If Barbie features prominently on the wish list of a little person in your life, you might be interested to know that a mum in Australia has created a line of breastfeeding Barbie dolls.
The Mail reports:
Betty Strachan, from Brisbane, has turned her once-hobby of repainting dolls into a business, selling breastfeeding, pregnant and parenting dolls on her Etsy shop.
Betty writes on her Etsy page:
"Hello, my name is Betty. I am a 28 year old mother of two and I live in Brisbane, Australia."
"Growing up, it always struck me as odd that there wasn't as much diversity in the doll world as there could or should be. Not every child is born with blonde hair and blue eyes. Some have freckles, some have gaps in their teeth. When I became a mother, seeing the effect of the toys children are exposed to first hand, I noticed that the lack of diversity could be potentially damaging psychologically. A girl with brown skin and dark eyes may look at a light skinned doll and wonder why it's classed as beautiful and she is not."
"After discovering the doll community, I started experimenting with repainting dolls to achieve a more natural and diverse look and now, I am here to share them with you."
I wasn't sure what to make of this idea when I first read the headline but I think the dolls are beautiful and I'd definitely consider buying a doll like for my daughter when she's a little older. If I were having any more children I'd love a doll like this to help my daughter understand motherhood and prepare for being a big sister.
But what's your view? Are you a fan of these kind of unconventional dolls – or does the idea of a breastfeeding Barbie not appeal to you? Have your say by leaving us a comment below or come and join the conversation over on our Facebook page.
How is this even a question. It's human nature, how do you think children fed before the days of baby formula? Of course I would buy one.