thank you!

You’re so right! Also, consider the source of the poll. Fox News? Are you really that shocked?

OH…. I have soooo been searching for a doll without a bottle as my girls are now at an age that they notice if it just disappears. My mom bought my two younger daughters (nearly 5yo and 2.5yo both still nursing) a doll a couple weeks ago when I wasn’t around since there is no way I would have allowed it. The dolls come with a bottle, but it gets worse. When the bottle is inserted, the baby makes sucking noises. When the bottle is removed, the baby cries. I was FURIOUS at my mother for buying them this when she knows how I feel about bottles. My mom did not breastfeed. My older brother and I were adopted. My younger brother (her bio) was born premature at a time when BF’ing was not encouraged especially for a preemie. So she really just does not get the big deal with this for my children to play with dolls that have bottles. She is honestly a bit offended that I have a problem with it at all.

I did use this situation as a teaching moment instead. First, my 2.5yo calls all bottles “water bottles” since that is what she drinks other than nursing. My nearly 5yo, though, gets the difference and claims it is expressed milk. That’s fine to an extent that she does that, but I asked her how she would feel if I put her milky in a cup instead of letting her nurse. She didn’t like that idea, but is a true middle child and looks to defy me when she can. :P Thankfully, the bottles have been lost on their own now and the girls play with them nursing the dolls under their shirts that also double as a sling. YAY!

Thanks for the heads up about this doll. That nearly 5yo will be getting one in a couple weeks for her birthday.

I love the idea of this doll! Wish it wasn’t so expensive, though! I think it’s pretty ridiculous too that people think this is inappropriate, but a pooping doll isn’t…

A FOX affiliate? Say no more. OF COURSE they are offended at the idea of a baby doll who is “breast fed”. (eyes rolling). OF COURSE they are.

Did the FOX affiliate mention that the baby doll also came with a higher IQ, a better immune system and slept better than the bottle fed babies on the shelf? Did they mention that the lucky mommy of this baby would have a bigger bank account (since she did not have to buy formula or take as many sick days off work for her child) and would have a lowered risk of breast cancer?

Yea, I didn’t think so.

Noadditives– the problem isn’t the existence of bottlefeeding. Sometimes (even often) it’s necessary. The problem is that, as a culture, we still don’t see breastfeeding as normal. I would guess that the vast majority of new moms have never gotten to observe (more than see at a glance) anyone breastfeeding, so it doesn’t seem natural anymore. This just reinforces that: including bottles with baby dolls teaches little kids that that’s how you feed babies, and makes it– ironically– seem like the natural thing to do. And apparently, 82% of the poll responders think it’s so unnatural that it’s a “completely inappropriate” product.

Oh hey, I’m so totally surprised that the comments on this feature a defensive mom who formula feeds and is offended by “propaganda” telling them what scientific studies, biology, and plain common sense say: breastmilk is better for babies than formula is. Formula is better than starving, but breastmilk is, in almost all cases, the healthier food for the baby. If it doesn’t work, or you decide you aren’t bothered by the risks of formula, fine: it’s not poison, it’s not child abuse. But it ISN’T the same and there ARE documented risks.

What is offensive is the antics of formula companies marketing their products. What is offensive is the sad state of ignorance about breastfeeding among OBs and pediatricians. What is offensive is the idea that breastfeeding is shameful and/or the feelings of one group (public breadtfeeding haters) are more valid and important than the feelings of another (moms who don’t want to be isolated or cover their child’s face while nursing.)

PSAs and information supporting breastfeeding: not offensive in any universe that uses logic.

Maybe it’s just because I live in LA but there is WAY more of a stigma against bottle feeding a baby as opposed to breast feeding. That being said, who cares, it’s a doll. People that want to give it to their kids should and those that do not don’t have to. There are way more important issues to worry about.

I’m all for the doll and don’t understand why it should bother anyone (unless it actually latches on to my kid). What I don’t get is why Amy thinks a teaching doll for teenagers is a “permissive” item.

The fact that people are making such a big deal about this is sad really. And as the author cleverly pointed out, there are much better things to be offended by. There is something seriously screwed up here if dolls can pee and poop but can’t be breastfed. And why does it matter again? Kids are going to mimic regardless–maybe we should start focusing on giving them something worthy of emulating.

The “baby” crying and suckling at the nipples on the bra/halter can actually stimulate early onset of hormones in a child too young to handle it. Women who have never given birth can actually lactate by using simliar devices. So, YES, this can most definitely have damaging repercussions on children. These little girls are WAY too young to handle the hormones!

By the way, I’m a lactation consultant and a HUGE breastfeeding advocate. But this is not the right way to do it!

Most breastfed children will “nurse” their baby dolls anyway… Using their imaginations. So, yes, I feel this doll is NOT a good idea. You want to teach your children about breastfeeding? How about TALKING TO THEM! So crazy it might work!

ok, i am not only an advocate of breastfeeding, but i am currently breastfeeding my newborn…i do find this doll to be a bit much, but personally, i don’t like the idea of dolls with bottles or diapers with fake poop either. breastfeeding is great, it’s all natural and yada yada & etc but, really should children be trying to learn how to breastfeed before they’ve even focused on any other life goal, or for that matter, before they’ve even grown breasts or reached the age to be considering child-bearing? i personally don’t want my daughters or sons thinking of parenting tasks in any detail, yet alone receiving an instructional tutorial from a toy before they’ve decided what they want to be in life or have the capacity to actualize it. this doll is not a win for breastfeeding. it’s really quite silly, just another area in which society is pushing our children to grow up too fast. & the manufacturer’s are playing breastfeeding parents & supporters for fools. parent’s w/o breastfeeding dolls have been educating our children about breastfeeding for years…none of my previous children has ever been “confused” upon seeing me nurse the new baby or by pumping milk (in which bottles are still very necessary). i’m fairly certain, i’m a much better instructor and visual than any child’s toy. it’s just senseless.

This doll reminds me of my favorite breast feeding story all true, cause I’m the mom.
setting grocery store line son starts to cry for his meal, line moving ever so slow, my other half says” I’ll handle the groceries, feed him” (Not totally trusting him I did not leave, but put a cloth diaper over my shoulder, and gave my son lunch. the older woman in line behind me starts to make annoyed noises, so I turn and ask her what is wrong her response was and I quote ” that is just not natural you should be ashamed of yourself!” and I just said to her ” God invented the breast, man invented the bottle, you are just jealous that you were not breast feed nor courageous enough to feed your own children Gods way!” Shut her right up and I got applause from a few others in the store, the loudest was an even older woman, who was old enough to be my great grand mother