Breastfeeding Doll Controversy
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 11:49PM
When I was a little girl I had a doll that came with a plastic bottle (that didn't really fit into the doll's mouth), a hat and blanket. I loved that doll. Now, more then ever before there are dolls that mimic real live babies. They cry, open and close their eyes, giggle, wet their diaper, suck a bottle and breastfeed. It's this last one that has spurred much debate. But why?
Some critics say the Breast Milk Baby is over-sexualizing young girls or forcing girls to grow up too quickly. Really? So what do these critics say about the American Girl Doll, where girls can visit an American Girl Doll retail store where little girls can dine with their dolls or get their dolls’ hair done from a “trained stylist” at the salon? Is that too considered growing up too fast? And don’t get me started on Barbie and Ken. My Babies (yes plural) and Ken dolls used to have makeout sessions!
Berjuan Toys, makers of the Breast Milk Baby doll, and those in support of the doll say that the Breast Milk Baby helps young girls understand natural motherhood. I agree here.
However, I personally don’t plan to spend the money to buy a “breastfeeding” doll since if Reese wanted to (when she’s older), she could pretend to breastfeed with any old doll. Although the doll I had when I was a child wasn’t a “breastfeeding baby,” I remember pretending to breastfeed. It didn’t seem sexual to me. All I knew at the time was that this is how my Mom fed my younger brother…thus, this is how babies were fed.
Jennifer just posted a blog discussing recent findings from the CDC Breastfeeding Report Card, which highlights that mothers continue to face multiple barriers to breastfeeding and that breastfeeding mothers need support.
And according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, it was a national goal to have at least 75% of all mothers breastfeeding for at least six months by 2011. Well, how is this going to happen if people continue to sexualize breastfeeding?
Kids are going to mimic their Mothers. If they see their mommy breastfeeding their baby brother or sister, then it’s likely they too will try it – with or without the “Breast Milk” doll. So is this considered sexualizing breastfeeding too? Nathalee shares her thoughts in a comment on an inhabitots blog post about the doll.
Whether a child is using a regular old doll or a breast milk baby doll to pretend breastfeed, I look at this as an opportunity to share the importance and value of breastfeeding. As Jennifer said, “What is so wrong about teaching girls that they can nurse with their boobs - that's why they are there - not to be on the cover or playboy magazine.”
I don’t see anything wrong with a child pretending to breastfeed and am irritated by all the fuss. I’m wondering if it’s the name “Breast Milk Baby” that folks are having a hard time with? What if they called the baby that wets their pants the “Pee doll” or the doll that poops their pants the “Poop doll?” Or is it just the fact that now there is a doll specifically focused on breastfeeding?
If you're outraged or think the breastfeeding doll is inappropriate, then just don’t buy it. Simple. Either way, what are your personal feelings on this?
Reader Comments (2)
I agree with you! I have seen several opinions against this, and I have thought that often those opinions were sexualizing the matter! I won't be getting one for the same reason: my daughter can use any doll if she wants to copy me. If it bothers people, then just don't get one, but breast feeding being sexual is an idea adults are bringing to this, not the children. I want my daughter to think feeding a baby this way is normal.
Hi Alex, I actually do have a lot of problems with this doll and I don't think it would help with promoting breastfeeding or would provide any type of support for moms that are breastfeeding. Here is why I believe that.
First, for me breastfeeding is something personal and special, yes I believe is something natural and that it shouldn't be sexualized, but is something between me and my baby. And it is something hard and that requires a lot of work from both mom and baby, so really learning the intricacies from a doll at that age is out of the question. So there is no added learning benefit for your kid. Will it make her aware of breastfeeding and how natural it is? She only needs to see mommy breastfeed brothers and/or sisters. And even if that wasn't possible or available I am sure there would be many opportunities where she sees somebody breastfeeding and she asks about it.
I don't have a problem with my daughter playing breastfeeding, but I don't think you need a doll intended for this to do so or to encourage her to breastfeed when she is older. Is there any research that suggests that girls that bottle fed their dolls were more likely to bottle feed than breastfeed as an adult? If there is no correlation the point of this doll encouraging breastfeeding is mute. And I myself have never heard of such research.
Second, when I was pregnant with my daughter Sofia I made the decision to breastfeed because of all the information about it out there, I didn't even remember when I used to play with my dolls as a kid and when I used to give them bottles, It is a though decision that an adult has to make, so asking a kid to understand the implications and commitment behind it is not good in my opinion. I think for example of parents who are trying to have their kids potty trained before they can even understand why. There is a lot of research that shows kids might not be ready before they are around 18 months or older.
Yes, there is the need for more information and more support for mothers out there that want to breastfeed, but I doubt a doll is going to grant that. I myself had a lot of difficulty breastfeeding Sofia and ended up with bottles and formula which I wasn't proud of, but Sofia loves her bottle and wasn't happy at the breast. Much fault was in the lack of support and information I needed to know before having Sofia, lack of knowing about supplementers at the breast and other useful information that might have help me not to introduce Sofia to the bottle so fast. But all that info and support can't come from a doll, specially this doll, which for me only emphasizes that breastfeeding is simple and easy, something they told me and my husband when we attended a breastfeeding class in our hospital and made me think I was prepared for it when I wasn't.
Those who argue against the doll because they think it sexualizes breastfeeding, to me, don't have a valid point since I agree with you that breastfeeding shouldn't be considered sexual, but a natural process. But again, I don't believe you need a specific doll to encourage moms to breastfeed.