Breastfeeding Doll?

[diggitydot]

Yeah, I breastfed because it was easiest, too.

Depending on the patient population, I can see large groups of moms not breastfeeding. DH's patient population includes everything from HIV+ crack-addicted prostitutes to traditional mom-dad-kids families, and everything else in between. His residency sees lots of non-compliant peeps who aren't always terribly concerned with being healthy.

[GrayMatterWife]

I didn't see how anyone could have a problem with it but then I read this quote: but some moms have expressed negative opinions toward the doll calling it "morally unacceptable" and "another disgusting example of forcing adulthood on our children decades before they're ready to absorb it." Morally unacceptable? How so?
.

I join in your confusion.

And yet once again, our culture sees sexuality in everything. The only way this doll could be construed as "forcing adulthood" on a child is to connect it to something sexual. Buying a doll designed to imitate breastfeed is no more "forcing adulthood" on a little girl than buying her toy pots and pans. But because this toy reminds people that women have boobs, people get hysterical. Never mind the fact that it is the imitation of a completely unsexual act.

[DCJenn]

We TRY to get the methadone moms to breastfeed for lots of reasons but 99% of the time their 'men' insist that they stop. So very frustrating.

But back to the topic at hand. Seems like there are lots of other things to find morally repugnant if one wants to - sometimes a doll is just a doll, to paraphrase our friend Freud.

Jenn

[ides]

I think the doll is stupid. It should do more than breastfeed. It should pee & have poop blowouts & cry too. Maybe squirm around when being held.

I breastfed not because it was easy for me but because I was adamant about it. To each their own. I think a lot of people bottle feed because its easier. Not all, but some certainly & that's ok too.

[ladymoreta]

I guess I kind of like the idea of the doll, if it can help prevent another generation from thinking breastfeeding is immoral and sexual. But like many have posted, I probably wouldn't pay extra for a doll specifically for breastfeeding, when any doll would work.

[Thirteen]

Isn't it interesting that an adult woman exposing her breasts is okay, as long as society dictates that the context is "appropriate?"
(Spring Break, Marti Gras, Cinematic Entertainment, etc.) versus feeding another human being.

*facepalm*

[alison]

Ouch--moms who want it easier give their kids formula?
I don't know, but for me, I HAD to supplement with formula, because I didn't have enough milk for dd.

Is pumping every two hours (every 4 at night) to stimulate milk production lazy...?

Please tell me it isn't. We've got to stop making moms feel guilty for the choices they make.

Someone get me one of these dolls!

I think this doll is stupid. Sheesh who is going to spend 100 bucks on a stupid doll. Call me cheap or just a wife to a 3rd year, but 100 bucks for a doll. If we had any daughters they would get the cheap 10 buck or less doll. She the could pretend with a cheap doll and save me money,
" We've got to stop making moms feel guilty for the choices they make." I agree with this statement. I have a sister-in-law that is one of those "better than thou moms" and goes around judging ladies for not breastfeeding. Even though I breastfeed all my boys there were times they had good old formula.
Anyway, What will they think of next? Maybe I shouldn't ask.

[cylverdust]

I am like you guys, I don't see anything wrong with the doll. I personally would not buy it. My little one who is 2.5 yrs, pretends to bf her babydoll or brings it to me and puts it under my shirt.. LOL. It is what she knows. I don't see what is wrong with the doll. I think that like others stated they are turning it into something it is not. But that is the good OLE US of A.

I love this country but sometimes the people here make me crazy. This is one of those times. Are these people bored and have nothing else to complain about.

[diggitydot]

Alison - my sister had the same issue with both of her kids. She would have gladly breastfed if she would have been able to do so. Personally, I think formula (whether for supplementing or not) is WAY more work.

Sometimes there isn't a choice in the matter when it's a case of getting enough calories into little bodies. Formula is better than starvation.

[Michele]

The moral outrage at children being exposed to breastfeeding always makes me think of a T-shirt I saw once that read "Jesus was breastfed."

[Vanquisher]

Ouch--moms who want it easier give their kids formula?
I don't know, but for me, I HAD to supplement with formula, because I didn't have enough milk for dd.

Is pumping every two hours (every 4 at night) to stimulate milk production lazy...?

Please tell me it isn't. We've got to stop making moms feel guilty for the choices they make.

Someone get me one of these dolls!

Here, here! Two kids, two separate medical issues that prevented breast feeding. My son would have died without having the ability to bottle feed with a severe tongue tie. I was septic with recurrent mastitis with my daughter, and I would have died back before antibiotics.

People suck. There is nothing wrong with breast feeding, but bottle feeding is not evil either.


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[SuzySunshine]

Alison & Heidi and I'm right there with you - I pumped like a fool to breastfeed my kids and it just didn't work. I made it to 4 months with A and only 8 weeks with R. I just have to remember that people make sweeping statements and don't think about the people who medically aren't able to breastfeed. Everyone thinks its so natural, which it is, IF your body cooperates. Much like getting pregnant is so natural, IF your body cooperates.

I wouldn't buy a doll specifically for breastfeeding, I think that is silly. There is no reason a specific doll is needed for a child to pretend that.

[scarlett09]

Ouch--moms who want it easier give their kids formula?
I don't know, but for me, I HAD to supplement with formula, because I didn't have enough milk for dd.

Is pumping every two hours (every 4 at night) to stimulate milk production lazy...?

Please tell me it isn't. We've got to stop making moms feel guilty for the choices they make.

Someone get me one of these dolls!

No one should feel guilty for the choices that they make with regards to feeding their child! A mother wants her child to survive and thrive and will do anything to ensure that happens. And I certainly hope that my previous statement did not make anyone feel that way.

The moms that DH was referring to are misinformed, low SES teenage mothers he comes into contact with who believe that formula feeding is "easier" than breastfeeding. Its not that there is anything wrong with formula feeding, it is that they are dead set against even trying the other option.

[GrayMatterWife]

I didn't find anything here particularly moralizing. But, FWIW: I bottlefed (about 25% calories from pumped milk, 75% formula) because I hated breastfeeding and it was a PITA and nearly impossible to do well with my job. And I don't feel this least bit guilty and I don't need to justify my choice. If someone thinks I'm lazy or a bad mom, they clearly know nothing about me, so who cares? Sounds like THEIR issue, not mine.