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Ban Disney From Delivery Room

'Stop Disney sales reps from pouncing on newborns'

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 10, 2011 4:05 AM CST

(Newser) – Popping out a baby is no Mickey Mouse experience—even though Disney would like it to be. Sales reps gone Goofy and laden with Disney products are invading maternity wards across the nation to turn very tiny Americans just hours old into cartoon character consumers. Reps at 580 hospitals are offering moms within hours of giving birth a free Disney Cuddly Bodysuit for their babe if they sign up for company email alerts. "Suddenly, the delivery room command to 'push' has a whole new meaning," complains Peggy Ohrenstein on NPR.

"Can't parents and their children have the magic without the Magic Kingdom?" Ohrenstein has written a book about how her daughter's childhood has been dogged by the cloying pink-tuttued vision of femininity spawned by Walt Disney. Now the pressure is on even younger. "Studies show that children under 8 can't distinguish between ads and entertainment. That gives marketers an unfair—not to mention predatory—advantage over our kids," writes Ohrenstien.

shhhh.....I saw Mickey beside me
shhhh.....I saw Mickey beside me   (©Lohb)
Hooking them early.
Hooking them early.   (?dawnzy58)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
Datazz
Feb 10, 2011 1:38 PM CST
"Ohrenstein has written a book about how her daughter's childhood has been dogged by the cloying pink-tuttued vision of femininity spawned by Walt Disney." really? did you just really say that? disney made girls girly? so girls never liked pink before disney? girls were never feminine in any way until disney came along? how does one make that assumption, i can't even begin to fathom such a ridiculous claim next they'll say girls never wore dresses or wanted to be princesses before disney came along
Naked_Emperor
Feb 10, 2011 10:38 AM CST
Are they going to ban the similac and pampers' reps also?
hatchling1
Feb 10, 2011 10:22 AM CST
Various companies have been doing these promotions for new Mom's for years, so it seems Disney just wants to jump on the already well traveled bandwagon. I live in Florida where Disney is ubiquitous, but ya know, we've learned to ignore their marketing. Most Floridians consider it uncool to wear Disney branded products beyond toddlerhood. So, babies get a free onesie with a Disney character on it ... use it, give it away, whatever. The kid will outgrow it in a month anyway and won't care. Mom can unsubscribe to emails.

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