Don’t be so sure about not needing that doll for your son. My bff’s son used to “breastfeeding” his stuffed tiger. My girls played breastfeeding with their dolls, no noises necessary.

My seven were 100% breastfed and several of my daughters occasionally pretended to nurse whatever baby doll was handy at the time.  They also had a cloth sling and a frontpack carrier with which to practice attachment parenting.  I always threw away the toy bottles that came with gift dolls.  I figured they would see that in public anyway.  That being said, I think the doll would be more appropriate for childbirth, nursing, and/or infant massage classes for ADULTS than for children.  The halter thing is way weird.

I like it!  Don’t little kids do this with their dolls anyway when they see their mommy nursing a younger sibling?  I think the “grossed out” reaction that some people are having over the doll is a result of the over sexualization of the breasts that our society has undergone.  Breasts are primarily for feeding babies; they are not just for sex.

Simcha Fischer did an article on this about 3 weeks ago: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/this-is-why-my-children-play-with-rocks-and-dirt/

and I agree, the nipple/flower things are creepy.

Well, I thought it was kind of weird when I first heard of it, but the price tag pushes that way over into “who-would-ever-buy-that??” territory for me!  My kids both nurse whatever doll or stuffed animal they have handy and that’s way cheaper.  Besides, I’m not much of a one for toys that DO stuff anyway - the fewer noises a toy makes via batteries the better.  So the fact that this doll apparently has the sole function of being nursed just knocks it off my list of “good idea” toys; I’d prefer a basic doll that the kid can pretend whatever with, rather than one that is so focused on one thing.  A kid who’s going to nurse a doll doesn’t need the halter top to do it…

I have to agree with the Chicago Tribune article, and with those who think the nipple/flower things are creepy.  My daughter and one of my sons were observed “nursing” baby dolls when they were little… no fake sucking noises necessary.  I, too, threw away the bottles that came with dolls, but still believe that the example of their Mom and their aunts who breastfed was what would truly influence the attitudes of my children in favor of this beautiful, natural practice.

I agree with Simcha that you don’t need a toy to teach children practices such as breastfeeding.  They can learn by example and pretend to breastfeed any doll.

Personally I would never buy a doll that “did” stuff…except maybe the ones that say “mama” (maybe).  No baby in this house, but somehow, my almost 4 yo daughter has figured it out and was walking around with a baby doll up her shirt…not pregnant, but nursing.  No flower nipples necessary.  But there are people who buy dolls that do other bodily functions…not my cup of tea, but if people didn’t buy them, people wouldn’t make them.

I fall into the “ewww” category—at least in terms of the fake nipple halter.  That’s just over the top for me.  That said, my three-year-old has breastfeed every doll and stuffed animal in the house and it’s not only normal in my book, but positive.  Michelle I’m with you too—none of our dolls “do” anything and I plan on keeping it that way!  : )

I agree with the other mommies.  My daughter ‘breastfeeds’ her dolls all the time.  No creepy flower pasties or digital sound effects needed.  In my situation it is a case of monkey see, monkey do. I suppose I could see this doll as something for children who’s mom didn’t breastfeed for whatever the reason was. To expose those children to breastfeeding.

I’m also in the “eww” category, and also in the category of moms whose girls “nurse” their regular dolls and don’t see the point of spending $89 for a doll that simulates nursing.  I am also not one to buy a doll that “tinkles” or needs a pamper change.  I don’t see why playing with dolls needs to be so “realistic” anyways.

Like Anna, “I’d prefer a basic doll that the kid can pretend whatever with, rather than one that is so focused on one thing.” 

That goes for any toy.  I hate toys that will only do one thing.  They’re interesting for all of 5 minutes.  Then no one plays with them anymore.

This doll isn’t so bad, you can still put it in a stroller, sit it in a high chair, carry it in a sling, etc… but some of the toys out there are terrible.

That said, I prefer a regular doll to that one.  Works just as well.

I find this creepy - I am a mother of three girls with one on the way. Do we really have to have such realistic toys. Babies do lots of things that I do not need a doll to replicate. And the halter…. Yikes! I love the comment about the change of clothes and leaking… haha.

Don’t care for the halter. Children will imitate nursing without accessories. My daughter, however, loves her doll that came with a comb, a cup, a bib, etc.

Thank you, everyone, for keeping such a level head about this! I know someone who wanted this doll banned so “perverts” wouldn’t use it as bait to lure little girls into their car. Um, should we ban candy too?
Another objection is it supposedly conditions girls into motherhood at such an early age, but nobody’s been able to explain how THIS doll is any different from any other baby doll in that respect.
We’ll never have the doll here because of the price tag. I can support breastfeeding education without spending $89 on a single-purpose toy. The halter/bra? Yes, I find that creepy. The doll itself? Not so much.

Does anyone know how successful sales are?  Like some of the earlier commenters, I wonder if the company is just taking advantage of the fact that breastfeeding happens to be the trendy thing to do now.  On the other hand, I would think that most super pro-breastfeeding people would also tend to fall in no-toys-that-“do”-stuff camp, and thus wouldn’t be attracted to this doll, creepy or not.

Elizabeth,
I take umbrage at what you say.  I have 10 kids who all breastfed beyond 2yrs and adult sons with really healthy attitudes towards breastfeeding and they all think it’s creepy.  The fact is: this is sexualizing little girls. Children who have seen their mother breastfeed just pretend on their own. They don’t need a prosthetic breast to give it more realism.

It’s good to know I am not the only mother that throws away the plastic bottles that they get with the baby-doll! Thank you for sharing.