How do you feel about barbie dolls?

[denaverbena]

Just curious. Wondering if I'm the only one who hates them. New toys are showing up form MIL almost everyday Lately its barbie dolls. I would never buy barbie dolls for DD, but wondering if I should make a stand about it or not. Plastic toys aren't a favorite of mine as it is, add a way to skinny doll with big boobs and I'm really not a happy camper

[dbsam]

I don't care for Barbie dolls either and have not (and probably would not) purchased one for my daughter. However, my niece (who is the same age as my daughter) picked out two (a Barbie in a princess dress and a boy prince) for my daughter's Christmas present. My daughter rarely plays withthem but wants to keep them because it is from her cousin. Periodically when we clean the playroom I ask if she wants to donate it - but she hasn't wanted to so far. Although I think I saw the head off the other day so it might be going in the trash.

Originally Posted by denaverbena

but wondering if I should make a stand about it or not.

I'm not in your situation as my children rarely receive gifts...but I wouldn't feel comfortable telling someone what they can give. Depending upon your relationship with your MIL, maybe you could mention your issue with Barbie specifically. I think most people who know you and your family probably know what type of toys you like and if they are buying other things they are choosing to disregard the info. In our case, my sister knew I wouldn't like the Barbie but also wanted her daughter to have the joy of picking out the gift. She tried to gently steer her away from the Barbie with no luck.

I just re-read your post and noticed your MIL gives gifts daily - wow, that's crazy. I think I would mention how much you appreciate her generosity but spending time with your daughter is really enough and the gifts are not necessary. Or, if she insists, suggest craft projects she could come over and do with your daughter.

[hakeber]

I don't like Barbie, mostly because of the marketing involved. Otherwise it's just a doll. I suspect I have already made such a stand against such toys that anyone in my family would know better, but if down the road she got a gift from a classmate, I would not object...I might suggest a punk rock make over.

In your case I would be objecting more to the sheer quantity than I would to the what. That's crazy consummerism...all that eventual trash would make me twitch, not to mention the packaging...ick. My mom did this on her last visit, she thought it would help him transition with the arrival of his baby sister...It turned him into a total gimme monster. I was so mad, and even after I talked to her sincerely and calmly she still did it behind my back...THAT was the limit!

I know it's a grandma's right to spoil her grandkids, but there's a limit.

I think you could also make a case for saving them until she is older as the shoes and other accessories really do present a choking hazard.

They are really meant for the 6-10 crowd...but I guess these things are shifting down now, ren't they? Still, IMO, I think under five is pretty young for a toy like that.

[jmo]

Yeah, I really really hate Barbie on so many levels. That is something I would definitely take a stand against. If she really wants to buys a doll for your dd can you maybe suggest some other type?

[ellairiesmom]

Originally Posted by hakeber

I might suggest a punk rock make over.

Exactly!!! So funny. A fine point Sharpee will be great for tattooing a Barbie!

There were old threads here that mentioned the "Feral Cheryl" doll, but unfortunately they aren't around anymore. But any Barbie can be transformed with the right tools.

Recently, I mentioned to my Mother that I was shocked that our dd1 was showing interest in Disney princess stuff & how I was so upset & would draw the line at Barbies yada yada yada. My Mom thought I was being a little too hard core about it & then reminded me how I used to LOVE playing with my Barbies (despite being a total tomboy with 3 brothers). I was not a girly girl at all but did love my Barbies. I played with them daily from age 7 till probably 11 or 12. My Grandfather & Dad built me a Barbie house & used scrap wallpaper, carpets, tiles etc to decorate it to match our house. I had some blow up furniture (don't even know if that was from Barbies or other dolls-but I def remember a green/white blow up table that had a checker board on one side & a backgammon board on the other & was Barbie's living room table)

I rearranged the furniture, changed their outfits, acted out a million scenes like fights i had with my own parents/brothers, school stuff, & as i got older, "boy/girl" stuff.

I don't want us to get into the whole Barbie commercial culture & I certainly don't think I want her into it until she is older...but I sure did get creative when playing with mine & I think it helped me work out emotions & such.

However, I think when/if Barbies do start to come into our house, I will take some liberties & make them a little more "us". Maybe a tattoo here or there, a tie dye t shirt, birkenstocks...and our Barbies will eat carbs. lol

[ohiomommy1122]

I don't care for barbie but my DD likes the ones she has recived as gifts- she doesnt play with them much though!

[bluebirdiemama]

I hate barbies, and if one makes it's way into our house, I will find a way to get it in the trash

[baglady]

Maybe don't focus on the fashion/accessories aspect of Barbie. I think kids like Barbies for the same reason that they like playing with baby dolls and play kitchens, imitation. Barbie play mostly seems like adult mimicking play to me. So, in that aspect, she can be fun. I don't like the fact that she's skinny with huge boobs, but that doesn't have to be the focus.

If you feel super strongly about it, don't accept them. All you'd have to say is, "Thanks for the Barbies, but she really doesn't seem to like them much. I hate for you to spend money on something she doesn't like. How about a __; she loves those!"

[elmh23]

When my daughter was younger I swore up and down that Barbies and Bratz dolls and Princess would NEVER enter my house. Then she fell in love with the Barbies and Princess (I still hold my ground on the Bratz dolls!) and so now we have them (including Princess Barbies!) She only has the outfits/accesories that came with them and loves playing with them. Vet Barbie came with a horse and kitty so she's had a grand time pretending all kinds of weird things with them!

[EMsMom06]

Barbies were my entire childhood Emily has a few, but she'd rather watch movies or play with her other toys. The only doll I really don't like are the Bratz dolls because they look like hookers.

[mamazee]

I planned to never allow Barbie dolls when my first dd was a baby and toddler, but I eased up on that as she got older. I don't think the influence of Barbie is as big as it's made out to be, and allowing my dd to make choices about her interests and what toys she has is a big deal to me. But it was a personal decision. I think not being controlling except about things that are real safety concerns or are truly age inappropriate is good for my kids.

[SomethingAnonymous]

Originally Posted by ellairiesmom

My Mom thought I was being a little too hard core about it & then reminded me how I used to LOVE playing with my Barbies (despite being a total tomboy with 3 brothers). I was not a girly girl at all but did love my Barbies. I played with them daily from age 7 till probably 11 or 12. My Grandfather & Dad built me a Barbie house & used scrap wallpaper, carpets, tiles etc to decorate it to match our house. I had some blow up furniture (don't even know if that was from Barbies or other dolls-but I def remember a green/white blow up table that had a checker board on one side & a backgammon board on the other & was Barbie's living room table)

I rearranged the furniture, changed their outfits, acted out a million scenes like fights i had with my own parents/brothers, school stuff, & as i got older, "boy/girl" stuff.

I also played with Barbies a lot and I don't think it affected me negatively. I remember mostly meticulously organizing their things.. like hanging up all the clothes in a "closet" and arranging a house for them. Then my brother would come over and have his Ninja Turtles visit.

My daughter has 1 Barbie that was a gift from Grandma. It has led to many discussions about appearance. And my daughter actually decided that she shouldn't be wearing the huge hoop earrings that she is, and so we cut them off. She also wishes she could take her make up off. So I am not too worried.. well maybe a little

Our 1 Barbie is wearing a bikini... like it's painted on because she is a scuba Barbie for the bathtub. I know some of you talked about tattoos and stuff.. our Barbie has flower tattoos that were manufactured on it- and I don't believe in getting tattooed. She also came with streaks in her hair. Plus there is the whole unrealistic body issue.

For me I worry about my daughter wanting to change her body in any way. Including hair dye and tattoos. I guess it's good because it's opened up discussions about those topics... right? lol

[rachelsmama]

I don't like the Barbie marketting, but the dolls themselves have a lot of play value and room for customisation, so I would have no problem if dd ended up with a few Barbies and some outfits. I think most of my relatives assume I would be anti-barbie, so they haven't sent any, and instead sent "educational" stuff that was mostly useless.

I don't like the fairy barbies and mermaid barbies and so on that you can't easily change the clothes and have all sorts of bits and parts to loose or break though.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

i don't really have any opinion of them really, i used to play with them a lot when i was younger, my dd's have a couple between them but they rarely play with them. i can't stand brats too tarry to be a kiddies toy IMO.

Something about Barbie i can't remember were i heard it but i remember someone saying about her not being in proportion and that if she were real woman she'd be about 7ft tall and unable to walk cos her feet are tiny and her boobs are huge .

[rightkindofme]

If someone gave my toddler a Barbie I would probably put it in the resale pile because it is really not an age appropriate toy at this stage and I am *not* up for storing tons of age inappropriate stuff for later. (small house) Once she's four or five or so I would let her decide. I was really into Barbie and I've never felt significant body image issues--and I'm fat. So I'm just not worried about it.

[Ravensong13]

I won't buy barbie for dd and tell others not to either. She has one 'barbie' type doll- a tinker bell doll that I let her play with because it's not super made up or super sexualized. I like the only hearts club dolls. They look like real little girls, no makeup or super big boobs and hips. I took her doll around the toy aisle at Target the other day and held it up to all the other barbies and dolls. It was a shock for sure, they all looked like hookers, lol.

[AFWife]

Personally, I think it's a crap toy that leads into buying more plastic junk to go with it...I had some growing up and I was not nice to them...
Examples:

I used to build homes with my brother's blocks...an earthquake would come and Barbie never made it out in time.

One of them "got sick" (I drew all over it with sharpie) and never recovered...

Oh, and the haircuts!

[Teenytoona]

I don't understand why they're marketed to such little kids! I played with Barbies when I was an older girl, like 3rd grade through 6-7 But no, I don't like them, not as an adult.

[ThisCat]

They're not age appropriate for a toddler, but for an older child, maybe. I have mixed feelings about them. I hate them and would never purchase one for my kids, but if they got one as a gift or wanted to buy one with their own money, I guess it would be their choice. I generally just try to make sure everything is age appropriate and safe and stash stuff away that they aren't old enough for yet. However, I'm with the PP that said no Bratz dolls though. I'd rather someone give my kids lit firecrackers.

[AKislandgirl]

There are certain things I feel very strongly about... barbie is one of them. She is not welcome in this house.