Betsy Wetsy
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Betsy Wetsy was a doll created by the Ideal Toy Company of New York, starting in the 1950s. She was given her name because her mouth was open and, when her "mommy" inserted her bottle to feed her, the liquid came out the other end, giving "mommy" experience in changing diapers. Betsy Wetsy, or "Little Miss Betsy Wetsy" as it read on the box in the 50s, was made in 8 inch, 13 inch, and 22 inch varieties. Some had hair that was part of the plastic of the doll's head, while others had plugged hair in brown, blond, or red. A made-in-China version of the Betsy Wetsy was reissued in the late 1980s by Ideal to boost sales, but it never reached the success of the original.
Betsy Wetsy was first produced by Ideal in 1934, named for the daughter of Abraham Katz, the head of the Ideal Doll Company. Effanbee had earlier produced a similar doll, "Dy-dee," and a suit resulted over patent infringement. Supposedly, the judge ruled that drinking and wetting are natural movements and no patent can cover these. Anyhow, Ideal produced Betsy Wetsy in 1934, revised her heavily in the late 1930's, and produced her in many sizes in the 30's and 40's. Materials used in production changed with improved technology. There were also Black versions of Betsy Wetsy in these early years.
