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Breast Milk Baby Doll Teaches Kids to Breast-Feed
Filed under: In The News, Weird But True, Toys
Are you one of these people who find yourself ever-so creeped out by the sight of a woman breast-feeding her baby in public?
Oh, you ain't see nothing yet.
Picture a 7-year-old girl -- or boy, for that matter -- strapping on little flowered falsies so a baby doll can suckle the imaginary breasts -- complete with slurping and gurgling sounds.
A lot of adults could do without that particular image.
However, the folks at Berjuan Toys in Spain think their new Breast Milk Baby is a dandy way to teach children how to breast-feed an infant. After all, you don't want to start second grade without mastering that skill.
"The Breast Milk Baby will revolutionize our nation's attitudes to good infant health, while letting little girls share in the wonder and magic of motherhood," company executives write on their website. "The Breast Milk Baby lets young girls express their love and affection in the most natural way possible, just like Mommy!"
For $99, kids get a very hungry doll and an apron-like top with painted flowers in lieu of nipples.
Not everyone likes this concept.
"Only a morally corrupt so-called parent would condone/justify this doll being sold and marketed for young girls who have yet to reach puberty and menstruation age," posts one reader in response to a story in the New York Daily News.
But one father tells "Good Morning America" he thinks the doll is a good idea.
"We've got another baby due in June, and I think it's going to be a really neat way for our daughter Grace to identify and connect with Mom," J.C. Renners tells the news program. "It's an interesting concept."
Dennis Lewis, the U.S. spokesman for Berjuan Toys, tells the San Francisco Chronicle some people have even filed complaints on behalf of God. But he's not convinced God is all that miffed.
"About 20 percent of the messages have been hateful and mean," he tells the Chronicle. "We're being called perverts and pedophiles for promoting feeding our babies the way God intended? Churches all over the world are filled with images of Mary nursing baby Jesus, and yet we can't imagine letting our daughters learn how important breast-feeding is for our society?"
America clearly has a problem with breasts, he adds.
"As Americans we've been duped into believing there's something shameful and taboo about breast-feeding, but the truth is that this idea was created to sell more baby formula," he tells the Chronicle. "The Breast Milk Baby is a serious product, created by a small family-owned Christian toy manufacturer who strongly believes in the benefits of feeding babies the natural God-given way. Our dolls are beautiful and well made, and we're proud of them."
"We stand by our statement: Little girls need to learn to breast-feed."
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ReaderComments (Page 3 of 12)
3-30-2011 @ 5:12PM
majoaon said...You know....little kids that see their moms or other moms breast feed imitate it anyway.....this is a perfect opportunity to discuss reproduction and how the body works while still being age appropriate.....I dont see any issue with being open and honest about something as natural as breast-feeding with ones children.
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3-30-2011 @ 7:40PM
Maria said...Exactly, maybe that way you can put the seed about the care of a baby so they would not end pregnat at 16-18, that is sadly most usual now
3-30-2011 @ 2:31PM
Bob Hayynes said...Sick liberals
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3-31-2011 @ 11:00PM
Martesa said...To Bob Hayynes, who said, "Sick liberals." That is just an ignorant, knee jerk response on your part, with no intelligent thought behind it. You couldn't verbalize an articulate response to this "toy," so you just automatically go to blaming it on the liberals? In fact, the guy fromt the toy company seems to be trying to appeal to the right wing conservative Christians by equating this toy with Mary feeding Jesus. Try actually thinking for a change. And those RW conservatives who brought on behalf of "God" as the plaintiff are just foolish -- of course that suit is not going to be taken seriously. Better a group of specialists in child development or a concerned parents' group be cited as the plaintiffsNow, having said that, I, as a "sick liberal," find this "toy" repulsive. It is not "beautiful" and teaching girls about breast-feeding the way God intended. Little girls don't need to know that yet! They'll learn about that when they actually have breasts and children. Certainly, little girls who are big sisters mimic Mom breast-feeding with their dolls, and that's fine. It's private, it's a chance for an age-appropriate conversation between mom and daughter. Having a little girl strap on a pair of fake breasts starts to sexualize them even earlier than they already are these days, and encourages them to start thinking about this behavior too young. Already young girls who hit puberty sometimes want their own baby to love them unconditionally -- I can see this feeding into that. And, strapping these things on and playing with breast-feeding in public (as girls will throw tantrums to take their favorite toy, so it won't necessarily stay at home) further calls attention to the girls as a sexual object for pedophiles. I hope the price of this keeps people from buying this (or common sense), and the company suffers a huge loss. Just thinking about this "toy" gives me the creeps!
3-30-2011 @ 3:54PM
Renee said...You got it Bob!!! Exactly!
3-31-2011 @ 1:26PM
sarahb said...Why in the world would a child need to experience breast feeding a baby??? When you have a baby, believe me, it will show you in 2 seconds how to feed it. Let your child be a child as long as possible. If you are lucky, you will have it 18 years and then it out!!!.
Enjoy those moments of you doing the adult things and the child doing the child things while you have the opportunity. God knows, they grow up faster than really want them too.
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3-30-2011 @ 2:31PM
petey said...let's face it,some parents are just dumb asses,plain and simple.What's next,copulating dolls?
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3-30-2011 @ 2:35PM
Portia said...This is THE MOST outrageous thing I've EVER heard of..Why are we not allowing children to be children..When I was the age of these actors I NEVER thougt of breast feeding a baby. I was too busy being a child..This outrages me completely.
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3-30-2011 @ 2:34PM
sugarkane said...Stupid, stupid, stupid. What's next? Dolls that simulate sex?
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3-30-2011 @ 7:41PM
Maria said...They almost have them, haven't you seen bratz brand?? They look like sluts, and I have never see anyone critize them...
3-30-2011 @ 2:38PM
Deborah said...I think it's a great idea. My daughter pretending to breastfeed her regular babydolls just like she saw Mommy do after our second child was born. It's an awesome, natural thing.
It's amazing to me how young girls can display practically their full breasts and guys can prance around with their boxers showing in public and there is not so much negativity.
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3-30-2011 @ 3:13PM
Patti said...You have GOT to be kidding me. With all of the human trafficking of children, the endless dangers of pedophiles, and the forever consuming obsession most men have with breasts, I can already picture this being bought up by the dozens as props for child porn. Think of the poor children forced into acts with this thing for the camera. For a child to be introduced to nurturing with a doll is natural and endearing, but with the sexual innuendo breasts hold now, I feel this doll should be banned.
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3-30-2011 @ 4:51PM
nikielizabeth said...So it's totally ok for girls to have bratz dolls and sweet talking ken dolls (it's real go look), but to address the normal topics of nursing, or the fuss people made over the barbie that was pg is inappropiate?
So instead of changing societies inappropiate views - we ban the dolls. Isn't that healthy?? Women give birth, and women nurse babies - little girls are naturally interested in this. If you have to bottle feed that's fine, but we were created to nurse children. Maybe we shouldn't have little girls wear swimming suits and dresses that are modeled after adult revealing clothing - or give our girls impossibly size barbies and brat hussy dolls...
Bodies and how they work aren't the problem - the way we allow our minds to be shaped are.
3-30-2011 @ 2:42PM
T said...I believe we would all agree that breastfeeding far outweighs the benefits of formula and I don't think anyone is denying that this is the way GOD intended for us to nourish our babies, however, the Bible also says do things in decency and in order. Why can't we just allow our young girls to grow up and experience a childhood and having fun as a little kid? Why is our society always so ready to plant seeds in our children that cause them to focus on things that make them grow up too fast? That's what's wrong with a lot of our children today. We need to re-evaluate!
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3-30-2011 @ 2:41PM
Openminded said...You know....little kids that see their moms or other moms breast feed imitate it anyway.....this is a perfect opportunity to discuss reproduction and how the body works while still being age appropriate.....I dont see any issue with being open and honest about something as natural as breast-feeding with ones children. People always want to make what seems natural (EVEN to children) as something perverted or inappropriate....I've never understood this....my parents were very open and honest and answered any questions I ever had with patience, understanding and without being judgemental....and I thank them for it because I didnt turn out to be a young mother but when I reached the age of exploring my sexual curiosities (which as a parent you HAVE to come to terms with...they are NOT going to stay young forever) I was more responsible with it.....didnt end up a teen mom or with some horrible disease and understood that there is a time and place for everything.....this is something I think todays parents lack......bravo for the company standing by their product.
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3-30-2011 @ 5:33PM
acopperapples2 said...ya'll flipping crazy, and you wonder whyyyyyyyyyyyyy, this world and our kids are going off the deep end. They are KIDS, time for that down the road and a loving mom will encourage her daughter to try breast feeding wihich is the best but then now now. heck you got a bikini for a 7 yr old when she gets knocked up who taught her that it was only a game idiots
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3-30-2011 @ 2:43PM
Trisha said...I just don't see why this is necessary. "It teaches children to nurture"? Well, don't regular dolls do that? I can see a child mimicking as mom nurses a sibling, just as a boy would copy dad shaving, but to make a doll just for that reason? Again, I just don't feel it's necessary or appropriate and I nursed all three of my children. Go figure?
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3-30-2011 @ 2:42PM
Lynn said...This is wonderful. Americans are so far behind. It is just like the little girl uses a fake bottle to feel her doll baby, but she does the real, natural, God given way of feeding her doll baby. She is being trained to do what is natural. We are too ashamed of our bodies in this country. She can pretend she is pregnant, but not feed her doll baby? Children can watch dogs and cats and other animals feeding on thier moms, but not do it themselves? It is a good thing!!
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3-30-2011 @ 2:46PM
surfin_n_draggin said...I believe this is one of the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse isn't it?! Along with PMS Barbie!
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3-30-2011 @ 2:45PM
Sue said...This is appalling! Breast-feeding is fine when you're the mother and infant has come out of your body, but teaching kids to do this and encourage more breast attention at 7 years old is insane! Let kids be innocent little kids and play with their dolls like children used to and have been for hundreds of years. Enjoy the family friendly site HTtp://www.childrenshealthsecrets.com and their super-cute Saving Sheep.
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