Tiny Tears

Tiny Tears, Palitoy, 1980. Museum no. B.1818:4-1999 (click image for larger version)

Drink and wet dolls were developed in the USA in the 1950s. Tiny Tears was one of the first and was launched in the UK in 1966 when it won UK Toy of the Year. This Tiny Tears doll was made by the Palitoy company and was launched in the UK in 1977. She is made from soft vinyl. Tiny Tear's unique characteristic was that she cried  tears and wet herself. To make her cry you had to feed her with her bottle then put here dummy in and finally squeeze her tummy. She would wee at the same time as crying. Tiny Tears eyes gradually closed when you rocked her to sleep instead of opening or closing depending on her position like many other dolls.

Baby Born, Zapf Creation, 2003. (click image for larger version)

Drink and wet dolls are still made today. Zapf-Creation's doll Baby Annabel is a very popular battery-operated doll which not only cries but also gurgles and giggles, moves when she drinks and makes baby snoring sounds when she sleeps. Zapf-Creation's Baby Born also squeals with delight as well as cries and uses her potty.