Iconic Baby Product Facing Boycott Over ‘Sexualized’ Advertising

(KMDL-FM) The joys of being a parent and the joys of sex, though not often discussed at the same time among the same people, are most certainly related. You can't really have one without someone having the other. Which is why an iconic baby products producer now finds itself on a slippery slope.

READ MORE: The One Question Parents Should Ask Their Kids Every Day

The company is caught somewhere between parental responsibility and the fact that "making babies" is a pleasurable and often joked-about pastime. Apparently, some consumers have a different attitude about sex after the baby has been born. And they have expressed their displeasure in the most American way possible. They are boycotting the company.

Why Are Some Consumers Boycotting a Popular Baby Products Company?

There is a school of thought in the world of advertising that suggests any publicity is good publicity, and as someone who has experienced advertising backlash a time or two, I feel pretty confident that while the remarks about the company's advertising are not "positive," the reviews about the company's products are. So, they'll probably weather this storm.

The issue that has spawned the consumer reaction and potential retaliation when taken out of context probably wouldn't be an issue at all. In a moment, we'll share some of the "inflammatory" rhetoric that has spawned the consumer action. But I ask you this question. If the words you're about to read were spoken in a prime-time sit-com, no one would bat an eye.

However, the fact that the words are included in advertising about products for babies, the tone does seem very high on the "suggestive scale" even for my tastes. Let me give you an example of what is causing all the fuss.

What Baby Products Company is Facing a Boycott Over Sexualized Advertising?

The company under fire is Frida Baby. A lot of parents just shook their heads; they know Frida Baby. It's probably best known for its "snot sucker," also known professionally as the NoseFrida nasal aspirator.

From the "suck-cess" of the nasal aspirator, Frida Baby has gone on to develop a wide range of products for parents and infants. It's the advertising for those products that has created some chaos for some consumers. You can read some of the verbiage from those ads below. Caution: They might be offensive to some readers.

How Suggestive Was the Advertising?

The Street took a look at the suggestive advertising and offered these examples in an article about the boycott:

TikTok caption promoting the 3-in-1 True Temp Thermometer (for rectal, oral, or armpit use) that reads: "This is the closest your husband's gonna get to a threesome."

Packaging for the 3-in-1 Ear, Forehead + Touchless Thermometer with the phrase "How about a quickie?"

Instagram posts referencing phrases such as "pull-out game," "threesome," and "sex is great."

It is our understanding that the advertisements and posts have since been removed from the platforms where they were originally published.

What is the Company's Response to the Boycott?

The folks at Frida Baby did issue a response that addressed the consumer action. The company's response included removing any questionable posts and suggestive language surrounding those posts and products. And they also issued this written response, as published by The Street via Modern Retail:

From the very beginning, Frida has used humor to talk about the real, raw, and messy parts of parenting that too often go unspoken. We do this because parenting can be isolating and overwhelming, and sometimes a moment of levity is what makes a hard experience feel human, shared, and survivable.

So, for clarity's sake, we can say the company has heard the complaints, adjusted its marketing, and issued a statement that seems to be sincere. It appears that Frida Baby has addressed the situation and is taking responsibility. 

Whether or not a boycott remains intact or is even needed now lies in the hands of consumers. Did this make you upset enough to put a company out of business?