Mattel’s New Birthing Doll Lays an Egg

As a parent and perinatal educator, I advise parents planning to purchase pretend pregnancy toys to consider the following:

* Information about conception. Does your preschooler really need to know the mechanics of how babies are made? Probably not, but chances are good that if your tot is playing “pregnant,” she’s going to want some details. Be prepared for this.

* Information about birth. Babies popping from strap-on carriers? Babies from sliding tummy panels? I’d like to give birth this way myself, but this obviously has no basis in reality.

Fantasy is a part of childhood, but we’re not talking about Santa or the Tooth Fairy here. Children deserve honesty, and as parents, we have a responsibility to our daughters to provide the truth about how their bodies function.

LAURIE R. ORR

Encinitas