i'm a firm believer in only having toys in my house which align with my life ideals. And, I do really believe that unfortunately, having dollies bottles normalises bottlefeeding at a very basic level, and don't believe in dolls coming with bottles.[/quote]

i feel like that too (in theory, cos i have a young baby, so haven't been tested out yet by the "I wants" and "everyone else at kinder has one" etc yet that i guess happens when they get older and are out in the world.

i wonder, even if I buy her toys that align with my life ideals, well, will that make the things that i DON"T buy her, more attractive? ie you always want what you can't have.

getting back to the breastfeeding or bottle fed dolly, i am not sure where i stand on that one, but i do think it would be nice if kids were aware of both methods as options, cos breastfeeding is not easy, and for many reasons, not all women can do it, or do it for as long as they want to. It's a really murky area, not at all black n white. I am still b/f-ing at 8 months into my bub's life, but it has been a struggle for me virtually the whole time. Sometimes the "choice" is made for you too, due to health factors.

So i lean towards teaching a child that there are a few ways of feeding the bubby. I've never had a todller, so for all i know, that might be too advanced for them, but i guess i'm looking for a middle ground.

(E.g i was dead keen on baby slings, to bond etc, but my back and wrists just couldn't cope, so i've had to work out different ways of bonding with my baby, and try NOT to feel like a failure cos i couldn't do the sling/carrier thing.)

I aim to buy my bub dolls made out of fabric not plastic, and more realistic in size and look, but have no idea (until we are actually in the situation) - whether she will throw tantrums about NOT having a highly advertised, highly marketed plastic doll, when she is able to verbalise etc.

I would be more opposed to the bottle along the terms of it being made out of plastic (fumes, landfill etc).

wow, having a baby sure has brought out my concern for the environment! can't believe how much becoming a mum has politicised my thought processes. makes me think about the world my bub will live in when i'm dead and gone.

i'm prolly SO off topic, feel free to ignore!