Can a doll make children Munchouser Parents?

Question

My daughter wanted a Mommy Make Me Better doll made by Chou Chou toys for her Birthday. So, she got one. You have to push a button to make the baby sick, then give it medicine to make it better. She likes making the baby sick, because then she can make it feel better. This behavior reminds me of Munchhouser Syndrome in which real parents make their children sick on purpose. Is this doll giving the wrong signals to the future parents of the world?

Answer 1

No, I don't believe making the doll sick and then giving it medicine would lead a child to becoming a Munchouser Parent. However, there still seems something inherently wrong with making the doll sick just so the child can administer medicine. Children are taught to take their medicine not to be the ones administering it. I would not buy this doll for my child.

Answer 2

Interesting thought but I believe it is more about a child understanding how to care for a child in the future as well as value the medicine that makes them feel better now. You like the feeling it gives you to help your child when she is sick - so your daughter is trying to emulate you. I would be more concerned if she made it sick and then tried to drown it or leave it with a friend to deal with.

Answer 3

Munchausen by proxy would not be at all relevant.

Your child is merely playing out adult behavior; it's part of growing up and learning about the world.

Munchausen by rpoxy is when an adult makes a child deliberately ill in order to be the centre of attention. It is a serious psycholigcal disturbance.

Answer 4

ok first of that is Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome ...in Munchausen one makes thmselves sick...in Munchausen by Proxy they make someone else, usually their child sick...

In Munchausen the goal is to get attention...your daughter is exhibiting a desire to make her dollie well...this is a sign she has compassion and a caretaking need...it sounds healthy...