Cabbage Patch Dolls: Kids Dream is a Parent’s Nightmare
As popular as Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, and Smurfs were, there was one doll that ruled the toy market. It was the trophy of competitive toy acquisition. The Cabbage Patch Doll, based on a design by Martha Thomas and adapted by Xavier Roberts, had round faces, yarn hair, and tight-lipped smiles, was unique to the doll market. Each doll was different; some had dimples, some were brunette, some blonde, some redheads, some were bald. But each one had the signature of Xavier Roberts, their fabric sculpture creator, printed on their rear end. And one of the best parts of 80s kids to discover – the doll came with a birth certificate with a unique name. Nobody knew who they were going to get. The dolls were so popular, in 1983, the dolls were so coveted it sparked actual battles between adults to get one for the holiday season.