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MicheleQ Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 10:27am | IP Logged
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I have to ask what others think of this doll that promotes breastfeeding.
I just don't think it's that "weird". OK the halter nursing top may be a bit much but my little girls always just pull up their tops and feed their babies anyway. They could wear the halter under their top like a nursing bra.
The idea that the doll "may even promote early pregnancy" seems really ridiculous to me. Why would a breastfeeding doll do that anymore than a regular doll??
To me this just seems like another example of how breastfeeding phobic we are.
What do you all think?
__________________ Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
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teachingmyown Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 11:09am | IP Logged
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Gee, Michele, I thing they are right. We should be dressing our little girls like Brittany Spears, not teaching them something vulgar and demeaning like breastfeeding. They might end up like us if we do that!
My girls all nurse their babies. They would probably love this doll, but they are all very attached to their own babies.
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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stefoodie Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 11:41am | IP Logged
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To me it's not any stranger than a doll that comes with a bottle. ITA with Molly on the Britney Spears thing. And I don't see anyone (I mean the secular world of course) complaining about the Bratz dolls. It's okay to be brats and dress accordingly, but it's NOT okay to breastfeed? Really?! And the Bratz and Britney Spears dolls TEACH chastity and purity! Uhm, no.
__________________ stef
mom to five
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Bethany Forum Pro
Joined: Oct 16 2006 Location: Texas
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 12:12pm | IP Logged
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Ok, I'll be different. I think it's a little strange. My three yo did this with whatever doll was around and she put it at her belly button . But it passed in about a week or so. I guess I find the marketing of it weird. I saw a picture from the box demonstrating it's use and the girls was 6+ yo. I think it's cute when it's your own 3 yo at home in privacy, but to market it and use an older girl to sell it . Maybe I overestimate the number of sicko's in the world.
But I think most breastfeeding mom's wouldn't buy this because they know they don't need to. Their girls already played this without prompting.
__________________ Bethany
Wife to Mike, Mommy to Amelia (6/02), Sarah (10/03), Martha Grace (10/05), Rebecca Anne (12/07), Laura Catherine (3/10) and Reed Michael 7/4/14.
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 12:14pm | IP Logged
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yep, seems to me all kids (boys and girls) breastfeed their baby dolls whether the doll is made for that or not when the Mom breastfeeds.
I suppose it might be odd for people who aren't around real moms that breastfeed though.. they can only see the s#xual not the natural order of mother and child.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 12:15pm | IP Logged
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My bil sent me that link yesterday. I think any "controvery" is ridiculous. Like Michele said little girls who see breastfeeding as a natural part of babies and family life are going to do this naturally with their dolls. And there is no way that "promotes early pregnancy" in my mind. But now thinking about this, how would a little girl with no exposure to real breastfeeding in a healthy natural setting react to the doll if those around her are sending out "oooh, ick" messages? I totally think how a family were to approach the whole issue of breastfeeding to a child is going to be the main influence on there actions in baby play and future choices anyway.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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mary theresa Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 08 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 2:09pm | IP Logged
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I agree with Bethany.
I think its adorable and natural and all that when little girls "breastfeed" their babies, but I think a doll that makes feeding noises and a shirt that unsnaps is just unneccessary and wierd.
But I would completely disagree that it promotes early pregnancy! Why wouldn't a normal, "non-breastfeeding" doll do that then?
__________________ Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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LucyP Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 2:45pm | IP Logged
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I personally think the doll is gross. But I think all battery operated, moving, noise making dolls are gross and don't allow them here. A little girl can choose to nurse or bottle or spoon feed her "baby" but to strap a device on my daughter and sit watching while a plastic battery operated device made sucking noises at her chest - no no no no! I don't think nursing is sexual (although I assume at most times it is pleasureable for mother and baby) but I would think there was something very wierd and creepy about that doll - but nothing wierd and creepy about DD sitting and doing it with her own imagination.
Maybe it makes a difference that our children were bottle fed - not by choice - and so we tell them that both methods are equally good when well practised (IE no bottle propping etc) but that God gave mama's milk for a reason and that I would have nursed them if I could. I have no issues with my friends nursing and think it is great - just I know that I and my children have been made to feel bad that I didn't feed them myself and that they missed out.
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StephanieA Forum Pro
Joined: May 11 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 3:12pm | IP Logged
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I have been breastfeeding nearly non-stop for 22 years. So I definetly see the benefits
However, I wouldn't buy the doll for my girls. I am sort of picky on the dolls we do buy. I tend to spend a little more $ and buy 1-2 nice, nearly non-plastic dolls for each girl. So dolls are given only every other year or so to one girl. They really become a part of the family, so to speak, and we live in a smallish home for 10 people.
Of my 4 girls, only 2 can I remember really breastfeeding their baby dolls. But a doll that slurps at the breast would not fair well here with my girls...and especially the older boys. They are pro-breastfeeding, but none of my kids have made much noise nursing, and I think the girls would find it awkward. And they would certainly get comments from their brothers.
But then again, I don't buy dolls that spit up and poop That is sort of off-topic, but overall I don't like a lot of gadgets on a doll.
The concept behind promoting breatfeeding is highly laudable!! (I have been a LLL groupie since attending International Conferences at the age of 14). But, any doll will do for little girls. No slurping or special shirt needed.
Blessing,
Stephanie
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mary theresa Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 08 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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StephanieA wrote:
but overall I don't like a lot of gadgets on a doll.
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(Even if this is off topic ) I agree! Let them use their imagination! And those dolls that cry (like the doll we are talking about does)? Don't I hear enough crying around the house to have to put up with a DOLL crying?
__________________ Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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Waverley Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 12 2006 Location: Minnesota
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 10:03pm | IP Logged
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My concern with the breastfeeding doll is the same as my concern with the marketing of most dolls - a gimmick to get parents to continue to consume. IMO if we all only had 1 or 2 dolls that our children could play with as their imaginations desired, we wouldn't be purchasing a doll that cries, a doll that poops, a doll that crawls, a doll that eats, a doll that swims, etc. My children are perfectly capable of pretending that their dolls cry, poop, crawl, swim, eat and, yes, breastfeed.
Call me a Waldorfian but there you have it!
__________________ Waverley
wife to Dh for 19 years, dd (16), dd (11), dd (8), ds (6), dd (4), dd (9-13-1996)
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folklaur Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: Aug 07 2009 at 11:09pm | IP Logged
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i am totally not breastfeeding phobic at all.
i am a huge bf-ing proponent, and happily bf my babies in public, etc.
but i think the doll is weird.
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sewcrazy Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2006 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Aug 08 2009 at 6:07pm | IP Logged
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All my kids, girl and boys, nursed their dolls. My son had an Elmo when he was little that nursed frequently. They also slinged all their dolls, stuffed animals, hot wheels, whatever. Children naturally copy what they see. So if a child has never seen mommy or auntie or someone close nursing, this doll won't make nursing seem "normal" to them, and if they do see nursing, the doll is unnneccessary.
Really, to market a doll that way is a little weird to me. But no weirder than a doll that poops!
__________________ LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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