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?