Last year, I received a call from a reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer looking for a media quote. She was writing an article on an international controversy: the breastfeeding doll for young girls. Say what? Thousands of baby and Mom product reviewed, yet I had no idea what she was talking about. She quickly emailed me some info about it and called me a few days later for a quote.
I remember I spent a few days torn about what to say. I’m a product reviewer. I breastfed one of my children and I’m a huge breastfeeding advocate after having that experience. I’m appalled every time I hear a story about a mother who is shunned in public for breastfeeding her child.
I was reminded today about this article as I received a pitch that the doll, called the Breast Milk Baby ($89, theBreastMilkBaby.com), has now come to the US.
My reaction to this doll both times I heard about it was to feel uncomfortable. It’s not so much the idea that it’s a breastfeeding doll that bothers me – it’s the accessories that come with it. The little girl straps on a halter and puts little flowers over her nipples so she can imitate breastfeeding by holding the baby up to these flower nipples.
Just typing it out gives me the heebie jeebies. Flower nipples? For real?
Most people I’ve spoken have the same initial reaction. I can’t say that I think it will do all that well in the US, but who knows, maybe I’m wrong? Apparently the doll has sold millions over in Europe.
I applaud the company for trying to increase breastfeeding awareness… but. Yah, I’m just gonna go with the but.
What do you think? What’s your reaction to this doll?
Immediate reaction: extreme surprise. And then, the ‘what will they think of next’ question comes to mind so really nothing should shock me anymore. Big sigh. My instinct is negative on the idea, but that’s my opinion.
My girls (and boys!) turned their dolls into breastfeeding dolls without all that stuff. It was normal for them so they nursed their babies (usually just holding the doll to their chest) the same way other kids use bottles. They also would occasionally ask me to ‘feed the baby’ when I was done feeding their brother or sister.
I am a big supporter of nursing too-but I just don’t see the need for this kind of doll. And yeah the flower top seems like overkill.
Ew. No way- – that is creepy
I dont mind the doll but the cost is crazy!!!!! For $89 my kids can pretend to breastfeed a doll for free thanks!
I think the doll is crazy, because as @kelly said, kids make any doll a BF doll.
In my small community a couple is doing photoshoot for BF Month (August, I think). They have been taking photos of BFing moms in different public places around town. The other day a good friend posed at our farmer’s market with her 1 year old BFing and her 4 year old BFing her baby doll. She didn’t need an $89 doll and pasties.