Betsy Wetsy
Betsy Wetsy was a "drink-and-wet" doll originally issued by the Ideal Toy Company of New York in 1934. It was one of the most popular dolls of its kind in the Post–World War II baby boom era. Named for the daughter of Abraham Katz, the head of the company, the doll's special feature was simulating urination after a fluid was poured into her open mouth.
Betsy Wetsy
- Name
- Betsy Wetsy
- Period
- 1934
- Region
- United States
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Documentary summary
Betsy Wetsy was a "drink-and-wet" doll originally issued by the Ideal Toy Company of New York in 1934. It was one of the most popular dolls of its kind in the Post–World War II baby boom era. Named for the daughter of Abraham Katz, the head of the company, the doll's special feature was simulating urination after a fluid was poured into her open mouth.
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wikidata · Q4898341 · wikipedia · Betsy Wetsy
In this article
Overview
Overview
Also one of the first major dolls to be produced in African American versions.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Betsy Wetsy • Type — Drink-and-wet doll • Country — United States • Company — Ideal Toy Company • From — 1934 • To — 1980s • Features — "Wetting" Sleep eyes Jointed limbs
History
History
Effanbee had previously manufactured a similar doll, "Dy-dee," and a patent infringement lawsuit resulted. The judge ruled that drinking and urinating are natural movements and cannot be patented. The doll was made in several sizes in the 1940s. It saw a spike in popularity in the 1950s. A made-in-China version was issued in the late 1980s by Ideal to boost sales, but the doll never reached the success of the original.
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 2 entries
1934
Betsy Wetsy first recorded.
2012
Betsy Wetsy (2012) is digitised and catalogued by Open Library.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- United States
Named but not plotted · 1
Betsy Wetsy is associated with United States.
Country
Description
Betsy Wetsy was produced with either molded plastic hair, karakul wigs, or brown, blonde, or red plugged hair. It had blue sleep eyes with eyelashes and its arms and legs were jointed. A layette, baby bottles, a plastic bath tub, and other accessories were available.
Film
Plans for a live-action film adaptation produced by Mattel Films and Aggregate Films were announced in January 2022.
Legacy
In 2003, the Toy Industry Association named Betsy Wetsy to its Century of Toys List, a compilation commemorating the 100 most memorable and most creative toys of the 20th century.
Literature
Scholarly footprint
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Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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