Do you think companies should make some baby dolls marketed for boys?

1. 94

   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   Do you think companies should make some baby dolls marketed for boys?
   
   Since times have changed and it is now normal for a father to care for his child should companies start making little boy baby dolls to market to boys? All the current baby dolls are marketed to girls.
   
   

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2. 72

   GiblinGirlposted 11 years ago

   Interesting question.  I think doing so might help further promote the importance of family values but I think marketers would really have a tough time selling something like that.  Even though times are changing, I think they'd still be fighting a lot of stereotypes and stigmas.  I can see it happening some day, but not in the near future.

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3. 87

   MizBejabbersposted 11 years ago

   Oh, boy, that 's a good one. I'm not sure about marketing baby dolls per se for boys, but I do think there is a need for a more domestic type doll for boys. Right now about all they have are GI Joe and other action figures. Most boys wouldn't want to be caught playing with Ken, either, and after a certain age the action dolls are more appropriate. But for very small boys, I think domestic dolls are beneficial. My children's grandparents bought my boys each a baby doll when they were toddlers and they gave them up at an appropriate time. On the other hand, my little brother at about age 2 wanted a doll like my sister's doll. When my "very masculine" father wouldn't hear of his having one, he smashed her doll on a rock. It was a Christmas present and she was very hurt. She was only 3 years old. This problem would have been avoided if Daddy had let him have a doll.

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4. 73

   Rosana Modugnoposted 11 years ago

   I don't believe toy companies will agree to that simply because the customer base for boys wanting baby dolls isn't as high as for girls.  It's not stereotyping but more statistics and marketing is a numbers game.
   
   Also, I'd like to bring up a point;  why are we giving any credence to marketing or media in helping us choose what our children should be playing with?  If a boy wants a doll, it's ultimately up to the parent if he gets one, not up to the boy.  And if the parent wants to get one for his son, then get it.  He doesn't need a toy company commercial showing him "it's okay".

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   1. 94

      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Bluntly we depend on marketing because people are stupid. Unless the the media tells them it's ok for their son to have a doll they aren't likely to buy one. Sad but true.

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5. 61

   benisan85745posted 11 years ago

   Well, they did come out with the "My Buddy" doll for boys, but that pretty much ensured that you would grow up alone and weird. MizBeJabbers, has is right, G.I. Joe is by far the most and only acceptable "doll" for boys. Men, however, collect action figures from their childhood, but again, it goes back to being weird and alone.

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6. 87

   Novel Treasureposted 11 years ago

   My husband was a stay at home dad while I finished school and I think that influenced my 2 year old son greatly, and in a positive way. He loves to play house and "mom and dad" with his older sister, in addition to playing with trucks and bugs.
   
   They take the babies and cook dinner, or go to the grocery store, he even took the babies outside to push him on the swingset. We have babies that are dressed in blue and green so they aren't as girly as the pink ones.
   
   So, I think it would be great if they marketed babies to all kids, not just for girls. What a great question!

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7. 76

   Nettlemereposted 11 years ago

   It might be a start if they produced some baby dolls that are male and marketed them neutrally. Maybe there are some these days (it's a long time since I looked), but when I was in the market for dolls they were all female.

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8. 67

   iheartkafkaposted 11 years ago

   I have no doubt that toy comapnies have already considered this product. If, based on market research, it seemed to be a profitable endevour, they would be offered to the public, but clearly, the demand is just not there.
   
   While I agree that "times are changing" and some men are assuming a greater responsiblity for caring for their children, I do think there is an inherent difference in the way boys and girls like to play (generally speaking). I honestly didn't believe this was the case until having children of my own.
   
   For example, I have 17 month old twin boys and my best friend has a girl who is 16 months. Our toddlers play together all the time and they are always exposed to each other's toys (ie: traditional "girl" and "boy" toys). My friend's daughter is very eager to sit and feed her baby doll; my boys, on the other hand, can't wait to get their hands on the baby just so they can throw it across the room.
   
   If one of my boys ever expressed interest in a doll, then no problem...we'd get him a doll. I think this issue has less to do with societal stigma and more to do with demand for the product.

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9. 0

   Larry Wallposted 11 years ago

   They already do. They are called action figures.

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