Moms Disgusted by Breastfeeding Doll Aren't Prudes
H
ave you seen the breastfeeding baby doll? It's a doll that makes little suckling noises and movements with its mouth when you hold it up to your breast -- or more accurately when you hold it up to the specially made halter top you wear when you play with the doll.
If you watch the video, you'll see it's not as weird and creepy as it sounds. Breastfeeding advocates and child experts love the doll. So why isn't it flying off the shelves? So far only 5,000 have sold in the U.S. since it was introduced about a year ago.
Actually, there's something about this doll that turns shoppers off more than breastfeeding.
More from The Stir: Why You Should Practice With a Doll Before Having Your Baby
Hello, the Breast Milk Baby retails for $89! That's a lot of money for a doll for your toddler or preschooler. I mean, once you see the doll in action, it's not really that scandalous. After all, how many of us have seen kids pretend to breastfeed their baby dolls anyway?
More from The Stir: 5 Toddler Breastfeeding Myths That Drive Me Insane!
But your child can pretend to breastfeed a doll for five bucks and a little imagination. Know what I mean? And we're talking about a toy that pretty much does one thing only (oh, I guess it burps, too). It's too much money for a gimmick. Oh sure, a worthy and educational gimmick. But still, a gimmick. Plus that sucking sounds totally robotic and unnatural.
More from The Stir: Breastfeeding 101: Starting Solids
Anyway, pro-breastfeeding, natural-minded parents who are willing to spend more money on toys for their young children have something very different in mind. They're looking for soft, organic materials that leave more to their kids' imagination. Not electronic toys that do all the imagining for them. So really, I'm not surprised this doll isn't a hit. There are cheaper, lower-tech ways to teach a child breastfeeding appreciation.
Would you buy the Breast Milk Baby if you could?
Image via Berjuan Toys
Written by Adriana Velez on CafeMom's blog, The Stir.
More from The Stir:
Wet Nurses Are Good News for Babies & Bad News for Formula Companies
'Human' Breast Milk From Cows Is Nothing to Moo About
Cute Time-Lapse Video Shows Scary Side of Scheduling an Early Birth (VIDEO)
