There is always some new hot toy that causes a bit of controversy. The latest of these toys is known as the “You and Me Mommy Change My Diaper Doll.” The doll, which lives up to its name, teaches little ones how to change a babies diaper. Sounds like a pretty suitable toy for a child right?
Well, the controversy lies within the body part of the doll…it’s anatomically correct and some parents aren’t happy about that. While most baby dolls are missing their genitalia, this particular doll is equipped with private parts, but there is no mention of this on the box. Parents are fuming because they feel like they at least need a warning about the added body parts.
The writer of Sheknows.com, Monica Beyer, disagrees with the controversy and doesn’t feel like exposing genitalia is a bad thing.
“What about a baby makes a penis or a vulva dirty or sexual?” Beyer said. “Because that’s what it sounds like when people say that it’s wrong for little girls to see it. The truth is, when a child points out the body part that she doesn’t have, all a parent is required to do is call it by its name.”
Beyer believes that when parents deny pointing out anatomy, then they are participating in body shaming. Sexologist, Dr. Logan Levkoff agrees with Beyer and believes that parents who omit these words are failing. Exposing a child to the universal name for a body part is solid parenting and it leads to better communication. An example of this would be if a child hurts in their private area, they need to be able to tell their parent and that involves using the name of the anatomy.
“That is something to complain about. Maybe you don’t care what your kids see but other parents do.”