Why no Breastfeeding Betsy??

Allison - posted on 05/26/2009

I'm back, to play devil's advocate again, only to the extreme. After reading more posts and checking out those dolls...here's my thought. We now have BF & pregnant dolls. I agree wholeheartedly that BF and pregnancy are beautiful, wonderful, natural things that our bodies were designed for. But where do we draw the line at impropriety? Sex is also a beautiful, wonderful, natural thing that our bodies were designed for. Maybe we should just make dollies to reenact that natural act too! Of course I am being ridiculous. But I will choose to draw the line here: I do not expose myself (outside of home) while BF, therefore I do not believe it necessary to encourage my small children to playact it. I will teach them verbally, they will observe it and imitate me to some degree, and when they someday become parents I will encourage them to do the best for their babies.

?? - posted on 05/26/2009

I agree that you should teach your child what breast feeding is, but you're setting your kids up to be judgemental of moms, and those babies too, who use a bottle to feed by telling them that breast feeding the healthiest and we only use breast feeding as a last resort.



Until they have the knowledge to make their own decisions I don't think you should EVER in any circumstance tell a child that one thing is ALWAYS better than another. Unless it's harmful, obviously, but bottle feeding is not harmful. They are smart but they don't have the compacity to know why it's better and will look at women and children who bottle feed as if they are hurting their babies by not giving them "the healthiest" and they are using the "last resort". I would never tell my child that. Women bottle feed breast milk and formula. Explain that instead.



Who knows, your lil girl may grow up to have a baby and not be able to produce milk, or will have to work so she will have to pump and then she will have to bottle feed and that sure isn't the "last resort" and it definitely is "the healthiest" thing for the baby.



Be open with your kids about both breast feeding and bottle feeding. There's nothing wrong with either. I'd be more worried about my lil girl not learning that her breasts are private and that she would grow up without that boundary and getting hurt because of it. Even at 6-7, or 8-9, a little girl still plays with dolls and if she's breast feeding her dolls at that age, a lil boy with an older brother could easily turn breast feeding a doll into a sexual scenario and your lil girl could end up getting hurt.



here are some dolls...



http://www.boobiebuddiesbfdolls.co.uk/



http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2006/03...



http://www.1cascade.com/ProductInfo.aspx...

Jodie - posted on 05/25/2009

Well when we buy babydolls for our children we are teaching them compassion and caring and all the life stuff so I talk with my children they are a lot smarter than some think but anyways you talk to them and ask questions if the doll comes with a bottle say do you think a baby should drink from a bottle? and say the healthiest is to breastfeed your baby we only should use bottle if its the last resort. My kids understand and get it so they play with their doll how they want but they know what should be done

Teresa - posted on 05/25/2009

Quoting Kate:

You could argue that all dolls are breastfeeding dolls, since you don't need any special equipment to breastfeed other than a pair of breasts.

Exactly what I was thinking.  When my girls were 2 a lot of their friends were getting baby brothers or sisters.  They started nursing their dolls. :)  Not all dolls come w/ accesories and even if they do... why couldn't it be breastmilk in the bottle.  Kids will copy what they know.

Geralyn - posted on 05/25/2009

Quoting Lorilynne:

Its funny because my daughter has bottles for her baby and she doesn't really know what they are for as she never used one. She does lift up her shirt and breastfeed her baby....although, she sticks the baby's face on her belly button so she gets the idea but hasn't quite hit the mark yet, lol :)

That is so cute!  Thanks for sharing and making us smile!

Lorilynne - posted on 05/23/2009

Its funny because my daughter has bottles for her baby and she doesn't really know what they are for as she never used one. She does lift up her shirt and breastfeed her baby....although, she sticks the baby's face on her belly button so she gets the idea but hasn't quite hit the mark yet, lol :)

Jessica - posted on 05/23/2009

That is true, it seems to me, and maybe it's my area, that all dolls come with a bottle and paci. Maybe you just don't give them the bottle and paci.

Itsamystery - posted on 05/23/2009

You could argue that all dolls are breastfeeding dolls, since you don't need any special equipment to breastfeed other than a pair of breasts.

Allison - posted on 05/22/2009

While I am all for breastfeeding, allow me to play devil's advocate a bit...what makes a doll NOT a BF doll? Several of you posted that your daughters have pretended to nurse their baby dolls, as has mine. A BF baby doesn't come with accessories...it's mommy that has those! And not EVERY doll comes with those things, by the way.

So, let's say we market Nursing Nancy. What are the commercials like? Are little girls flashing their bare chests to feed their babies? Or maybe the doll comes with a plastic boob to stick in their mouth? Or maybe the accessory with the doll is a child-sized Hooter Hider? And if we're going to advocate breastfeeding toys, maybe we should create a pregnant belly insert toy as well, you know, for BEFORE they have that baby and start BF it. No, not really seeing any good scenarios here... : )

Geralyn - posted on 05/22/2009

Jessica, you may have hit on something! That's a very good point. [Although our close-minded society may not like "Breastfeeding" in the name of the doll. Lol! What about Nursing Nancy?]

Jessica - posted on 05/22/2009

Jodi, yeah, that's what I mean. Now a days they make so much useless crap...why not!!!

?? - posted on 05/22/2009

Okay that last comment looks like it's worded really bad. So I want to clarify that I did not mean anything bad. What I DID mean is that make some really stupid stuff these days - they might as well take the time to make something that children will actually play with instead of stuff like Trailer Park Trash Barbie.

?? - posted on 05/22/2009

Boobie Juice? I've heard that from a couple kids. I thought it was milk? haha



I dunno about the whole breast feeding baby doll... solely for the fact that it causes mixed ideas. There are people out there who would take it to a mental level. But there are dolls out there that are made to help teach boys and girls how to go pee and poop in the potty. What exactly would the doll teach little girls? Dolls generally teach how to care for something and have fun - they give a child a companion. And what company would take on the tremendous media it would bring - good and bad?



But hey, if they can make Trailer Park Trash Barbie, I don't see why they can't make Breastfeeding Betsy. Not comparing the two, just a thought :P

Jessica - posted on 05/22/2009

I like Boobie juice!! That is so cute!!! Yeah, I wouldn't even beging to know how to create one, but it would definiatly be in my house....if i had a girl.

Mandy - posted on 05/22/2009

I've never thought of that. Both of my daughters were breastfed and I currently BF my 4month old son. My girls rarely use bottles with their dolls but they do lift their shirts and BF. It is natural for them and by oldest, 5, recently said that she was going to feed her baby "boobie juice" (that is what we call breastmilk)when she gets married and has a baby. She is also interested in other mothers and has asked if they give their babies boobie juice. I honestly would not even know how one would make a breastfeeding doll but we would definately buy it.