The New Black

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I was having coffee the other day and decided to pop into the cute little toyshop next to the cafe. My twins are mad about baby dolls at the moment and I thought a toy pram would be fun for them.

So I see these little pink frilly prams way up high on the shelf and I ask the assistant to get them down to look at. And very strange-looking they were... "Little bit short aren't they?" I commented without thinking. The lovely assistant smiled and said "Oh, that's so the dog carrier fits in.." I blinked. Once. Twice. Nope, I still didn't get it.  The assistant, perhaps sensing my confusion, enlightened me "It's a pram for toy dogs".

Oh right.... Huh?? Toy dogs?.  Slowly my eyes travelled around the shelves and took in what I had missed before.

There were three different toy handbags with fluffy toy pooches peeking out.  There were a couple of different styles of toy puppy carriers-occupant inclusive. There was toy puppy food (with dishes and napkins), toy puppy outfits and toy puppy toys.  There were Littlest Pet Shop Puppies, battery puppies that jumped and barked (collar and leash included) and toy puppies that did this flipping trick. Heck, puppies took up half the shop.

One lone Baby Doll lay carelessly slung down the back of the shop amongst Furbies, Tamagotchies and other currently uncool playthings. And nary a doll pram in sight.

The assistant seeing my look of consternation tried her best.  "I could find one in the catalogue to order for you..."

But I shook my head.  I felt seriously out of my depth here. It was so simple in my day.  A doll, a few changes of clothes, a plastic bottle, maybe a pram or baby bath if your parents were really imaginative.

Obviously there has been a seismic shift in childhood since I was a girl.  Dogs are taking over the toy world. In a very serious way. Can anyone tell me why?  Do we blame Paris Hilton?  Again?