The mystery of new babies is being revealed to Irish children by a pregnant Barbie doll named Midge.
Pregnant Midge hit the shelves in January and has since developed a career in sex education. "It's a show-and-tell toy," said Mr Vincent McMullen, assistant-manager of Smyth's Toy Store, Jervis Street Shopping Centre, Dublin.
"Mothers are using it to explain the arrival of a new baby. It takes the mystery out of a pregnancy in the family for young kids," he said.
Midge is described as a befreckled redhead complete with detachable flesh-coloured womb and blonde new-born baby girl which can fit inside the "bump".
US parents were reported to have been shocked by the doll, but Irish parents seem to be embracing her for her practical value when explaining the arrival of new siblings.
The doll is one of several Barbies available, but unlike another companion, Midge didn't marry Ken, but another male doll called Alan, and she has a toddler son called Ryan.
The packaging features photos of Alan and Midge's wedding day, their son Ryan, and asks the question: "Ryan has a new little sister, what do you think we should name her?"
"It's just another doll on the shelf to us and to shoppers, there's no furore about it," said Mr McMullen.
The chief executive of the National Parents' Council (Primary), Ms Fionnuala Kilfeather, welcomed the doll, calling it a "super opportunity to introduce a new baby into the family.
"I don't think it's going to be a great threat to the morals of our children," she said.