Opinions on new BF Doll!!!

[munchkin1982]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12936613

I don't know what to say? This one shocked me this morning BUT children so far "feed" their dolls with a bottle so would that not be promoting formula more?

On the other hand - they are children and have no clue about that sort of thing...

I'm on the fence with this one. So many pros and cons for it. Major bad thing in my opinion is that the girl is learning far too early about her body etc. hmmm....

What do you all think? Good? Bad? xx

 

[ippa]

Personally although breast feeding is great for real babies, I think this is wrong!
I really don't think it's the kind of thing little girls should be doing, especially with the flower nipples!
But that's only my personal opinion!
XxX

 

[munchkin1982]

I agree... it's teaching them about their bodies far too early. It's been talked about a bit on Daybreak this morning and is going to be talked about on Lorraine again but I think at the moment, the general agreed opinion is that it is wrong. Obviously the health professionals think it's a great idea!

I can see the point of at the moment by children "feeding their dolls" with a bottle promotes formula feeding more, but how does a child of that age know the difference? xxx

 

[kirstymichelle]

I think the reasoning behind it is wrong as in 'dolls now promote bottle feeding' i agree with munchkin that a child doesnt know the difference, but on the other hand when my mum used to breast feed my brother i used to get my dolls and put them to my chest isn't that enough without the bib with boobs bit???

 

[DaisyPurple]

I think that its all a gimick to make money, and although I know and agree with the benefits of breastfeeding I don't think that you need to be encouraging small girls to do so, children don't need to be that body aware at such a young age, I actually am a strong believer that children should be protected and helped to have childhoods while they can, there is way too much out there trying to make kids grow up before there time, I hate to see little girls dressed like they are in thier late teens, I know every little girl loves to be in fashion but why does the fashion have to make them look like they are mini adults? For example!

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[amyjayne77]

I think it's a great way to show children what breasts are for. It's only natural to bf and I don't see how it can ever be too young to teach children what out bodies do. Teeth - bite, eyes-see, breasts - feed. Don't see the difference myself.

 

[DaisyPurple]

I know what you mean but little girls don't have breasts, and although I agree that that's what breasts are for, I think that alerting small children.to the changes their bodies will go through in time too early is not really something that I would agree with, they don't.need to be worrying about all that at such a young age x

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[mikid]

Like kirstymichelle said, if a child copies her mother then fine, they don't need a bib with nipples. I don't agree with it. I'm all for explaining to your children the why's and wherefores, as early as possible in my opinion, but you can explain without them taking part... They don't have demonstrations in sex education classes do they!

 

[munchkin1982]

I'm with DaisyPurple and mikid on this one I think... a chid will mimic their mum's... thats one of the reasons for these dolls in the first place isn't it? But to take it that one step further with the BF doll I do think is wrong. If the child is mimic-ing Mummy THAT much then she/he will already bring a doll towards their chest area anyway! xx

 

[AugustMum]

I think its a good idea. I think we're only wierded out by it because we're still a bit reserved about breastfeeding. We all know breastfeeding is good and alot of women do it but we're a bit of an uptight nation and people still feel the need to go sit on a toilet to feed their children. AJ is right, were just teaching them that boobs are there to feed. Every girl at one point will get 2 balls and put them up their top to look like mummy. Whats so different about this?

If my LO wanted one Id happily get it for her.

 

[mikid]

I never went into a toilet to breastfeed, I was out and proud to be feeding my lo... I just don't see why they need a specific doll and nipple bib to understand what its all about

 

[munchkin1982]

Very valid point AugustMum BUT, as yet it is not available in the UK and there is complete uproar about in the US which is where I believe it has been made anyway!

I think the bottom line of it is, that a child will know that boobies are for feeding if their Mummy is feeding them/their siblings that way. They will then be playing this way with their dolls without the need of the "flower nipple bib" etc.

Children don't need to know at the age of 2+ (or younger) that they will or should breastfeed when they are older. They may not want to breastfeed. They may not be able to breastfeed etc. Why use a form of playtime to manipulate the child for something that they will learn about when then time is right?

Perhaps if the government and society could sort out their stupidity in thinking that it is wrong to breastfeed in public then maybe we wouldn't be thinking like this. Maybe I wouldn't have then posted the thread to ask your opinions as it would be something so natural that we wouldn't have even given a second thought about if that makes sense? (Not meant to be nasty in away - it's hard sometimes to put something like this across in text form!) xx

 

[DaisyPurple]

I never went to the toilet to bf either, I was determined to bf my son and did so whenever and wherever needed but unfortunately due to complications with him.having a very.poor sucking reflex and not latching on correctly I only managed a few weeks, however I am a supporter of BF
And hope to be able to try again.if I ever get my second baby,
I am however ever mindful of the psychological development of children and the effects of environmental factors in the development of children and I don't think its particularly benefitial to overload children's minds with growing up issues until they are easy to process that information , just my opinion but one worth considering I hope x
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[x.Lilly.x]

i dont really have an argument for it. i just think its a bit wierd and wrong. x

 

[Mummy2Adam]

i dont really have an argument for it. i just think its a bit wierd and wrong. x

I agree Lilly, this worlds gone mad, what every next! x x

 

[inky]

I don't see the problem. Girls are subjected to sexual images from such a young age, it horrifies me that young girls are being taught that boobs are only for sex, and that's it ok to get them out on display all the time, there are padded bikinis aimed at girls ffs.

Anything that promotes that the real reason we have breasts is as a way of feeding your baby can only be a good thing as far as I can tell. The only reason people are weirded out is because as a society we wrongly see breast feeding in a sexual light - totally totally wrong and a sad state for our society to be in!

 

[DaisyPurple]

I don't see the problem. Girls are subjected to sexual images from such a young age, it horrifies me that young girls are being taught that boobs are only for sex, and that's it ok to get them out on display all the time, there are padded bikinis aimed at girls ffs.

Exactly my issue... Children should not be subjected to sexual imagery of any kind, it is actually a form of abuse, and the padded bras etc... Are disgusting, it really worries me how young girls today are being forced Into growing up before thier ready,
Children.should have childhoods its the foundation to their lives, they don't need to be encouraged into the adult world until they are ready,
This breast feeding baby doll is not in the same league as the bras, sexual imagery in pop videos etc, I'm.on about and yes I can see the point about showing girls what breasts are really for, but surely kids can just be kids without the need to understand what its all about until they hit puberty and these dolls ate not aimed at this age group believe me,


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[AugustMum]

Inky, that was the point I was trying to make. That boobs are seen for a sexual use and only that at the moment, so it's nice to see a company aiming something at younger children to just make them aware that boobs are for feeding and then when theyre older they can figure out theyre all jubly lol.

Also, the feeding in the toilet thing, Im fully aware that not everyone feeds there child in the toilet, I certainly didnt and it never occured to me to do this, but Ive seen comments on here, on other forums and on documentarys about breast feeding where the women feel they need to hide it. And as inky has rightly said, its because breastfeeding is seen in a sexual light which is crazy.

I get that the doll is a bit wierd, and yeah, it does almost make little girls grow up too quick which is a whole different subject, but if theyre going to grow up early anyway, why not promote something positive

 

[DaisyPurple]

I know where your coming from I hope I didn't cone across as being too arsy, I do tend to get on my soapbox when it comes to protecting children, and maybe sometimes I miss the point a bit, x

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[Elfs Mummy]

I see no problem in it if my daughter wanted one i would get it for her. Why is it wrong for a child to pretend to bf which is completely natural and what it can be argued boobs were made for !
It's 2 flowers on a big whats the big deal ??