Coming soon to a toy store near you!
Breast Milk Baby has been flying off the shelves in Europe for years, and the Spain-based company, Berjuan Toys has announced plans to bring the nursing doll to US retailers.
Here’s how it works: Each doll comes with a halter-top for the child, decorated with two flowers carefully positioned where the nipples would be. The doll then makes motions and suckling sounds when the sensor in its mouth comes close to sensors inside the flowers.
Available in both genders and three different skin colors, the six types of Breast Milk Babies are currently on sale all over Europe and available online for $89. Recommended for boys and girls age 2 and older, company spokesperson Dennis Lewis says, “Although we usually only think about little girls playing with dolls, the truth is that boys need to acquire healthy nurturing skills as well.”
There’s been plenty of criticism from this side of the pond, including complaints that Breast Milk Baby introduces young children to baby-making far too soon. Some have even called the doll “perverted”.
Lewis answers, “We just believe breastfeeding is normal, and that’s exactly what our beautiful dolls promote. Children learn by playing, and if they learn that the best way to feed a baby is by breastfeeding, it will be an easy, natural choice for them when they grow up. What could possibly be wrong about a child learning this from an early age?”
We tend to agree. This isn’t sex ed, it’s nutrition ed. Breastfeeding has been proven to boost immunity, prevent infant disease, and even increase IQ. There’s no longer any debate that breast is best, so why not make it the default option when our kiddos play pretend? So many dolls come with the ubiquitous baby bottle (remember the magic disappearing milk of years ago?) — why not a breastfeeding halter instead?
This seems like another creative way to make breastfeeding the norm in the eyes of children and adults, and we’re all for it. How about you? Would you buy Breast Milk Baby for your child? How about for your son?
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From my long experience working with children, I’ve witnessed plenty of spontaneous ‘nursing play’. Children will ‘play’ nursing whether or not they have these more elaborate props, just as youngsters will try to craft slings to carry their babies from scarves or other available materials. In short: while a toy this elaborate isn’t probably necessary– imagination and a doll does just fine for children interested in playing this way, I don’t think it would be perverse in the least. Would I buy it for my son? He wouldn’t be interested… he’s on to dinosaurs and vehicles at this point, so a toy like this wouldn’t be respecting where his interests are now. That said, he does ask a lot about childbirth and so we’re answering those questions factually, honestly. And a product like this can likely help some children (especially younger ones) ‘relate’ to what mama is doing with that new baby in the family in a very tactile, hands-on way. Empathy and understanding through imitative play.