Betsy Wetsy
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| Type | Drink-and-wet doll |
|---|---|
| Company | Ideal Toy Company |
| Country | United States |
| Availability | 1934–1980s |
| Features | "Wetting" Sleep eyes Jointed limbs |
Betsy Wetsy was a "drink-and-wet" doll originally issued by the Ideal Toy Company of New York in 1937.[1][2] It was one of the most popular dolls of its kind in the Post–World War II baby boom era.[3]
Named for the daughter of Abraham Katz, the head of the company,[3] the doll's special feature was simulating urination after a fluid was poured into her open mouth.[1] Betsy Wetsy was also one of the first major dolls to be produced in African American versions.[1]
History
Effanbee had previously manufactured a similar doll, "Dy-dee," and a patent infringement lawsuit resulted.[3] The judge ruled that drinking and urinating are natural movements and cannot be patented.[3][2]
The doll was made in several sizes in the 1940s. It saw a spike in popularity in the 1950s.[1]
A made-in-China version was issued in the late 1980s by Ideal to boost sales, but the doll never reached the success of the original.[3]