25+ Weird Barbie Dolls That Were Actually Made at Some Point

This article appeared in pensandpatron.com and has been published here with permission.

The Barbie doll debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9th, 1959. The doll has had over 250 jobs in her lifespan. However, not all the Barbie dolls introduced to the market have been a total success. Some were major flops and had to be recalled. From plain weird to incredibly creepy, here's a list of Barbie dolls that society didn't want.

Pregnant Midge

Midge first appeared in the 1960s and was marketed as Barbie's wholesome best friend. She stayed popular until 2002 when Mattel introduced her as a pregnant doll. It didn't end there; the baby bump could be detached and it contained a baby.

It's no wonder parents were creeped out by the doll, with many thinking it promoted teen pregnancy. The company sold the doll as part of the Happy Family set, but as it turns out, the family was not so happy. Sometimes, we're left scratching our heads about what the designers were thinking!

Hello Barbie

Mattel followed the electronics theme in 2015 and unveiled Hello Barbie. The doll could talk, listen and respond to what she heard through a microphone and a Wi-Fi connection. As if that wasn't enough to raise eyebrows, the doll could remember what was said and bring it up days later.

The doll's functions creeped out parents, and they raised privacy violation concerns. Parents were scared of the doll being hacked since it functions by connecting to Wi-Fi. Mattel discontinued the doll two years later - a decision that didn't surprise us at all.

Going Through Puberty

In 1964, Skipper was introduced as Barbie's younger sister after some fans demanded that Barbie have a child. She joined the Barbie universe as an eight-year-old, and in 1975, Mattel decided it was time for Skipper to go through puberty.

They introduced a doll called Growing up Skipper to teach kids about changes undergone through puberty. When her left arm was rotated, the doll would elongate and "develop" a chest. The company boasted that the doll went from a "cute little girl" to a "tall, curvy teenager." Ew, Mattel. Gross!

Adorable but Hazardous

Tanner the Golden Retriever was one the most adorable cameos of the Barbie film. Mattel launched the Barbie-Tanner playset in 2006, with the toymaker making it incredibly realistic. Tanner could eat his play treat and poop it out for Barbie to pick up after him.

However, they discontinued this playset in 2007, and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled more than 680,000 units. The set included a scooper accessory with a magnetic end for kids to pick up Tanner's play poop. The loose magnets on the scoopers were considered a health hazard, as children could swallow them.