Famosa has had to keep up with the accusations that organizations working in the field of eating disorders and children's mental health, had poured on one of their products. Its about “Nenuco doesn't eat me” doll, which apparently closes his mouth with a magnet when the spoon approaches him.
The toy is already sold in several European countries, although it has not yet gone on the market in the United Kingdom, where most of the criticism comes from. It is thought that it will negatively influence girls, and may cause negative attitudes towards food and body image. However Famosa considers the alarm unjustified, and the creators of this Nenuco, are convinced that children who play with this doll, have the opportunity to encourage him to eat, while learning about healthy eating. The game is about provide stimuli to the baby, so that he ends up eating normally.
This toy has been distinguished along with other products with the 'Best new toy' award in the category of dolls, and the award is obtained by the vote of an independent panel of experts who value the potential based on their safety, innovation and creativity
I tried not to miss data when making this entry, but what really seems alarmist is to consider this Nenuco as an 'anorexic' doll, and I think it is very reductionist to attribute Eating Disorders to the simple act of playing with a toy that does not want to eat.
Many babies close their mouths when they do not like food, or have no more appetite, however no baby or toddler voluntarily stops receiving livelihood, it is more a matter of adapting to the tastes of the children, while we go trying new foods (not neglecting therefore a balanced diet).
I mean that sometimes they don't eat the puree because they prefer the same spaghetti that their parents eat (would it be a problem to chop them up?), Or they don't want the crushed banana but if it is whole, maybe it is that they choose cooked carrot because the potato seems to them tasteless, or that they don't like meat (in that case we can wait a bit to try again).
This Nenuco represents a baby, so it is a bit forced to think that it encourages not to eat in older children. In any case, the moment when a child begins to eat as normal as the parents would expect, It is not fixed beforehand, it depends on so many factors!
I understand the concern about eating disorders, especially when they occur at an early age, but problems with food may appear secondarily. Regarding this doll, I would also see that the image of forcing the baby to eat moved, because it is a harmful practice, but does not seem to be the goal, but rather to educate.
Some of the experts of different organizations such as the National Association of Eating Disorders (New York) or Young Minds (United Kingdom), believe that because of the game with this doll, girls want to stop eating to observe the reaction of parents . And I sincerely believe that if this behavior occurs as a game, it will be punctual, and will disappear when the father or the father does not give up on the offer of healthy eating in front of another full of fats or sugars; Y if it is given in response to the trend (currently emerging) to be 'thin', parents will detect it and seek a solution by all means, it is not the issue at hand now, but we can address it at another time.
At home we prefer the simplest dolls (I speak for my daughter because they never liked the big one) because they admit more variety of game proposals, however and at the risk of repeating myself, I don't see anything harmful in the Nenuco that doesn't eat and you?
