Breastfeeding Doll?

I just came across an article about a breastfeeding doll.  As many of you who have taken the time to read my blog, I am very pro-breastfeeding.  I have breastfed my older son until he was 22 months old and am currently breastfeeding my 3-month old.  I have no problem breastfeeding in front of my older child because I believe that breastfeeding is a completely natural thing.  If he has any questions about it, I am happy to tell him that I am feeding the baby and that is how the baby eats.

However, I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about a doll that breastfeeds.  I don't have a daughter so this is probably not going to be something that I will be asked to buy.  If I did have a daughter, I would have no problem letting her "play" with her doll by pretending to breastfeed it by holding it up to her chest.  I find it a little uncomfortable that in this particular instance, a little girl can strap on a halter top with sensors that allows the baby to "breastfeed" complete with suckling sounds.  "The dolls, eight in all with a variety of skin tones and facial features, look like many others, until children don the little top with petal appliques at the nipples. That's where the sensors are located, setting off the suckling noise when the doll's mouth makes contact. It also burps and cries, but those sounds don't require contact at the breast."

I don't know, I think a big part of me finds this a little creepy.  I think this is taking pretending to breastfeed a little too far.  I don't think she needs to have fake "breasts" to pretend to breastfeed.  What do you think?  Would you let your daughter play with a toy that will allow her to "breastfeed?"

Yes on Proposition 37!

I hate getting political with my blog but this is one issue that you can vote on tomorrow that I believe transcends political parties and ideologies.  For voters in California, Proposition 37 is a ballot initiative that will require food to be labeled if it contains genetically modified organisms (GMO's).  "Fifty countries around the world—representing more than 40% of the world’s population---already require GMO labeling, including all of Europe, Japan, India and China."  Why aren't Americans allowed to know if their food contains GMO's?

The opposition to Proposition 37 is mainly funded by Monsanto, a Fortune 500 company that sell agricultural and vegetable seeds which have traits "developed through biotechnology."  They also manufacture "crop protection chemicals." This is rather contradictory since Monsanto has been known to support the labeling of GMO's in Britain.  Yet in the US, in opposition to Prop 37, they have been running ads indicating that this proposition will increase food costs.  Studies have been done in Europe (which requires labeling) and of the potential economic impact in the US.  These studies have shown that food prices did not increase as a result of this labeling.

This proposition will also not ban the selling of these foods.  It will just require them to be labeled as being genetically modified.  If GMO's are truly safe, why are they fighting the labeling requirement?  What are they trying to hide?  Why are they denying Californians (and by extension Americans) the right to choose what they eat ?  If this law is passed in California, it will be like a nationwide labeling requirement since manufacturers will not have separate labeling for their products sold in the state of California versus what is sold elsewhere.  If you do not live in California, contact your friends and family that do.  Passage of this law will also let you know if what you're eating contains GMOs.

I have written several blog posts about Genetically Modified Organisms (potential benefits and hazards), Monsanto and about Proposition 37.  I encourage you to read them by following this link.  The older posts are located on the bottom.  Just start from the bottom and work your way up.  As a mother who just wants to know what is in her food and make an informed decision, I urge you to vote YES ON 37!