On a lighter note, this does bring back memories for me of a weekend (nearly twenty years ago),when I was attending a course at a National Sports Training Centre.
This was to train qualified senior British Gymnastics Pre-School tutors in the (then) new qualification to become tutors (tutors train coaches), in 'Fun for Baby'. This is a course which is for Parents and Babies from approx.8 weeks old to one year.
It has proved of great benefit and is used by Health Visitors, physiotherapists and other medical people for parents and their babies.
Senior Tutors were invited to this course, and told to bring a life-size baby doll with them. Using these dolls we trained to work with parents and babies - but we decided (for that weekend) to treat these dolls as real-life babies. So, they accompanied us all of the time, in the refectory, etc. Do remember how perplexed many other athletes were as about a dozen middle/elderly ladies moved around the Centre, nursing these dolls. One doll, i remember, cried - loudly - whenever the dummy was removed from its mouth - most disconcerting.
Great fun for one weekend and we did all go on the pass our examinations and become highly qualified tutors and examiners in this area. Coaches running such classes would often use a doll, but, of course, all the parents attending had real babies.
Must say, that this was the first time since my own childhood that I had cuddled a doll!!!