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Let's talk about that "breastfeeding doll."

Lisa Belkin writes about "Bebe Gloton," the doll that makes a sucky noise and mouth movement when placed next to plastic flower-shapes that are positioned at nipple level on a shirt to be worn by a little girl (or ? I might add ? boy):

Dr. Ronald Cohen, medical director for the Mother?s Milk Bank in San Jose as well as director of the intermediate intensive care nursery at Lucile Packard Children?s Hospital at Stanford University, told ABC News, ?My take is that anything which reminds young girls that their bodies are something other, and more, than sex objects, is a very good thing.? In the next sentence he added: ?On the other hand, encouraging young girls to want to have babies at a very young age may not be so great.?

Don't all baby dolls do that?!

Here's video showing the doll ? and The Today Show's Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford ? in action:

I think it's pretty tame, actually. In any case, little girls (and boys!) who see their mothers breastfeeding younger siblings are likely to put their dolls up to their nipples and pretend to breastfeed. You don't need the additional technology to get that effect. My main objection to the doll is that it is annoying. I'd try not to buy kids toys that make irritating sounds. Leave more to the imagination.

And speaking of annoying sounds... Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford... yeesh!

Full post as published by Althouse on August 10, 2009 (boomark / email).