About 27% of kids in the U.S. have a chronic medical condition of some sort, the Centers for Disease Control reports. Yet the toy industry largely does not reflect these conditions, illnesses, and disabilities. The Butterfly Pig seeks to fill that vacancy.
Created by former pediatric oncology nurse Mary Jenner, The Buttery Pig is a toy medical device line created to cater to kids with a wide range of chronic illnesses and disabilities. With an optimistic spirit (the company’s name, The Butterfly Pig, is a take on “when pigs fly”), the company’s accessories are made to appeal to that 27% of kids.
The cochlear implant accessory. | Source: The Butterfly Pig
The tracheostomy tube accessory. | Source: The Butterfly Pig
Among the product offerings are toy medical devices such as tracheostomy tubes, infusion pumps, noise-canceling headphones, and inhalers. There are also doll-size cochlear implants, insulin pumps, gait trainers, allergy pens, and more. The accessories and sets range in price from 50 cents to $100.
The Butterfly Pig’s website also carries dolls and plush with diverse characteristics, featuring a spectrum of hair textures and skin tones, and with anatomically correct proportions, from brands such as Miniland and Toyse.
The company’s intention is to allow these children not only to see themselves represented in their entirety, but to also help them gently and simply understand their own conditions better. For information on the company’s mission and products, visit The Butterfly Pig website.
