Earlier today, I happened upon and interesting discussion started by Shellie at Blog4Mom, Breastfeeding Baby Dolls. At first thought, I can’t help but feel perplexed by the lack of support regarding a toy that has the potential to normalize the act of breastfeeding with early education and demonstration. But truthfully, it’s not their fault. American women hav
e been raised for generations with the notion that bottle feeding is the “decent” choice of nurturing babies. Baby dolls for decades have come equipped with bottles, bibs and spoons, teaching generations of women that it’s the proper way to feed your children.
Then along comes the European marketed Bebe Gloton Breastfeeding Baby Doll. An innocent, children’s toy that is designed to be a lifelike baby (just as most other dolls are) EXCEPT this one comes with no bottle or artificial nipples. Instead it’s packaged with a nursing smock for your child and a pacifier for the baby.
Watch a 55 second video demonstration of how the Bebe Gloton doll works.
In three minutes of your time, I weigh in on my thoughts regarding the sale of the Bebe Gloton doll.
Maybe I’m not quite the prude I once believed myself to be.
About Cat Davis
Go Cat! I totally agree! I think it can be used as a fabulous tool to teach your older child just what mommy is doing with the newborn. Kids do this anyway, if they’ve been around a breastfeeding mom. My son would bf his Curious George doll when I was bfing Leah. Great vlog and post!
I don’t have a problem with a breastfeeding doll, but I do have a problem with the paties thingys that comes with the doll to represent boobs. I don’t think that is natural, and is teaching something a little different. But as for a breastfeeding doll in general, I think it is a fine idea.
oops, I meant pastie thingys, not paties thingys.
This is interesting!
I totally agree Kat! Thanks for making this known.
THANK YOU!!! I really love what you had to say Cat! As for Trishas response..I think the flowers are a bit odd too but imagine if they had fake nipples on the shirt THAT would be a ..well, it wouldnt happen. LOL
Great blog Cat!! =)
I really enjoyed your argument for this and appreciate you showing how the doll worked. I actually agree except I believe any doll is a breastfeeding doll if you just throw away the bottle. lol Thanks for this excellent post!
I think it’s a great way to explain it to kids whose moms are nursing. I really don’t like the little pastie things and halter. I would be much more comfortable with it if it didn’t have those and would suckle without them. I completely 100% agree that breastfeeding is normal, healthy and ok! I do think girls need to know that it’s healthy and normal growing up. I really just can’t get over the pasties. lol
I agree. Not really thrilled with the top thing, but I would buy the baby. My daughter mimics me BFing my son by lifting her top and putting her baby to her breast to BF. Not something I “taught” her…but somethings she sees as natural because mommy does it. She sits in her little rocker and nurses her stuffed animals and life-like dolls.
If someone is uncomfortable with the doll..don’t buy it.
I would buy that doll for my daughter, it’s a baby doll and it’s normal.
Growing up in Europe we were thought that breastfeeding is the only way. Formula was given to babies that had to stay in the hospitals in the incubators and without Mommy always there (hope you know what I mean), so for me it was natural to breastfeed, and it has never been an issue to see a Mom breastfeed in public. My Hubby is from Europe too and I have never heard him say that it’s wrong to breastfeed in public.
You’re right it’s all how we are thought. I remember our baby dolls only came with a pacifiers and change of clothing!