Recently in wacky Category

If you find yourself searching for that perfect one-of-a-kind gift for a child's upcoming birthday, have we got just the thing for you! Forget those dolls that say "mama" or require diaper changes, how about one that your child can use to mimic breastfeeding? It's nothing new that little tykes often mimic their mothers who breastfeed, often trying to place stuffed animals or baby dolls to their chests in an attempt to "feed" them, but a Spanish toy company has created a doll that takes this all one step further. Berujan's "Bebe Gloton" is designed to promote breastfeeding as a natural part of motherhood, but some wonder if it's a little over the top. Bebe Gloton comes complete with a tie on "apron" for your child to wear -- the bra-like top has flower-like "nipples" to activate the doll's sucking sounds and movements. While we're all for breastfeeding, some in the iVillage community agree that the doll may veer too much into the "weird" department:

That is taking things a little too far. I will be glad if that thing never hits the US. I don't have any problem with breastfeeding, heck I'll do it right there in front of anyone. But it is not right to go to such lengths with dolls. It should all start at home.  -- angelbabies2008

Very weird! I wouldn't buy it and I would not want it as a gift either. -- xmansmama4l

I'm definitely pro-breastfeeding but it is sort of strange. I could understand not wanting to supply every baby sold at Walmart with a plastic bottle to come with it (having little girls make the connection of baby = bottle). -- eseirup

The bra thing kind of weirds me out a little... but then again, I really don't like dolls that 'DO' much of anything. I've had to do a lot of searching on the toy shelves to find a doll that doesn't talk/cry/pee/poop/move/etc. I much prefer that [my daughter] uses her imagination instead.  -- caremore37

One word: creepy. I understand the concept, it's just a little much. I would not buy something like this. -- tryin2understand

Other moms applaud the idea and might be potential buyers if the doll becomes available outside of Spain:

I think it's great! If they end up selling it in Canada, I'll for sure buy it. It's cute, and I love the whole concept. -- asheo

I think it is great that there is finally a doll that doesn't come equipped with a bottle or a pacifier. My kiddo breastfeeds his stuffed animals though so I do not see a point in purchasing it, other than simply supporting the idea but anything that promotes breastfeeding as normal in our society is a good thing.  -- lovemymunkaman

iVillager cathimac's comment sums up what many are saying about Bebe Gloton:

Last month we saw our community react to the news story of the unfortunately named 3-year-old Adolf Hitler who was denied a personalized birthday cake. Many felt that naming a child "Adolf Hitler" was essentially child abuse, with some going so far as to say the children should be removed from this home. The tyke, along with his two younger sisters, were removed by New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services, but it was unknown what, if any, charges prompted the action.

Our Playgroup moms are sharing their thoughts on the latest news in this saga:

"If they only took the kid because of his unfortunate name... that's ridiculous! If there was actual abuse in the home, then it is good for the children. While the parents seem unconventional, and a little strange, that doesn't make them bad parents." -- hoover07

"In my opinion, naming your child after one of the worst, most inhumane people in history, and naming another child 'Arayan Nation' is a form of child abuse.  And that makes them bad parents... Family services doesn't remove children for having bad names, if that were the case, half of Hollywood would have lost custody already.  There has to be something going on in that home." -- jenthebrat

"I personally view the names as a form of abuse. Before seeing this I have often scratched my head in wonder and think... 'where did people come up with that name?' It's very clear where they came up with those names and purely inspired by hate." -- valerie_1010

What do you think? Are extreme and vulgar names a form a child abuse and should parents be held accountable? Sound off here!

 

 

Ok, we see a lot of outrageous news stories being discussed on the iVillage message boards, but I think that this one definitely, ahem, takes the cake. Parents of a Pennsylvania tyke are shocked and offended that the local grocery store wouldn't pipe their 3-year-old's name on his birthday cake. Did I mention they named their son Adolf Hitler Campbell? ShopRite representatives state that they "deserve the right not to print anything on the cake that we deem to be inappropriate." So the Campbell family did what any family would do: they took matters into their own hands and had their icing inquiry handled at Walmart. I'm not even sure where to begin commenting on this one, so I'll let our trusty iVillagers take over from here:

"Personally, I think giving the child that name is an act of child abuse. I'm glad the ShopRite store stood their ground." -- jpo72

"What did he think would happen giving his children names like Adolf Hitler and Aryan Nation? He knew exactly what he was doing and I am glad that grocery store refused to make his kid's cake." -- jenthebrat

"I'd call naming your children those names abuse. [I totally agree] with ShopRite's decision and am disappointed Wal-Mart is making the cake for the family. This whole debacle is astonishing." -- ilovebaltimore

"That guy is scary! Anyone who would saddle a kid with that name (or 'Aryan Nation' or ask for a swastika) needs WATCHING!" -- thatyank

"I've never seen a birthday cake that had the first AND last name on it. Why didn't they just order the cake to say 'Happy Birthday Adolf'?  Kinda sounds like they were trying to get a rise out of the supermarket." -- madisonsmom2007

"No child deserves to be saddled with the names 'Adolf Hitler' or 'Aryan nation.' They will be ridiculed, abused and mistreated their whole lives all because their parents chose to use them to prove a sick point." -- ashmama

But not everyone thinks the store should have refused a request for a child's cake:

"As horrible and despicable as these people are and I do applaud the store for standing up for what they thought was right, I think they are wrong. It's for a 3 year old kid's birthday and that poor  innocent little kid cannot help that he has HORRIBLE IGNORANT IDIOTS for parents who gave him that name." -- hollyangle 

I've been curiously following a really great discussion over on the Hot Topics in Health board about a Swiss restaurant's plan to incorporate human breastmilk into their menu items. Now PETA is apparently getting in on the act by petitioning Ben & Jerry's to replace the cow's milk in their Cherry Garcia and Chubby Hubby with human breastmilk. Now, I'm all for breastfeeding, but I also have to admit the opportunities for jokes in this story are too much for me to resist, so I am going to cut straight to the reactions:

"No way!  I don't care if they test everyone who donates the milk, things can be passed through breast milk and I am not going to drink somebody's bodily fluid. " -- amomalmost40

"Why not? Cow milk comes from a breast, too." -- daelaria

There are so many women who want more than anything to be able to breastfeed their babies but are unable to for one reason or another. Wouldn't a better use of all this apparent extra breastmilk be in offering it at an affordable price to women who can't breastfeed?" -- gal_marlena

They're also discussing this story on Breastfeeding/Lactation Consultant, Taboos, Breastfeeding and Breastmilk vs. Formula Debate boards. As cmcindik asks, "Would you, could you, dine on foods made with breast milk?" Well? We wanna know! 

At iVillage, we love talking about baby names. Whether it's what our expectant moms are planning to name their bundles of joy, or what unusual monikers celebrities have come up with for their tykes, we can't seem to stop commenting about them. I think we're obsessed with names, especially when they're a little ... crazy. The more outrageous the better, I say. But how outrageous is too outrageous? It seems like we all know someone (or know someone who knows someone's cousin) with a really outlandish name we wouldn't wish on our worst enemy. Would a rose by any other name *really* smell as sweet? Maybe not in New Zealand, where a judge has placed a 9-year-old girl under the guardianship of the court until she is renamed. The name in question? Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii. Seriously. Let that sink in a bit. Not only does Talula do the hula, but let's not forget it's from Hawaii. Yes, that entire sentence is the name apparently given to her by her parents, who are now in the midst of a custody battle. I admit I was a little taken aback when I read this story and thought that perhaps some people in New Zealand are even more out than I thought -- or maybe they just have a better sense of humor than the rest of us? (Remember last year's case of "4real"? Also from New Zealand.)  Then again, maybe I'm being too harsh; after all, no one had a problem with "Dances with Wolves". And then, after I thought, "Well it's really none of my business what they name their kid..." I thought, "I wonder what the folks on our boards have to say about this?"  And here we are.

From Playgroups and Expecting Clubs to debate boards, everyone has a little something to say about the latest round of the name game. Most, like those on the Frugal Families board, think the name is way overboard, but had a few interesting names to share that they'd run across over the years.... like "Candy Barr" or "Shanda Lear". Wow. And to think sometimes I'd get upset that my relatively-common-but-alternatively-spelled name never showed up on those racks of personalized pencils or keychains at the discount store during back-to-school time.  

On the Current Debates board, the sentiment is much the same, but they're also concerned that the government dictating what names are allowed is a little too intrusive. One member, sisfox, sums it up:  

 "I think this is a case of the government WAY overstepping boundaries."

Then she goes on to say: 

"I'm not saying that parents should purposefully give their kids awful names. But I don't think it's the government's place to take custody of the child and rename it.

Where does it stop? I think Prudence and Horace are pretty awful names. Should the government remove children with those names from their homes because it's "abuse"?"

However, karin_n counters:

"While I agree that Prudence and Horace are pretty awful names, I'd hardly call it abusive to give someone such a name.  They are, after all, names.  Talula does the Hula from Hawaii sounds more like a bad porn movie."

Just for the record (and especially for clarification of any of our readers named Prudence or Horace), I think those are lovely names and the above comments don't reflect how *I* feel about these names. Ahem. 

Moms of the March 2005 Playgroup are split about the right of a court to change a name. From sunnysocalmom:

"I may be in the minority here - but I don't think the government has, at any point or any time - the right to tell us what to name our children."

imadesphousewife agrees, saying:

"Although I feel *awful* for the poor kids that get stuck with hideous names, I don't think it's the government's place to step in and change it. I'd much rather see that effort go towards kids who are being neglected or abused."

Another March 05 mom, cara2178, points out an important distinction in this particular case:

"This child was involved in a custody battle.  At the age of 9, she was probably interviewed regarding the custody situation and then also asked about her name.  She was said to be terribly embarrassed.  Should she have lived with the embarrassment until she was 18 so that she could legally change her name herself then?  I don't think so.  The judge made the right call in this case IMO."

What do you think? Was this name over the top enough to warrant judicial intervention? Is there ever a name so awful it should be changed no matter what? Have you ever changed your name or wished you had? I want to know what you think -- and of course am dying to hear what odd names you've encountered in your life. 

TGIF! As we head into the weekend, I bet you all have some wild and raucous plans for St. Patrick's Day, right? But do you plan to tell your co-workers/casual acquaintances/people on the bus about your leprechaun-inspired debauchery? About how you had so many green drinks you ended up in the parking lot of the nearest White Castle doing the hokey pokey in your bathrobe? Of course not, because that would be ... TMI. You know, too much information. For some, there really is no such thing as too much information -- these folks just let it all hang out for anyone who will listen. I had to laugh when I saw this discussion from the Toxic Relationships board (which happens to have one of my favorite board titles ever! Toxic!)

"My post is inspired by having sat beside a woman at a recent dinner party who seemed to feel obligated to want to tell me some of what were the more personal and private details of her life, in full detail!

I am curious where others draw the "too much information" line..."

Good question. How much is too much? Are there certain subjects that should never come up in casual conversation? Why are some people so willing to share the most intimate details of their lives with just about darn near everyone? And more importantly is there anything we can do about this epidemic? Or are we just doomed to hear about our neighbor's boils, the Target cashier's messy divorce and our co-workers' racy spring break stories? Step right up and tell us where you draw your TMI line and what you do about the people in your life that know no boundaries. Have a great weekend ... and be sure to come back on Monday and tell me all about it! On second thought ...