Breast-feeding Doll Has Moms Divided

I kept putting off writing this post, until I figured out exactly what I thought of this, and how I was going to word it. Without any further delay, the bottom line is: it won't be on my kid's Christmas wish list. And I won't be contacting the company to see if they want to sponsor a giveaway (sorry).

It's a breast-feeding doll out of Spain, called appropriately enough Bebe Gloton, as in Glutton Baby. We really will sell anything to make a buck, won't we?  This simulator dolls comes with a tank top with colorful daisies as nipples, for little girls to wear so the doll can suckle. You can see it in action below.

 

I'm a nursing mother. Both kids got to suck on me for about a year. I'm not at all self-conscious about breastfeeding. I do it in public, among strangers, and talked about it to embarrassed men. When I covered myself, it was mainly so that my curious kid wouldn't unlatch and whip her head around to see whatever caught her attention, causing me to spray the person across the room. In my support group, I am surrounded by nursing mothers and their bare breasts of all shapes, sizes and colors. And I carry on face-to-face conversations with them as if there wasn't a nipple staring back at me. I say all that to convince you that I am not prudish, I advocate breastfeeding when it's possible for the mother to do so, and hope that my daughters are one day able to do the same for their babies, IF they so choose.

 

Then why am I opposed to this doll? Or maybe opposition is too strong of a word. I just...don't like it. If I truly do support breastfeeding, then shouldn't I be singing the praises of a doll that doesn't come with the little plastic bottle of fake milk?

 

OK, I don't like the idea of the little pasties. It reminds me of little girls' bikinis and crop tops that are too grown-up and provocative. Or maybe it just reminds me of strippers. Perhaps I just can't get past the idea that for most of us, breasts are first sexual objects long before they are used for sustaining a baby's life. This doesn't apply to me, of course, because I was pure and virginal prior to marriage. I'm referring to everyone else, so that you can relate. Even though I will freely whip it out to nurse, I'm uneasy with the thought of my 8 year old daughter having this doll nurse from her in public, with the battery-operated suckling sounds. Am I being a hypocrite? This doll is also being discriminatory to little boys, since they can't nurse a baby and shouldn't be expected to wear a tank with pink pasties. I know I'm reaching with that one - just wanted to see if you were still paying attention. Seriously, though, I'm not fooled for one second into believing that the main catalyst for this product is the promotion of natural breastfeeding, or for some other altruistic purpose. It is a gimic tied to a timeless and popular issue, that someone has brilliantly discovered a way to mass produce and profit from. I'm a sucker for letting my kid have the latest toy. This won't be one of them.

 

Check out the video and decide for yourself... 

 

 

 

What do you think? Would you buy it?

 

Comments

[Stacy]

Okay, let me say that I am also a breast feeding advocate and I breastfed my daughter until she was one. Second, let me say that I have a very liberal view on breasts and there exposure (or lack of). In fact, for a brief time in a past life, I was an exotic dancer. NOW, all that being said, there is no way in HECK that I would buy this doll for my child!! Personally, I don't want my nine year old daughter wearing two piece swimsuits because she acts different when she does. Now, if her Nana buys her one without my knowledge, then she is only allowed to wear it when I'm around to correct any sassy or what I consider "grown" behavior. I think that if I let her "nurse" a baby, that same attitude will present itself and I am not having it.

I did laugh out loud when watching the video and I did catch myself wishing they'd had that when I was a kid! LOL!!

[Heather]

It's not so much the doll that bothers me as the faux nips we're supposed to be giving our little girls. My girls have all nursed their babies - because it's all they've ever known. They didn't really get what the bottle was for in the first place and they'd nurse the doll side by side with me. Why do we need pasties and a battery-operated doll to do what little girls have been doing for centuries?

[Tammy]

I've whipped out these size G post preggo nursing boobs in front of my own father (to his astonishment) and yet I would never, ever purchase this product. I encourage my girls to pretend nurse their dolls, or rather they do it on their own, but stapping on nipples and suckling noises. C'mon now, who are we fooling....

Great post Nina.

[Pam R.]

I'm a breastfeeding mother who will feed her babies wherever necessary and too bad for those who may feel uncomfortable about it. I agree that this doll won't be making into our house either. My son has tried to "feed" his baby sister and I'm sure my daughter will nurse her dolls when she's older. They don't need stick-on nipples and realistic sounds to do this.

[jamaise]

I appreciate the thought , the recognition. I don't really see the harm in it, although having to wear the nursing area seems kind of strange to me.

I agree with other posters that the types of people that would buy a breastfeeding doll - their children would pretend to nurse their babies anyway because that is how babies are fed in their world.

The one good quality about this doll is that it brings BFing mainstream and it should be.

I do see it's foreign. Most other countries hold a much healthier attitude about breast feeding than we do.

[Sheree]

I love it! Especially after watching the video. I guess that I can see what I'd say to my daughter (if I had one) about the breast tank top. I'd tell her that is what breasts are made for.

True, girls who are exposed to breastfeeding will imitate that with any doll. But I like a doll that promotes one of the most natural things in the world is a good thing.

I wonder if they come in brown...some of you with girls just might see one under the tree from Auntie Sheree :)

[rachel0]

I find the name incredibly offensive--I can't put my finger on why but it just bugs me! I agree w/previous comments on the faux nipples being just wrong--just like the tartlet clothes retailers expect you to dress up our little girls in. I won't buy the clothes or this doll. Ever. (And I do breastfeed--no.1 was breast-fed until 14 mos and no.2 is still nursing. Anywhere anytime. If my baby needs milk then he gets and I really am not concerned with anyone else's hangups.)

[Melissa G]

Thanks for the laugh! While I also nurse and I am not embarrassed about nursing or pumping... I have done both just about anywhere, I won't be purchasing this for my daughter either. This was too funny.

[thinkingbrain135]

I'm on the fence, thanks to the ladies who are breastfeeding or who breastfed and whose daughter(s) mimics that with her dolls. Thanks so much for the perspective!

At first I thought, no way! Let little girls be little girls for crying out loud! But those of you who have daughters who mimic this with their dolls, it IS completely natural. It's what they see and what they know from watching mommy.

I have sons so, I don't propose to know anything about little girls even though I was one at one time. My concern is some sicko would see my little girl play-breastfeeding and get uh, excited, and especially with the suckling noises.

I guess I wouldn't buy the doll unless my(hypothetical) daughter asked for it, and then I would want her to play with it at home, in the car, or around friends and family. Basically, in a controlled environment. I suppose I'm paranoid like that.

[Tamara B.]

I have three boys and one girl who is 13 my answer to this doll is NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!! There are too many freaks out there in this world that would get off on seeing a litle girl carrying this doll breast feeding it.

[Dawn]

I nurse any and every where but I would NEVER let my little girl use this doll. WOW!

[Michelle]

Nope, won't be purchasing this one. I saw this recently on another blog. And it's the pasties that bother me. And the noises. I'm all for the toys that allow for imaginative play without being prescriptive. This is being prescriptive. It's just not for me. And I breastfed, yadda yadda yadda -- again, not the hangup.

[CATHY PARKER/Psychic Mama]

To tell you the truth, I wouldn't watch the video. The whole thing is ludicrous! I breastfed all my kids and while girls this young are smart enough to understand what is going on, the maturity level is not there yet. And along with that maturity comes bonding and the capacity to understand the love between a man and woman who created this suckling baby. My 6 yr old daughter will NOT be getting this! 'Nuff said!

[Rebecca]

I have a son who was breastfed...but even if I had a girl, I still would not buy it. This is just my person preference.

[Allison]

I breastfeed my son, and was NEVER embarrassed about it. But something about this doll is just not right. Little girls don't need to have dolls like this, let them be little girls!

[Charlene Kuser]

I believe in breast feeding,but this doll is going to far.There are some things a child should learn later and this is one of them.I say let a child,be a child.They grow up to fast anyway

[Padded nursing bras]

To be honest i never like it.

Martina

[Ameda Ultra]

Me too girl!!

[generic viagra]

I dont agree with these dolls either, I read that in December 2008, Facebook was criticized for removing photos uploaded by mothers of themselves breastfeeding their babies, and also canceling their Facebook accounts. The website claimed that these photos violated their decency code by showing an exposed breast, even when the baby covered the nipple.