Kids Cabbage Patch Dolls


Child: Where did I come from?
Parent: We found you in a cabbage patch.

Yes, that was sex education in the old days! But from that old time idea came the Cabbage Patch Kids, created in 1978 in Cleveland, Georgia. Originally, they were handmade, allcloth dolls, which were sold at local craft shows and then at Babyland General Hospital, a hospital themed store exclusively selling Cabbage Patch Kids and accessories.

At the height of their popularity in the 1980s, the 'kids' were a must-have Christmas toy. Some of the most popular Hasbro Cabbage Patch Kids include the 'Birthday Kids', 'Splash 'n Tan'Kids, and 'Pretty Crimp and Curl' dolls. Eventually, Hasbro started making smaller dolls for younger kids.

When Mattel took over making the Cabbage Patch dolls, the dolls went from all cloth bodies to being all vinyl for greater durability. Most of the Mattel dolls are 14 inches or smaller and have some gimmick, such as being able to swim, eat, or brush their teeth. Toys R Us came on the scene in 2003 with 20 inch Kids to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the line.

Plenty of competitors and designers came out around the same time: Barbies, Chatty Cathys, Abby Dolls, and plenty more. But there was nothing quite like a Cabbage Patch kid!

The most memorable line of 'Kids' is the basic cloth dolls with birth certificates. The OlympiKids, made for the 1996 Olympics, and the line of Cabbage Patch Fairies are collector items for sure. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the dolls' market debut, Mattel came out with reproduction outfits and boxes, and the dolls were 16 inches, like the original. Check out eBay for the best price on whatever "Kid" you want: newborn, baby, original, vintage, or new!