And finally, a random story and a question
Random Story:
FIL was over babysitting DD yesterday morning while I brought DS to an appointment. When I was making lunch, this is the conversation we had:
FIL: I saw on (insert morning talk show) that 7 year olds are playing with dolls that *breastfeed*. I think that is so inappropriate.
Me: I actually don't think it's that inappropriate. It's just a doll.
FIL:But for a 7 year old?
Me: Would it be ok for a 7 year old to have a doll that drank from a bottle?
FIL(indignant): That's not the same thing!
Me: But it's a baby doll eating, right?
FIL(authoritatively): But dolls in bikinis are still inappropriate.
So here's the question: Am I crazy to find nothing inappropriate with a doll that simulates breastfeeding?
ETA: I think this may be what he was referring to:
Re: And finally, a random story and a question
I don't think it's inappropriate! I think it's awesome!!!
Now, as long as mom/dad teach the 7 year old not to do it in public (only because it's not real and you don't want a 7 year old showing stuff off, obviously) then I see nothing wrong with it
ETA: OH! I was thinking the 7 year old was breastfeeding a doll!!! In that case, yeah absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. It's just a doll and it's (well suppose to be) human nature to breastfeed!! Maybe if more kids played with these dolls there wouldn't be so much weirdness involved with it
FIL was nothing short of astonished I didn't find that shockingly inappropriate.
And DH wonders why we struggle to get along.
Sorry, but I agree with your FIL. I think the last poster's comment about teaching them not to do it in public illustrates that. While I think real breastfeeding is natural and appropriate, I feel like a breastfeeding doll kind of sexualizes kids. I know, breastfeeding isn't about sex. But I personally want to teach my kids to keep their shirts down. All the time. Kids aren't so great at distinguishing the subtleties of what makes one situation appropriate and another doing essentially the same thing inappropriate. This is all just opinion though so I'm fine if no one agrees with me.
Oh, I just saw your picture. I am fine with that doll; because, as I said I am fine with the act of breastfeeding. But unlike the other poster, I would discourage my child from "breastfeeding" her dolls just to be consistent about modesty.
Ask Babyluv & Joes about my 7 year old feeding her baby doll. Boobs are for babies. Or, in Korra's case, baby dolls.
To contrast and politely disagree, I think that educating children at a young age that breastfeeding is completely normal would go a long way in preventing what we're seeing now with all these people going "Ewww! Breastfeeding gross and unnatural!"
I am totally cool with breastfeeding everywhere and anywhere. If my son expressed an interest in a breastfeeding doll I would be the last person to deny him and I would probably only deny him because I've heard that doll is $100 (!!!!!) and he has other stuffed animals that he can breastfeed. Heck, even my husband told me that he thought that BFing women are awesome and said that if he was capable of it, he'd pitch in too.
We'll never get past the thinking that BFing is unnatural if we keep telling our kids it is and discouraging them.
2011 Reading Challenge
I agree 100%.
He was probably talking about this:
https://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Breast-milk-baby-causing-large-controversy/B_Y0kfUSBkWX86yxD-TXlw.cspx
The child wears a "bra" that has flower shaped "nipples" on it and the baby doll is brought to the nipple and then makes mouth movements/sucking sound.
If you want to buy one: https://thebreastmilkbaby.com/
This.
And while I am all for children learning to BF and think it's natural and normal and beautiful I'm not so sure I'd be cool with my (theoretical at this point) daughter wearing a bra with things that look like pasties on it.