Really Pants

Fury over New Breastfeeding Doll

A new doll just launched in Spain has caused outrage amongst the Royal College of Midwives. The doll comes complete with a halter style top, with flowers as a symbol of nipples, and youngsters must cradle the doll to one of the flowers in order to quieten its crying. Read on…

However, the doll has sparked heavy criticism from the Royal College of Midwives, who claim that other methods should be used to teach a child about breastfeeding. 

Janet Fyle, a Royal College of Midwives advisor, said: “I think that there are other ways to educate and normalise breastfeeding to young children rather than get them to mimic breastfeeding.

“Across the world breastfeeding is an everyday activity that children see all around them, at home, in cafes, in bus shelters. They then take this on board without even thinking about it because it is a normal part of their life experience.

“However, parents must decide for themselves if a doll is the most appropriate method to raise awareness of breastfeeding.”

However, I for one would certainly dispute the second paragraph, as actually public breastfeeding is not seen as much as it perhaps should be, because many mothers are too embarrassed, or fearful of prejudice to do so. So how ‘normalised’ breastfeeding is to youngsters is clearly debatable.

No doubt there are many children across the world who like to mimic feeding their dolls the natural way- even my 2 year old does it from time to time, when shes not carrying her doll around in her mini Mei-Tai carrier that is! And I seem no harm in that whatsoever, why would I?

Do we need a doll specifically designed to mimic breastfeeding? Probably not, but I certainly do not see this doll as any worse or uneccesary than the ones that come with a little plastic bottle for them to suck from…

It has been claimed however that this toy could lead to early pregnancies, with girls enjoying playing with it so much that it will encourage them to want one of their own. But lets be honest now, kids are having kids all over the place, so is this toy really going to make that much of an impact on that?!

Put it this way, if my daughter had to have any new doll, I would rather it be this doll, than one equipped with a dummy and plastic bottle any day….

Do share your thoughts on this one!