a resounding creepy yuck...whatever. after watching the tv report on it..would i shell out 100 buck for the doll, not at this time. If i had it to shell out....you bet i would buy one..and i have three boys.

I think it is important for them to fully understand how things work at the age they are now and as they grow. this would be an awesome thing for teachers or even care givers to buy. WE do try and put the bottle into babies mouth as play....why is it so creepy to have little ones or even bigger kiddos nurse baby??

I think on this one it is really a family choice. there wont be one right or wrong view on it. this is coming from a mom who bottlefed her oldest and bf her youngest! so my feet have been in both waters. I am planning on and will continue to teach my boys when they get married and have babies there are many options. and yes I have started this talk with my 4 year old. and as soon as my youngest is more of a conversation kid i will start informing him then as well. My 5 year old has been in conversations with me anout it and now he is starting to become more aware of the boy/girl differences as he goes through kindergarten and we talk those out to.

Its not about the doll that fuels some moms. Its about kids growing up to fast. As long as you are open honest and not sided on issues then and only then will kids be able to make the right choices for themselves. Do i want my son to go get a girl preg at 15 no. That is not what my point is...i dont think the doll will cause him to go out an get someone preg. I think that our talking and teaching him to respect a woman and her body will actually make him to the opposite. he wont lay with a girl. he knows the out come could change a life forever.

This is only my opinion. It has changed since seeing the doll.

thank you for reading my novel

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M.F.

answers from Youngstown on

I just watched this. I am not sure how I feel about this. I think the apron thing wierds me out. The sucking not so much. I am sure lots of little girls pretend to nurse their babies. I am currently breastfeeding and my 5yo pretended to nurse an old babydoll of my neices at my moms just to freak everyone out...he loves to get reactions out of people and he knew that would. I however do find it wierd to fake feed a stuffed animal but I get that your son is young and you just want to interact with him but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's adorable. Anyway I would never spend 100 bucks on this doll or any doll for that matter but I have 3 boys so I will never purchase a babydoll for my own kids.

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

I'am a breastfeeding mama my girls (4 & 2 now but was doing this long ago) immitate they are bfing their babies they say they are hungry & need mama's milk to grow be strong & healthy..I however will not purchase this doll just because it is a pretend bfing doll they do that already with all the other dozens of babies we have.This would be a great educational item especially to teach sex education.
Breasts are now trying to be not a Taboo thing to show or have the natural function process of using them for the purpose of bfing they are seen as sexual & they are when your in your own home getting it on with your man.
Kids immitate my girls have babies that wet they need a diaper on I didn't buy them the dolls they were presents & me & daddy didn't tell them they peed when you put water in the bottle my 4 year old seen the directions & figured it all out on her own.Don't feely sorry because kids want to partake in the natual caregiving,immitation,imgination to their toys thye want to help just like mommy & daddy do in their own way.

T.B.

answers from Bloomington on

I don't think it's a big deal. Little girls that have seen their Mom breastfeed usually pretend with their dolls already. Now, the pricetag is a little steep, but otherwise, I think people are just overreacting...

Y.C.

answers from New York on

I missed it too yesterday.
I don't know, I have mix feelings about it, on one side I think breastfeed is the most normal thing in the world, on the other side I would feel weird to see my toddler with one public, specially with men around. Maybe I am just kind of old fashion, but not because I think breastfeeding is something shameful.

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