Toys

The Breast Feeding Baby Doll

Bebe Gloton, translated to mean Baby Glutton or Greedy Baby, has been the subject of much controversy in America; although it's designed and sold in Spain. Why? This particular baby doll let's children mimic breast-feeding. Each doll comes equipped with a halter top for the 'nursing mommy'. It has 2 sensory flowers where the nipples would be and the kids can put the baby to the flowers. The baby doll then makes a suckling sound and coos to assure it's mommy that it's enjoying the breast milk and getting well fed.

I am torn on the debate over whether this is okay or not and thought I would share a few opinions. The makers of Bebe Gloton are very happy with its success and are trying to get an overseas patent so it could be available in America. Americans are outraged because 1. U.S. people sexualize everything, and 2. They find the entire concept weird and unnecessary. While these arguments may be true, I'm leaning toward Spain's retort. It's completely natural to breast-feed and kids will usually imitate their parents anyway; especially when a little girl sees her mother breast-feeding a younger sibling.

There's nothing sexual about nourishment or a child's curiosity as to where their younger siblings or other babies get food. My only complaint is the flowery nipples which kind of resemble pasties and that's not something I want to see on a 10 year old. Bottle-feeding dolls are popular, as are the baby dolls that pee like living babies, so why should we make another completely natural act a dirty one?

Plenty of kids NOW pretend to nurse their dolls without the use of fancy sensory devices so why should this doll cause such a ripple in our society? They're not asking you to teach your kids the miracle of childbirth by natural practices but they are implying Americans should have a more open-mind when it comes to accepting a normal process.