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A deaf toddler is delighted with his new doll which has cochlear implants just like his.
Harley, 21 months, has profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. His mum Jasmine Mead, 27, said her son ‘doesn’t really understand that he’s different’ but she got the doll with the hope it would help boost his confidence as he grows older.
The doll, who has been named Baby, has similar colourful implants just like Harley, who is pictured giving his new companion an adorable hug.
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Stay at home mum Jasmine, who lives in Bedford, Bedfordshire, said her son takes his new doll everywhere.
"We always show him the doll's ears and the cochlear implant and explain how it is helping the doll to encourage him to recognise how useful it is,” Jasmine explained.
"When we are teaching him how to sign, we use the doll as well to sign.
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Cochlear implants had nationwide representation this summer when Love Island finalist Tasha Ghouri proudly explained her superpower to her fellow islanders. This did not go unnoticed by Jasmine, who thought the added attention was ‘lovely’.
She said: “I thought it was lovely that Tasha went on Love Island because you don't see many people with additional needs on these kinds of shows.
In May, Barbie manufacturer Mattel revealed it would release a doll with hearing aids the following month in a bid to increase diversity.
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"I'm really happy to hear that Barbie have just released a doll with cochlear implants too,” Jasmine noted. “It's really nice that the inclusiveness is becoming more readily available.
"Babies that are a bit different are finally being represented and it's lovely to see.
Jasmine hopes that when Harley starts school in the next few years he will feel confident wearing his cochlear implants.
The mum-of-two said: "Harley doesn't really understand that he's different at his young age, but I hope that when he's older and maybe feeling hesitant about wearing them to primary school the doll will help him feel more confident.
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"The doll is very special to us and very much appreciated."
Jasmine, who also has a six-year-old, received the doll from BrightEars – a non-profit, family-run business that makes inclusive dolls for children – in January 2022.
BrightEars was founded by mum-of-two and radiographer Clare Tawell, 40, who struggled to find a doll that resembled her daughter Tilly, six.
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The company also makes dolls with cleft lip palettes, feeding tubes, guide canes and hip spica casts. Parents can also request dolls with the same birthmark as their children.
Claire, from Lidlington, Bedfordshire, explained: "Bullying often stems from ignorance and knowledge is the power to overcoming this.
"The name BrightEars came about because Tilly and I 'pimp' her hearing aids with a range of funky stickers, from unicorns to dinosaurs, and she also has a vast array of retainers made by myself to jazz up her hearing aids.
"Her hearing aids are purposefully designed to be colourful and noticeable.
"They are a part of her and I never want her to be ashamed of them or be made to feel she has to hide them. She is deaf and proud.
"We're here, we exist, we have the right to be acknowledged and we're proud!"
Gregory Robinson