Barbie® doll’s pink ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) match her outfit perfectly and support her as she walks, while her white sneakers have a zipper detail so kids can easily slip them on and off! This realisation – that play can be a valuable tool in shaping how children think – has sent toymakers around the world scrambling to better capture the rich diversity of the world around us. Dolls that are gender neutral, in wheelchairs or which have prosthetic limbs have proliferated in recent years. Editor’s note: Text has been lightly edited and condensed for content and clarity. Why Do You Make Baby Dolls?

The line also features dolls who use wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, dolls with vitiligo and a doll without hair. Mattel said it consulted the NDSS and medical professionals to inform the design process, introducing a new face and body sculpt to be more illustrative of women with Down’s syndrome, including a shorter frame and a longer torso. This means so much for our community, who for the first time, can play with a Barbie doll that looks like them. Finally, in 2016, as it faced softening sales of the doll, Mattel crafted Barbie into a more realistic depiction by making the newer dolls more inclusive and diverse in their appearance. Barbie was reintroduced in four body types and seven skin tones, with 22 eye colors and 24 hairstyles. Her evolution continues with Barbie Fashionistas, which came three years later.Since its inception in 1959, Barbie has introduced more than 175 looks with a variety in skin tones, hair textures, body diversity and dolls reflecting people with disabilities. First available as either a blonde or brunette, the shapely blonde bombshell Barbie has since become synonymous with the brand, which has previously been criticised for promoting an unrealistic body image and overly sexualised appearance. The doll wears a yellow and blue dress with butterflies, all symbols associated with Down syndrome awareness, according to NDSS. The new Barbie is part of Mattel's Barbie Fashionista line of dolls which champions diverse representations of beauty and appearance. Mattel

Its palms include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down syndrome, according to Mattel. The doll also wears pink ankle foot orthotics (AFOs) to match her outfit and the trainers have a zip detail. AFO’s are most commonly used by children with Down’s syndrome in the US. While not all people with Down’s syndrome wear ankle foot orthotics as each person is unique, Barbie took the decision to promote the representation of adaptive equipment in the play space by including them as accessories.

The move was welcomed by charities, with Carol Boys, chief executive of the UK Down’s Syndrome Association, saying: “Children in our community will be able to play with a doll that represents them.” For decades after its debut in 1959, Barbie dolls continued to be light-skinned – white – slender, blonde, with a very narrow waist, ample bosom and always teetering on impossibly high heels. We are extremely proud of the products we currently have that speak to diversity and inclusion and remain deeply committed to expanding in this important area. American Girl is continually striving to maintain its positive reputation for inclusiveness, and while we have a vast array of dolls and accessories that help a girl create a doll that’s as unique as she is, we know there are many experiences and circumstances yet to be represented. Although we’re unable to say when or if a Down syndrome doll will be developed in the future, the request has been shared with the appropriate people at American Girl and will help spur important conversations among our teams. We were thrilled to work with Ivy Kimble for our holiday catalogues and look forward to continuing our work in celebrating all girls. The doll’s puff sleeved dress pattern features butterflies and yellow and blue colours, which are symbols associated with Down’s syndrome awareness We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play.”

Mattel recently has embraced a more inclusive approach to its 64-year-old iconic Barbie brand. But the company has long faced criticism for giving girls a role model of a female body type with unrealistic proportions.This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating.” British model Ellie Goldstein poses with Barbie's first doll with Down's syndrome, the newest addition to the Fashionistas line She said: “I am so happy that there is a Barbie with Down’s syndrome. Seeing the doll, I felt so overwhelmed - it meant a lot to me and I’m so honoured and proud that Barbie chose me to show the doll to the world. Launched in 1959 by American toy company Mattel, Barbie - whose full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts - has since become the most famous doll in the world.

Mattel Inc. announced a new Barbie doll with Down syndrome. It was created to give more children an opportunity to see themselves in Barbie, the company said. American Girl has stated that their purpose is to, ‘Build character through strong characters, represent every girl’s story and focus on authenticity,’” Robertson said, adding: Other Barbie Fashionistas in the range, which was launched last year, include dolls with vitiligo (condition where pale white patches develop on the skin), a doll without hair, a Barbie wearing braces and a Ken with a prosthetic leg. Kids 3 years old and up can collect other Barbie® Fashionistas™ dolls for even more fun with friends and fashion at playtime! This is the first Barbie doll to be introduced with Down’s syndrome, expanding the Fashionistas line to include a person with an intellectual disability.But at least one doll maker disagrees with American Girl’s position — Kristy Leigh Walker, a master doll maker who has been creating lifelike dolls with Down syndrome for more than five years. If a company like American Girl followed her lead, Walker told The Mighty, beautiful dolls with Down syndrome could be provided to thousands of people around the world.