H
ave you seen the breastfeeding baby doll? It's a doll that makes little suckling noises and movements with its mouth when you hold it up to your breast -- or more accurately when you hold it up to the specially made halter top you wear when you play with the doll.
If you watch the video, you'll see it's not as weird and creepy as it sounds. Breastfeeding advocates and child experts love the doll. So why isn't it flying off the shelves? So far only 5,000 have sold in the U.S. since it was introduced about a year ago.
Actually, there's something about this doll that turns shoppers off more than breastfeeding.
Hello, the Breast Milk Baby retails for $89! That's a lot of money for a doll for your toddler or preschooler. I mean, once you see the doll in action, it's not really that scandalous. After all, how many of us have seen kids pretend to breastfeed their baby dolls anyway?
More from The Stir: 5 Toddler Breastfeeding Myths That Drive Me Insane!
But your child can pretend to breastfeed a doll for five bucks and a little imagination. Know what I mean? And we're talking about a toy that pretty much does one thing only (oh, I guess it burps, too). It's too much money for a gimmick. Oh sure, a worthy and educational gimmick. But still, a gimmick. Plus that sucking sounds totally robotic and unnatural.
Anyway, pro-breastfeeding, natural-minded parents who are willing to spend more money on toys for their young children have something very different in mind. They're looking for soft, organic materials that leave more to their kids' imagination. Not electronic toys that do all the imagining for them. So really, I'm not surprised this doll isn't a hit. There are cheaper, lower-tech ways to teach a child breastfeeding appreciation.
Would you buy the Breast Milk Baby if you could?
Image via Berjuan Toys
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Comments 56
Not only do children have amazing imaginations, but they need ot have an opportunity to USE them. It's how they learn independance, creativity, motor skills, and a whole plethora of other very important developmental skills.
Dolls like these are yet another example of how our society is taking away our children's ability to think for themselves.
Hell no I would not buy this frivolous doll.
Waste of money.
I am 100% pro-breastfeeding and my daughters have both breastfed their toys...but why spend the money for a sound?
no but as you asid its price. my son breastfeeds his build a bears because he sees me feed the baby. It can be done with any $10-20 toy. $90 is insane
@ jessabessa -A rectal temperature is the most accurate temperature...the other ones don't read the internal temperature and all read too low. And given that a degree of error can mean the difference between a very sick child and a dead or brain-damaged child from fever, an accurate temperature is essential...especially in newborns and infants. The rule of thumb at the daycare center I used to work at was to take an underarm temperature and add one degree to accommodate the error. And what about suppository medications? Doctors will prescribe them to infants and children who can't keep anything down. Is that molestation in your book, too?
And no, I wouldn't buy this for my child. One, because paying $90 for a doll is insane for a young child. It's just as easy for them to normalize breastfeeding with a regular doll. And two, that sucking thing really creeps me out. O.o
I would not advocate young children to Nurse their babydolls and here's why... It instill in their precious little brains that this is what that they should amount to.. Growing up and becoming a mom... In fact I discourage that behavior in my daughter, I want her to grow up and be something more in life
Coastal mom, what's wrong with wanting to be a mother? That doesn't mean that's all a girl can be. I always wanted to be a mom, but it didn't stop me from achieving other goals. I don't think less of myself or others for desiring motherhood. I also don't think you lose who you are once you do become a mother. There is a deep biological need for a lot of women to have children, but I still see them getting degrees, jobs, traveling, etc. To say that someone is less in life because they're a mother is sad.
Back to the original question, no I wouldn't buy an overpriced breastfeeding doll.
A *nurse* demonstrated how to take a rectal tempature, and RhondaVeggie is a sicko?? No, jessablessa, you're an idiot.