Some girls’ baby dolls cry, while others crawl. There are dolls who talk and those that laugh when tickled. But what about a doll that breastfeeds?
A year after introducing the doll to the United States, family-owned company, Berjuan Toys of Spain, still can’t get the dolls onto mainstream store shelves. Breast Milk Baby comes with a child-size top, with sensors sewn in right at the nipples. When the baby is placed near the sensors, it makes a suckling noise as if it’s being breastfed.
Although the doll, which comes in eight skin tones, and facial features, has faced criticism due to its mature nature, not everyone is against the idea of letting children experiment with breastfeeding. U.S. representative of the company, Dennis Lewis, sited support from mothers and educators among others.
“We’ve had a lot of support from lots of breastfeeding organizations, lots of mothers, lots of educators,” said Lewis, in Orlando, Fla. “There also has been a lot of blowback from people who maybe haven’t thought to think about really why the doll is there and what its purpose is. Usually they are people that either have problems with breastfeeding in general, or they see it as something sexual.”
Child development expert, Stevanne Auerbach, approves of the doll and feels it satisfies the curiosity of younger children while serving as an educator for older children in dealing with new babies. After the difficulty of getting them to retailers, the $89 dolls are being listed on the company’s website for half price during the holidays this year.
Read the entire article on the Huffington Post.
BMWK– What are your thoughts on Breast Milk Baby? Is it too much too soon or do you see some benefits in the product? Would you buy this for your child?
Niambi says
I don’t like this idea. The young daughter probably shouldn’t even know what a breast is yet alone how to feed a baby with one. In my opinion i think that this is a really think this is a bad idea. I think the child would be innocently playing with the baby and then pull down her shirt to feed the baby not thinking about the fact that other kids or little boys might be looking at her. There is a time and a place to teach a daughter about how to breast feed and that should be when she is much older, after you have given the birds and the bees talk. After all, she wouldn’t be breast feeding unless she had a baby and in order for her to have one she first needs to understand where babies come from and so it would lead you to having the birds and the bees conversation with your daughter.
Danielle says
Why should a young girl not know what a breast is? You also think they should be told babies are dropped off by storks? Breastfeeding is natural and should be taught to all children as a natural act that helps mommies and babies be healthy and (sometimes) happy. We are trained to sexualize this act, which is terrible.
Naomi says
This is the type of mentality I don’t understand. You say that a girl should be much older before knowing about breastfeeding,after the birds and the bees talk, so why is it ok for a child to pretend she’s a mother, period? They have baby dolls that have to be potty trained, come with strollers, cribs, swings, bottles and the like, but nobody seems to have a problem with that. In my experience, alot of people who feel the doll is wrong equate breastfeeding to a sexual act, which it definitely is not.
Natural Mama says
I love it! My daughter pretends to breastfeed her babies already anyway. Breastfeeding is natural. There is nothing immoral, or too mature, or gross about it. IMHO
Jessica M says
The women in my family breastfeed , so me and my cousins pretended to breastfeed our baby dolls. If it is acceptable to pretend to bottle feed, what is wrong with pretending to breastfeed???? Honestly, I cringed every time I saw babies being bottle fed in my daughters “big sister” books. I would have loved for a book or something to explain to my 2-3 year old about breastfeeding. She was so confused when her little sister came and I didn’t give her bottles. People need to get over themselves. It’s just milk.
Natural Mama says
Jessica M says: “People need to get over themselves. It’s just milk.”
Short and to the point. I really like that! I would love to see posters of mothers breastfeeding with this phrase written on it. Maybe some of these people would realize that all their hang ups about bare nipples, where babies come from, and sexuality in general, are really silly and immature.