And Now -- The Placenta Teddy Bear

by Brett Singer (Subscribe to Brett Singer's posts) Oct 14th 2009 2:37PM

Categories: Pregnancy & Birth, Weird But True, Shopping

Designer Alex Green thinks a placenta teddy bear is a good idea. Credit: jupiterimages / Photodisc

Yes, you read the headline correctly. You may retreat to your nearest powder room.

All done? OK, let's discuss.

Toy designer Alex Green has created something called the Twin Teddy Kit. The blog Inhabitots, which focuses on sustainable "green" design for parents and babies, described the bizarre creation as "A crafty alternative for those who don't necessarily want to eat their baby's placenta, but want to pay their respects to the life sustaining organ by turning it into a one-of-a-kind teddy bear."

Ooookay. We're with you so far. But can we ask why?

"Green's 'Twin Teddy Kit' 'celebrates the unity of the infant, the mother and the placenta.'"

Right. Celebrate the unity. Got it. So, um, we may regret this, but ... how does it work?

The kit "enables preparation of the placenta so it may be transformed into a teddy bear. The placenta must be cut in half and rubbed with sea salt to cure it. After it is dried out, it is treated with an emulsifying mixture of tannin and egg yolk to make it soft and pliable."

Yep. Sorry we asked. (All of the above quotes from Inhabitots.)

There are several questions one could ask. An obvious one, though, is this: What exactly is green about reusing the placenta? Isn't it naturally biodegradable? If this kit succeeds, will the designer create a version for body parts that sometimes get removed via surgery? An Andy Appendix doll, perhaps? Gary Gall Bladder?

It should be pointed out that despite the name "Twin Teddy Kit," this item is not meant to be played with or snuggled. Which is a good thing. But that raises another question. Why is the kit in the shape of a teddy bear? Why not, say, a baby? Here's a thought -- do a licensing deal with LucasFilm and make one in the shape of Yoda. Could be a big hit with the green-parenting contingent.

But seriously folks -- what do you think? Is this a great way to honor your afterbirth? Or is it just plain gross?

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Comments (30)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Glorious 10-14-2009 @ 4:03PM

Ewwwwwwwww yuck gross urrrrrp! The waste of the baby/fetus is expelled into this organ and you want to make a toy out of it??

But that's just me.

I've never given birth, so know not what of I speak. Some mommies might go for it, so each to her own.

Ewwwwwwwwwww!

queenoqueens 10-14-2009 @ 11:23PM

stoopid

trinah1016 10-15-2009 @ 9:45AM

Umm, pardon me while I finish regurgitating this awful product idea. No thank you!

LS 10-15-2009 @ 10:31AM

There are no words.

Oh, wait. yes there are. What the HECK???

Ok, first off, this is not "green". (it's actually sort of brown! HAHAHA!) It is the opposite of "green". Green means allowing what is natural to be natural. Allowing, for example, your leaves to decompose on your lawn, which will enrich the soil (rather than raking them into big plastic bags and sticking them in a landfill).

So how is this "green"? "Green" would be discarding it... yes, perhaps burying it, if that's what you do... it would provide nutrients to the soil while it decomposes.

This? This is just weird, and a gimmick, and yet one more thing to sit on a shelf, take up space, and collect dust. And, of course, lots of bucks for the "artist" who thought it up.

GAK.

donna 10-26-2009 @ 3:08AM

It is 'green' because if they let the hospital dispose of the placenta, which is what usually happens, the hospital will incinerate it. Inceration uses a lot of energy and who knows what is released into the atmosphere. THIS IDEA IS STILL REALLY GROSS!!!

Deigon 10-18-2009 @ 6:32PM

Unbelievable@

Ann 10-18-2009 @ 2:39PM

This is a terrible sceme for money. I had babies and this is not the way to bond with a baby and it is just plan crazy. What people can think of.

Awesome 10-18-2009 @ 2:49PM

This is really gross.... What's wrong with AOL to post such disgusting things like this, and who cares. Much like everything else they put on here nobody cares.... AT ALL!!!!!

punkycolour 10-18-2009 @ 2:52PM

Sadly, there is an idiot out there who will actually buy into this. The average female body gets rid of a potential placenta every 28 days. Are we supposed to be saving this as well?

Susan 10-18-2009 @ 2:56PM

Yuck. Stupid. Rip-off.

maryhmonroe 10-18-2009 @ 3:20PM

"Honor your afterbirth" ??? W T F people, in the wild, animals eat afterbirth for much needed nutrition, modern day human beings put it where it belongs, in the trash. The really stupid part of this is some people must actually be ordering these little teddy beat rip offs, Theodore Roosevelt must be turning over in his grave!!!

Ann 10-18-2009 @ 3:50PM

Why turn the placenta into a teddy bear. That's disgusting and not really green. I think it's better to save the placenta and spinal cord in case the baby needs it to cure a disease in the future. It's called cord blood banking and so much more valuable than what has to be the most awkward teddy bear in the world. Can you just imagine this conversation...

"Hey sweetie, you know that bear you were always dragging around, putting in your mouth, and cuddling when you were a baby... yeah that was your placenta."

Martesa 10-18-2009 @ 3:58PM

"A crafty alternative for those who don't necessarily want to eat their baby's placenta,..." Oh -- I just threw up a little in my throat. Is this becoming some sort of weird, new age trend, eating the placenta? Yeah, animals do it, but we have adequate food sources, so are folks actually doing this? I don't have children, so I'm not up on these things...

Second, "green" my a$$! Taking something that is naturally biodegradable, and putting it into something that is not? And the kid can't even play with it, so it has no functional use whatsoever.
STUPID!!!!!

Meka 10-18-2009 @ 4:04PM

unfortunately people actually do save and eat their placenta. i learned of this during my last pregnancy. there are actually placenta recipes if you google it you will find it. people usually have a big party/ ceremony where they cook up and eat it. I don't understand it but peoplein the USA does it. some people save the placents and have it turned to powder to eat beause its supposed to be healthy for you. when my dr asked if i wanted to see my placenta i said "no way!" lol.

watdafuk 10-18-2009 @ 4:01PM

Yea that's pretty foul.

BoredinOC 10-18-2009 @ 4:08PM

"preparation of the placenta so it may be transformed into a teddy bear. The placenta must be cut in half and rubbed with sea salt to cure it. After it is dried out, it is treated with an emulsifying mixture of tannin and egg yolk to make it soft and pliable" @@@@@@ WTF?!?! and do I get to do this?!?! omg just throw me in front of a speeding train now - i've officially heard it all.

Riley 10-18-2009 @ 4:55PM

This is so disgusting. What's next, stuffed liver buddies from deceased loved ones?

Stefan 10-18-2009 @ 4:57PM

Meka said: "there are actually placenta recipes if you google it you will find it. "

Thats not placenta, it's POLENTA... a dish made of boiled cornmeal.

alicia 10-18-2009 @ 6:08PM

noo u can find placenta recipes online for the mothers placenta and how to prepare it....

steph 10-18-2009 @ 5:13PM

Ok people Im now sick to my stomach and dinner is off for the night. That is the worst idea ever! After the birth of my second child, I sat up and saw my placenta in a bucket. It was GROSS!! Now lets make it all pretty and give it to kids! WTH!!! I did learn about eating it during my last pregnancy and was disgusted. Partys for it, now bears? Save it and the cord blood in case your child gets sick. Not make it into a bear! People are completely insane!! But the guy who thought of it knows it and will profit from it now.

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