ONTD

6:23 pm - 11/08/2012

'The Breast Milk Baby' doll: Healthy, educational play or too much?



There's a sort of new doll trying to break on the scene again in the U.S. After being unsuccessful since its first attempt to enter the market last year. Apparently the company is hoping to be more successful this year, as AP released the details, including support and endorsements for the toy on November 8, 2012, just before holiday sales and shopping begin.

"The Breast Milk Baby," the world's first breastfeeding baby, is a product of Berjuan Toys, LLC. The doll comes in baby boy or girl, a variety of skin tones, names, and attire. Cameron, Jeremiah, Jessica, Lilyang, Savannah, and Tony each come with a unique accessory that has also been the major obstacle in getting these dolls on the shelves in the United States. Each doll comes with a flowered halter top that has a flower shaped mechanism built in to the breast area. When the doll is held near the mechanism the baby begins to make suckling, gurgling, and burping noises.

The doll is marketed for children ages 2 years and up. Berjuan Toys believe little girls need to learn to breastfeed. The company says that this engaging activity is healthy, natural, and allows girls to express love and affection just like mommy.

The doll was a hit in Europe, selling millions according to the company's U.S. representative Dennis Lewis. However, last year the doll sold just under 5,000 in the states. Lewis says that retailers like the doll and believe it is an innovative toy, yet are reluctant to put it on shelves, concerned about the controversy it may cause. Feedback in the U.S. last year was that the doll is too "sexualized" for children. According to Associated Press, Lewis' rebuttal to this is, the simulation of natural activity of breastfeeding is "very much less sexualized than Barbie dolls or the sassy Bratz pack."

Another major concern is the price of the doll. Retail Suggested Price for "The Breast Milk Baby" is $89. However, a 50% holiday season discount is available at thebreastmilkbaby.com.

Would you buy this doll for your daughter? Do you believe it is too "sexualized?" Do you believe it is a good fun aid for breastfeeding mothers whose daughters may imitate them anyway with regular dolls?



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chelledbrown 9th-Nov-2012 02:55 am (UTC)
Me as well. Like I saw my mother breastfeed my younger siblings so to me it was just nbd. I took baths with my two siblings closest to age in me until the tub was too small to fit the three of us, and I've bathed/diapered the younger 3 (12 and 20 years younger than me) so to me nudity and the like is just....idk, life.


Hell, we were a family of shirtless children for years, until my aunt told my mom that my sister and I needed shirts because my brother didn't need to see 'that'. ...you know, like my sister and I didn't have the exact same flat chest as my brother at that stage (11 and 7). People are all uptight and I'm just like "I'd rather be naked."
ashtraysoul 9th-Nov-2012 03:04 am (UTC)
I feel you so much on the last part especially. I still remember the moment my grandmothers told me I couldn't walk from the shower to my room naked bc my grandfathers, uncles, male cousins etc could see me. It was so disturbing to me that just bc my body had undergone minor changes (I was around 10) now it was suddenly my responsability to cover myself up to prevent ~males (like, apparently EVERY male, no matter what his relation to me) from feeling sexual about me.
fuckyess 9th-Nov-2012 03:53 am (UTC)
a shirtless girl at 11 or a boy? jw because when i was 11 i was def already going through puberty.
chelledbrown 9th-Nov-2012 04:00 am (UTC)
A girl who, I assure you, was just as flat chested as an eleven year old boy.
coreycoreycorey 9th-Nov-2012 05:06 pm (UTC)
See I was raised the opposite and I think it ruined me. I hate nudity and so many natural things make me uncomfortable that shouldn't. I think making kids comfortable early on is way better than how I was brought up.
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