Bratz

I have to agree with the other mom's. I do not believe that the clothing the dolls wear is a appropriate for my daughter, as well as the "diva" behavior that is portrayed.

I do not know much about them, but they were giving them away at McDonald's with a kids happy meal and I could not believe the way they dressed. They wore half shirts that showed their belly. I have a little girl and I am sure there will be a day when she wants them, but be careful which ones you buy. I know that some are clothed better than others you really don't want your 5 year old to have a doll that looks like she should be going to clubs.

We do not do Bratz in our home and I'm glad to read there are others like us. :)

Here's my view: there are so many influences trying to sexualize our children. I will do my best to keep my little girls, little girls by ensuring their surroundings are as "little girl" friendly as possible. This includes not allowing them to play with dolls that look like sluts. :) In all seriousness, we mothers are working against a lot of things in our attempts to raise healthy children. Some may say "for goodness' sake, they're just dolls!" No, they're not. They're bad influences on our children because they're too grown up. Our girls need to be little as long as they can. We don't need 7 year olds in eye shadow, belly rings and tube tops. It's not cute. It's not funny. It's sad.

I personally am not a fan of "Bratz"....just by their name alone, or the image I perceive them to be giving our children. I really hope I am wrong in my opinion on this. I am "old school" and I love Barbie, because Barbie was represented to girls that we can be anything we choose to be ~ flight attendant, successful in business, etc. The key thing is that she always took care with her appearance, and was "dressed for success".

Since I don't have any little girls, I really can't tell you what the fascination with Bratz is, so please take my opinion with a large "grain of salt"! Have you tried going to the Bratz website, and looking up the story of the Bratz dolls? That may help you make your decision.

HTH!
~J.~

My girls love playing with bratz... their feet/shoes are interchangeable.. they're little pegs. Trust me they are way better than barbie, and I played with barbies for hours as a kid, but barbie has nothing on bratz. Also try Bratz kids those are adorable as well.

Also buy some Bratz movies, the name like you said does throw you off as though thats what they're teaching girls to be. But once you buy a couple of dvd's its work, school, fashion, of course boys.. but they aren't bratty...

well, i have to agree with the hootchie wear for barbie..
our 4 yr old just got a barbie car with 2 barbies and 4 packs of clothes.. It was hilarious watching my husband on the floor trying to put on a pair of capris and a halter top, with thigh high stilleto boots....
He kept saying, "these damn clothes are too small! maybe these are the wrong dolls for these clothes. And how come they don't have underwear on?"
This was a gift it wasn't bought by us. Barbie and her clothes sure have changed..What are you going to do... If we don't buy into these "types" of dolls, our girls are going to see them at her friends house anyway and end up playing with them...
As for the bratz....i don't see the appeal of these big lipped, doe eyed, half dressed, jewled out, big headed dolls.
and neither does our little girl....YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have a baby girl, but like you said, hoochie is not what I'd want in a doll, and the Bratz line has it in spades. I went to Amazon to see what they have and there's a doll called Polly Pocket - kind of Bratz-like in shape, but didn't look hoochie. Also, American Girl has bigger dolls, but much more wholeseome. Good Luck!

My 5 yr old daughter has been into Bratz Babyz for about 6 months now. She loves them! The clothing is interchangable b/w dolls, but only b/w the same age bratz. There are Bratz Babyz, Bratz Kidz and then the older Bratz. I do think that the clothing is a tad hoochie, but my daughter is not the least bit affected by what the dolls wear. I think I've taught her about decency well enough, that I'm not concerned that she will be affected by the Bratz style. She has never once mentioned how the dolls dress and she will not even wear a bikini, b/c she likes her belly covered, so I don't think it's a big deal. She knows the difference b/w dolls and real life and since I'm confident in the values I'm teaching her, I think they're fine. Esp. considering that Barbie is not the "prude" she used to be anyway. And actually, in the Bratz Babyz video that my daughter has, there is a lesson about sticking up for yourself and not being bullied and I think that is a pretty good lesson to be teaching. HTH!

I have a different approach about Bratz..My children or 8 and 11yrs old they have played with the Bratz dolls probably two yrs ago before they became popular and also now ..It is all about how you raised your children and what you teach and tell them YOu know my girls never once said or mention anything about their clothes..They love the makeup and hair..When the dolls 1st came out I explain to my girls what message they were statin..The same for Barbie..This is real world not fantasy ..that's all the dolls protrait is fantasy world..Also with the name Bratz I also explain to the the meaning...Again You have to be real with these kids now days cause if you don't someone at school will..I also had my children look at BET once!!and explain to them that is not life and they way the girls dress are not approiate I explain this to them at a early age...I thin if you just talk to your child alot and build a play relationship with them as well you can't go wrong..Sit down with her and play dolls..I do!!!Good luck on your decision....

They are kinda like barbie but they have really big heads. LOL But their clothes do interchange with each of them. I just care for the name or some of their clothes. I don't have a girl but my friend does and she won't get her little girl those cause of the name and the way some of them look.

I agree with Kristene. My daughter is almost 13. She played with Bratz and loved it. Her friends loved it as well. THey had all the accessories for fashion shows, etc and spent a lot of time having FUN in fantasy land.

You have to be there with your daughter, explain the real world vs fantasy.

Just my two cents worth.

Susan