Breastfeeding Baby Doll Controversy
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Breastfeeding Baby Doll: The Debate
, is causing some controversy among parents, particularly mothers of young girls.The question is whether a doll is an appropriate method to educate young girls about breastfeeding a baby, or should it be left up to moms to familiarize their children themselves at a later age.
Whatever the debate, this doll has been a huge seller in Europe and has now become available in the United States. Some consumers in North America welcome this new toy, while others consider it to be wholly inappropriate. What's your take?
Image: Bebe Gloton Breastfeeding Baby Doll at Amazon
Contents at a Glance
The Breastfeeding Doll: What is Being Said
The Argument For and Against
Image: Bebe Gloton Breastfeeding Baby Doll at Amazon
The Bebe Gloton Breastfeeding Doll is made in Spain by Berjuan, a company specializing in the manufacture of educational dolls. This particular doll has been a big it in Europe and is now available for purchase in the United States.
So how does it work? The doll comes with an apron-style cloth that your child wears. It is strategically worn across the child's chest and has two daisy sensors attached. Once the doll has been switched on, it cries. To stop the crying, it is placed against one of the daisies, mimicking breastfeeding.
Its availability has been causing consternation among some of its target consumers (and political pundits), who believe it is too sexual (breastfeeding = sexual?), inappropriate and causing children to grow up too fast.
Mothers who breastfeed say that their other young children already mimic the process by using stuffed animals and other dolls, so where is the harm? It's an educational toy, which familiarizes children with breastfeeding, thereby giving them choices later in life.
The Bebe Groton Breastfeeding Doll
Available to Purchase Now
Bebe Gloton Breastfeeding Doll
Amazon Price: $99.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
Available now, the Bebe Gloton Breastfeeding Doll has been selling like hotcakes across Europe. Its aim is to promote breastfeeding as a natural alternative to bottle feeding through educational play.
The Breastfeeding Doll on The Talk
The women from the daily chat show The Talk discuss the merits, or not, of the Bebe Gloton Breastfeeding Doll.
The Latest About the Breastfeeding Doll
This Doll Makes the Headlines
- Morris Hospital birth series begins June 4
- Introduction to Breastfeeding will be offered Monday, June 4, from 10-11 am in the Family Birthing Suites Classroom at Morris Hospital. Taught by an obstetrical nurse/certified lactation consultant, the class focuses on the benefits of breastfeeding, ...
- On Mother's Day -- let's celebrate what moms are doing right
- Why isn't she breastfeeding? Why is she STILL breastfeeding? Did you see she gave her 10-year-old a cellphone? She hovers like a Sikorsky! She left soccer practice early. She forgot to cut up his grapes! I heard she gave her daughter a Bratz doll ...
- The war of parenting books continues: Should you breastfeed or just go have a ...
- As Jen Doll points out on the Atlantic Wire, "Part of this is because books of this ilk keep being sold, which prompts more attention, followed by incentive to write more books. Another part of it is that we're nationally competitive, and parenting is ...
- Breastfeeding is intuitive and easy? No!
- The women I interviewed took classes, read books, practiced with dolls, and met with lactation experts. Helpful, yes. Intuitive? Not really. Breastfeeding advocates raised legitimate concerns about breast milk alternatives (corn syrups for babies?) ...
Bill O'Reilly Reacts to the Doll
So Do Makers Berjuan
A humorous and tongue-in-cheek response to Bill O'Reilly's claim that "[he doesn't] like it...There's a lot of harm being done to children..."
What is Happening to This World?
The Fox News Stance
A kind of "tell us what you really think" approach to the breastfeeding doll debate from Fox News.
The Breastfeeding Doll Debate
What's Your Opinion?
It this breastfeeding doll just a gimmick or not?
I think it's wholly inappropriate!
ChrissLJ says:
It's a bad gimmick. What will they think of next? A pregnancy belly for toddlers?
vintagemom says:
While I do believe each parent has the right to make their own decisions about what is appropriate for their family. I feel a breastfeeding doll is just "not necessary." When exposed to breastfeeding, children just naturally will imitate it. To me,this doll seems more of a gimmick, and a huge waste of money. If a child has not been able to see someone breastfeeding, and a parent would like to educate their child about the natural art of breastfeeding, just talk with them about this natural process, and there are beautiful, appropriate pictures of real women breastfeeding that would be much more educational. (Just my opinion:))
pkmcr says:
Gosh whatever will they think of next! Not for me I am afraid!
aj2008 says:
As a a mother of three girls and a boy I dont think educating little girls in this way, will encourage them to breastfeed if they have babies of their own. And even if did contribute to a deicsion to breastfeed I still think it is wholly inappropriate.
I have already had enough battles with 2 of my gorgeous girls to discourage them from dressing inappropriately for their age as they approached their teens not to mention the battles about wearing make up to school.
Once again a manufacturer is putting financial gain ahead of any real moral or educational issues - they come up with an idea for something that could be a best seller and I bet it was only after they had the idea that they then came up with the "educational" angle.
littlelotus says:
I think it's just a gimmick. I just don't like the idea....I don't think it's a toy that i would buy for my kids. For pregnant girlfriends, maybe
nightbear says:
I am not a parent, therefore my opinion is just that, my opinion, but it seems this would be another way to limit communication between mother and child, which is already challenged in the excessively busy world parents find themselves in. I think one on one communication with a child that is ready to learn would be optimal.
Helenee says:
"Inappropriate" is not the word I would choose for it. Of course breastfeeding is sthg natural, and I believe a woman should not be embarrased to feed a baby in front of eldest siblings, and also that it is very natural for children to know things about procreation and baby care.
I find the doll to be ugly and of bad taste from a manufacturing point of view, and I think stuffed animals are better for this job. Yes, kids will imitate anything they set eyes on, and this is one great thing to imitate - breastfeeding a child.
Only, is this cold and ugly doll supposed to generate an emotional response in little girls? How far have we strayed from mother nature?
And I find the hostess of foxnews somewhat hypocritical, saying that little kids should not be exposed to stuff alluding to sex and procreation, while her own bossom is plainly exposed through the dress she's wearing.
KathyMcGraw says:
Let little kids be little kids...they grow up too fast as it is. There are too many teens that already think parenting is just playing with, feeding and dressing a baby. And let's not count that this doll has batteries...and you need the apron to make it work....what a dumb doll in my opinion!
I think it's another great educational tool!
zdaddyo says:
Seems to me that this would be a great doll for a mother to give to a daughter while mommy is breast feeding a new baby. The more education girls get that breast milk is the best for babies, the better off babies will be.
MomwithAHook says:
I love it, For those who don't have mama's who breastfed, they probably don't know that children do this all on their own without the aide of an educational doll. Breastfeeding is definitely NOT inappropriate - why would it? would you tell a panda or Seal not to feed it's young because you feel disgusted about it? Grow up.
BTW, in our family and other families that breastfeed the mimicking doesn't only happen with girls - it is in the natural of the child to mimic so even boys will take their dolls and hold it up to their chest to feed their babies - I think the children are more grown up and 'get it' more than the adults.
AP Mama says:
I am very happy to see a product for my children that is actually correct and is an excellent choice for parents who want their child to be able to play mommy realistically. girls have been nursing their babies for generations, now they have a doll that helps emulate it. Love the crying until it burps. I hate that my country has devolved into a society where bottles are more acceptable that the breast.
Big_Dreamer says:
I think it's up for the families to decide for themselves. There are many tools for families to choose from to educate their children and this is just one of them.
kab says:
I'm not against the doll existing. For many families, in many places of the world this doll would make sense. I don't think that it makes sense for the majority of American families, but they're not handing the dolls out at school. It is still your choice how you educate your child.
Pukeko says:
It is just a brilliant marketing gimmick, and it's working. We are talking about it and people are buying it. With so many toys out there, families who don't breast feed would stay away from it, while those that do - often have older kids who are already simulating it with their other dolls. (I don't think it is educational, but it's not inappropriate either.)
changediapers says:
I think the pasty thing is a little weird, but on the other hand, it helps it be more interactive, which kids love. It's refreshing to see a doll that isn't bottle fed! My daughter was nursed (and refused bottles) but when my son was born (when she was four) she had no clue about breastfeeding, since she'd only seen other people bottle feed, and every doll came with a bottle.
I think any step towards portraying breastfeeding as natural and "the first choice" vs. obscene, disgusting and stupid is great.
And yes, for the record, even toddler BOYS will "breastfeed" their stuffed animals if they've been exposed to a nursing sibling. It's totally normal for kids to imitate what they see.
Show the Love!
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Get It Off Your Chest Here!
Your Comments Are Welcomed!
Thank you for visiting this page and adding your opinion about the Bebe Gloton Breastfeeding Doll. Readers are always interested in seeing comments from others, so please let it all hang out here.
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clouda9
May 26, 2011 @ 11:41 am | delete
- The set up for the doll is all too weird...a halter top strap on thingy...eww! And the sounds the doll makes are kinda creepy. The video from The Talk was hilarious.
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sukkran May 19, 2011 @ 8:20 pm | delete
- vert important topic. nicely done.
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aj2008
May 10, 2011 @ 7:00 am | delete
- "Get it off your chest" and "let it all hang out here" - Rich you get the prize for being the first person to make me laugh out loud today :)
Well, this was certainly a great idea for a thought provoking lens :)
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Susan52
May 7, 2011 @ 8:47 am | delete
- "Get it off your chest." Funny! Anyway, I hadn't heard of this doll until I saw it here. Interesting to hear the discussions above. I'm a believer in nurturing imagination. That's IMAGINATION. No specially-equipped baby dolls needed.
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Pukeko
May 6, 2011 @ 8:55 pm | delete
- Blessed by the humor angel. Ok, I know this wasn't written to be funny, but it made me laugh, so if you want to add it one of the plexos on my humor angel lens, go ahead.
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nightbear
May 6, 2011 @ 4:49 pm | delete
- I think this is just another way to ruin relationships and communication. Not in agreement but appreciate you bringing it to the fore.
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Joan4
May 6, 2011 @ 3:44 pm | delete
- Everybody knows that breast feeding is best for baby. But I really don't think little girls need "fake boobs" to pretend they are breastfeeding. really??
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KathyMcGraw
May 6, 2011 @ 10:26 am | delete
- I'm not sure what I think, but geared more to I wouldn't buy it, just as I wouldn't buy a doll that does anything you "turn on". I like dolls that kids use their whole imagination, but as far as being sexual no, inappropriate probably not, but a great learning tool...hmm that's stretching it since little girls (and boys) will forget this time anyway.
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by Waxing-Lyrical
The Breastfeeding Baby Doll from Spain is causing a lot of controversy and debate.
Originally from the UK where I worked in banking for 25 years. I moved...
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