Strange But True Products for Kids

Last week my mom and I were shopping for Master D's new fall shoes when we heard a strange sound in the shoe store.  A child was strolling around in her "Squeaker Sneakers," shoes that make a squeaking sound as the child walks.  My mom was enthralled, and interviewed the girl's mother about the shoes.  She said the child loved making noise as she walked, and the sound made it easier for the mother to keep track of the child.  My mom was sold, I was not.  I just pictured Master D making even more noise in stores and wanting to run around our house even more than he already does!!  I told my mom she could get a pair for him to wear at her house, and I wouldn't be surprised if she does.  Now that I have perused the Squeaker Sneakers webpage,  learned that the squeaker can be removed and seen some of the cute velcro styles, I might put Squeakers Sneakers on my list of cool baby shoe brands.  Would you?

Another questionable product hitting the market is a nursing baby doll.  Uber-Boober that I am, I usually advocate anything that promotes breast feeding.  But this doll gives me pause, perhaps because it invites children to pretend to have fully-functioning breasts.  It even comes with a nursing top to make it easier for little girls to "nurse" by bringing the baby to the nipple covers that are also included.  When the baby nears the nipple covers it makes sucking sounds; when baby is pulled away from the nipple "daisies," it cries for more milk.  

Part of me wants to like this product because so many baby dolls come with bottles and a nursing counterpart would make sense, especially for girls with nursing mothers.  But little girls can't lactate, it is a maternal act reserved for grown-up mothers.  It is not a sexual act, but it is an adult one.  It's kind of like children playing doctor - there's nothing wrong with being a doctor, but there's something inappropriate about children examining each others' bodies.  The sociology major in me is appalled at my prudishness, knowing children are meant to experiment, but there it is...  What do you think?