Comments on: Down Syndrome Barbie

By: Crystal

Crystal — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:36:04 +0000

I am currently searching for a doll with a cleft palate and stumbled upon your post. I would absolutely buy one and think they should sell different dolls in all types of disorders letting everyone know that it is ok to be different and not everything is perfect. In my search for the cleft doll I have found many many other post searching for the same. I have contacted numerous doll makers and they talk to me like im crazy and tell me it would run me close to 3,000.00 to make a doll like this because of all the work that goes into making dolls and considering it would be a mold they would “never” use again. only one has came back with what i consider a reasonably price for something like this 300.00 but it is porcelin not something that a child can play with which is what i really wanted something that my child could play with. if anyone is in the doll industry obviously havent done their research because making dolls that are “different” would make them a fortune and i would deffently be their first costomer. i also ran across a you tube video of someone of the family made a doll with a cleft like her the joy on her face and the smile brought tears to my eyes because there was a doll who was “like her”. If there are any sites where you can find dolls like this please let me know i must have overlooked them. I am still in search and am determined to find someone to make my child a baby doll with a cleft lip.

By: christine

christine — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:38:40 +0000

god bless you for having a good heart….it is nice to know that even people with no chldren or with children care enough to understand that our kids need to know there is nothing wrong with being different

By: christine

christine — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:34:53 +0000

i love the idea of having a doll like my girl. i wish i could get one for my girl she is 12 and wants a doll that looks like her….so does her sister………if anyone knows where i could get one PLEASE contact me.
there is nothing wrong with having special needs dolls……i think it is a great thing, so they dont feel so out of place.

By: Marie

Marie — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:22:10 +0000

I have cerebral palsy myself so I was EXTREMLY happy to find a doll that actually pays tribute to the disability. But I can understand your point that they (mattel) might of picked a more ‘mild’ disability to model rather than down syndrome, blindness, etc. But at the same time I don’t see any other doll companies paying tribute to anything at all so I guess it’s a matter of “take it or leave it”

By: Robert Hughes

Robert Hughes — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:32:56 +0000

Sorry… looking for Kim Maclean – who went to school with me at Conestoga College please get in touch with me!

Thx,
Rob Hughes

By: the brokendown bar man

the brokendown bar man — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:20:23 +0000

i am not a parent and have no real interaction with people with downs syndrome. i would say that i am fairly ignorant of the syndrome. i know it exists but i dont know much about it.
i find it impossible to say wether it would be a good idea. all i can say is that it cant really be a bad idea, can it? anything that can raise awareness and can aid social intergration of people who are, i suppose, viewed as different must surely be a good thing.
from reading the post and the comments i feel that it might be a good idea if a family was expecting a downs syndrome baby for example. it may help any younger children cope/understand/accept, if they are the right words!!

By: Monica Crumley

Monica Crumley — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:09:44 +0000

Thanks for the thought-provoking question. I wouldn’t be tempted to buy a specifically Ds doll because, for one, my child doesn’t have all the markers and wouldn’t identify with it. His eyes are almond shaped, but so are many others. A lot of people are shorter or stouter than others and a lot of people have shorter limbs than others. He does have a cute little button nose. I suppose I wouldn’t go looking for a doll with a long, pointy nose or black hair since he has blonde hair. It’s an interesting question, but I don’t think I’d want to highlight his features as “differences”, rather celebrate what makes him unique and all the things make we all have in common.

By: LegalMist

LegalMist — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:14:38 +0000

I’ve enjoyed reading all the different viewpoints. Thanks to all for a thought-provoking yet sensitive discussion.

By: Kim Ayres

Kim Ayres — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:12:30 +0000

Re-reading through all the comments, I think the primary thing about the suitabilty of dolls of the kind we’re talking about, is whether the child expresses a desire for one.

It’s one thing to yearn to have a doll that has the same special needs as you, but it’s quite a different thing to have it thrust upon you.

It’s the difference between defining yourself and other people defining you.

Thank you once again to everyone who’s commented

By: Ecki

Ecki — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:40:24 +0000

This reminds me of a time when my (typical) daughter went to a BuildABear party (her little sister has Down syndrome and autism). The girl working there didn’t stuff one of the bear’s legs by accident. I noticed that they actually had wheelchairs for the Bears and I offered to get her one for her bear. Ummmm, she was NOT happy about that idea! So, we got her bear restuffed. I suppose toys are supposed to be ideals and fantasy, and not reality.