Ok, this is sensationalism at its worst. I live about 5 blocks from here and local residents are not in an 'uproar'. One person was quoted in that article, which, I'd like to point out was from across the pond from Babeland. Most of the residents are really glad and that picture was horribly misleading and biased.
here is the store front:


It's an incredibly helpful and empowering store, and i suggest anyone who wants toys buy from them.



Fromthier blog:
"Who knew opening a sex toy store could cause such a stir? While most of the news coverage has been fair if not good, I’ve been chuckling the past few days over a few recent articles. It seems that Claire’s comment about the Brooklyn store having a changing table in the restroom has taken Babeland from a parent-friendly store to a kid-friendly store. That distinction is important among conservatives. Parent-friendly isn’t really anything to sniff at. Kid-friendly implies that I’m standing out on the sidewalk with ice-cream tempting eight year-olds inside to buy sex toys.

Clearly this isn’t what’s happening. Regardless, Focus on the Family, one of my favorite organizations to hate, has picked up the story. Their name sounds friendly but behind it is the most misogynist, bigoted rhetoric I’ve ever seen. So, when I’m doing something that Focus on the Family disapproves of, I’m happy:

“The sex industry thrives on euphemism and deception,” said Daniel Weiss, senior analyst for media and sexuality at Focus on the Family Action. “Adding lights and changing tables doesn’t change the damage pornography causes to individuals and families. The only thing this changes is who is being targeted by the lie.”

Actually, our business thrives on directness and honesty. Lights help people actually see the toys and we believe that pornography doesn’t have to be damaging but in fact can be hot.

The best article I’ve seen so far is this one from One News Now in Mississippi:

Incredibly enough, Babeland features hip tunes, nicely-dressed saleswomen and infant changing tables (emphasis theirs) in its effort to sell itself as a cool place for couples to shop. Babeland’s efforts to attract customers are not alone; it seems that there is a growing trend across the U.S. in an effort to remove the sleaze from the sex industry.

Hip tunes are pretty incredible. See how unimaginable it is for these people to even conceive of a place like Babeland? It’s nearly impossible. I love the second sentence too - watch out! These less-sleazy sex toy shops might get you!

Then come the blatant lies:

Sexually oriented businesses attract more crime and drive down property values wherever they are located, not to mention the fact that you cannot remove the sleaze from the sex industry, no matter how hard you try.

That might be the case for more mainstream stores but this blog just got done telling us how (incredibly) Babeland is different. Maybe they should check their numbers because the last time I checked, Babeland has been a long-time member of some of the most vibrant and growing neighborhoods in New York City and Seattle. In fact, a Lower East Side real estate agent cited Babeland as being a key part of the revival of that neighborhood.

And lastly, you can remove the sleaze from the sex industry; unless you believe that talking about sex at all is sleazy in which case you may never “get” Babelalnd. But for those of us who do, we’re so glad it’s around. "

Sorry but most people IMO would not be comfortable taking their kids with them to buy dildo's and butt plugs. Call me old-fashioned but......

I remember going into a store with my wife, and our daughter when she was about 6 months old (in a pushchair). Half way through the store a security guard informed me that 'under 18s are not allowed in the back part of the store' due the nature of the products sold there.
I looked at him. I looked at my daughter. I looked at him again.
I laughed. I walked on.

Great comment nikneven, if I could upvote you twice I would.

I love Babeland and I buy all my, er... stuff there. Children should not be shielded from understanding of human sexuality. If they are exposed to it carefully and intelligently from a young age, they'll probably be healthier adults.

I fully understand that someone is going to try to turn this around against me, but I really DO think this.

this is a good thing....I would imagine many Christians want sex shops to remain the way they are as it is easier to believe their ideas that pornography and sex toys turn you into some kind of freakish pervert (unless they can get rid of them altogether). I don't see how it hurts children to know about sex, in fact I think in these modern times it is a necessity that they understand sex.

I think one of the main problems with most parents style of parenting is not being honest with their children.

There's a huge difference between being open and honest with your children and having a healthy attitude towards sex and taking your child with you into a sex shop.

You have to have boundaries with your children and taking them with you to buy dildo's ect is, IMO as a parent, overstepping a boundary.


Sample conversation:

Mummy takes kid to Babeland,

"Mummy, whats that you looking at?"

"That's a special toy, a toy for grown-ups"

"Can I have one?"

"No darling, mummy said it was for grown-ups"

"Can I hold it for you?"

"Errrrr, well, mummy will hold it in case you errrr, drop it"

"What does it do?"

"Well, it makes mummy smile"

"Oh. How?"

"Errrrrrr, it just does"

"What is it called?"

"It's called a dildo, ok sweetie, it's a dildo, now will you be quiet while mummy looks round"

"A dildo?"

"Yes"

"I'm gonna tell my teacher allllll about buying a dildo when I go to school"

"Oh s**t!!"

Note that I said intelligently. This is not a good example of carefully or intelligently handling the situation.

So, exactly how does one pre-teach the concept of sex toys to a gradeschooler before heading to the "toy store"?

Sex is one thing. Tab A goes into Slot B. It's simple. It's biology. There is form, function and purpose.

But sex toys are a whole new frontier. If you have already taught your child about Tab A/Slot B, how do you explain that sometimes Tab A doesn't do it for you and you need the assistance of Object C, and sometimes Objects D, E and F?

Honestly, while it is appreciative that the shop is maintaining a conservative image, children have no place in a shop like that. If you can't make it to the shop without the kids, order online.

Are you still changing your gradeschooler's diapers on a changing table? I should hope not, or you have a much bigger issue than taking them into Babeland.

Oh please, aren't we robbing children soon enough now of childhood without exposing them to even more "adult" things at such a young age? They are already wearing make-up, dressing like grown women, having babies in their early teens. Let them stay innocent and believe in fairytales a while longer.