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Breastfeeding Doll Debate on Fox and Friends: Dr. Ablow vs. Mom Blogger (Video)
The Breast Milk Baby breastfeeding doll causing controversy
The breastfeeding doll debate wages on – is it good, bad or all around creepy?
In a discussion this morning on Fox and Friends (video), Dr. Keith Ablow and mom blogger Jessica Gottlieb go head to head about the pros and cons of the breastfeeding doll.
Dr. Ablow is not on board for the doll, while Gottlieb sees no issue with it. The doll, called “Breast Milk Baby,” allows girls to put on a little breast apron of sorts and hold the sucking baby to the fake flower shaped nipples.
Those in favor of the doll, like Gottlieb find nothing wrong with the Breast Milk Baby, as it allows little girls to mimic their breastfeeding moms with a doll that imitates a suckling baby.
What could be wrong with that?
Ablow, clearly not a fan, brings out the big guns, noting that it’s “destructive.” He supports his argument with some nonsense about girls and their “secondary sexual characteristics,” saying it’s “turning little girls into adults” and “contributes to the sexualization of children and it makes them targets of assailants.”
Opinions are divided overall on this doll, with some believing it sends a positive message about the value of breastfeeding, while others think it’s highly inappropriate. Others find it downright creepy.
I’m not against this doll at all, however, I do find it slightly odd to have to put on a shirt with flowery nipples. I get that there’s a sensor on the shirt that makes the baby begin to make sucking noises, but having girls go this extra step to imitate breastfeeding is a little off-putting.
What do you think of the breastfeeding doll? What about Dr. Ablow’s comments? A bit overboard, perhaps?
Speaking of extreme statements, are breastfeeding mothers “professionally incompetent“?
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8 Comments
Leanne commented on Jul 19 11 at 9:06 pmMy little boy nurses his baby doll by shoving it under his shirt. He seems to know how to do it without the weird flower nipple shirt!
mama b commented on Jul 19 11 at 9:49 pmMy daughter started breastfeeding her teddy bear after her brother was born. I think the shirt is just plain stupid, but the doll’s message is a good one, though I think if anyone is buying the doll for $80 they are wasting money. A child will model behavior like breastfeeding without a doll and a weird shirt. Those who think it’s sexual are stuck in the breasts are for sex ideal and need to pull their heads out of their posteriors. Breasts were made for feeding, plain and simple. We’re mammals.
Bunnytwenty commented on Jul 20 11 at 9:47 amWhat a nutter. Kids have been “feeding” their dolls with toy bottles since… well, since bottles existed, so why would pretending to feed them a different way be bad? ridiculous. Like Mama B said, breasts are for feeding.
K. Annie commented on Jul 20 11 at 12:38 pmDolls in general turn “little girls into adult” – that’s kind of the pretend part of ALL pretend play. What a moron! I think these dolls are great, (though, I agree they seem like a waste of money $80.00!…and perhaps add to the idea that breastfeeding is for the rich and privileged). And, these dolls obviously aren’t right for every family…which is why there are a million other ugly plastic dolls in every toy store. If a kid is interested in pretend play that involves breastfeeding, that kid will pretend breastfeed with whatever is handy—no flower petal apron needed. All I can say is that I hope this doll doesn’t come with a nursing cover-up or the suggestion that kids play with this alone in the nursery, in a bathroom stall, or isolated from everyone.
Sarah commented on Jul 20 11 at 3:14 pmum, he thinks feeding dolls “contributes to the sexualization of children”? seriously? If he thinks breastfeeding is sexual, that sounds like HE is the one “contributing to the sexualization of children. “
Teri commented on Jul 20 11 at 3:35 pmIs this doll more sexual than a bratz doll?
Rosana commented on Jul 21 11 at 8:57 amWell, girls could really learn about breastfeeding from watching moms breastfeeding their kids anywhere they go but since breastfeeding it’s being outlawed by many ignorants, the chances for that girl to see a real mom breastfeeding a real baby are very slim.
Moonbeam commented on Oct 10 11 at 4:52 amMy only question is does it actually suckle or just make noises? If it suckles then it’s opening Pandora’s Box by kids getting introduced to sexual stimuli. Breast feeding is definitely stimulating, it’s a natural reaction that you can’t just control so I think these will do more harm than good. Before kids need to learn about having kids and taking care of them, maybe they should learn how they will take care of them first :)
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