Mary Beth Wells, who is both a birth mom and an adoptive mom, recently started a company called The Precious Baby Doll Company. Her mission is to help tell the stories of babies adopted all over the world and to help children learn about and celebrate adoption.
The Precious Babies, which have soft bodies and vinyl arms, legs, and faces, are approximately 17 inches tall. So far, there are three dolls:
American – Kimberly Caryn has blond hair and blue eyes and comes dressed in a cotton sleeper. She is named after the daughter that Mary Beth Wells (the company’s founder) gave birth to and relinquished for adoption.
Guatemalan – Sophia Allesandra, named after the daughter Mary Beth adopted from Guatemala, has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes and comes dressed in a soft yellow cotton dress with a bright red band on both the skirt and the sleeves. She also wears brown sandals.
Russian – Katya Irina has auburn hair and green eyes. Her outfit consists of a white blouse, gathered at the sleeves, with a red border at the collar and embroidered edging on the arms. Her red dress features the same embroidery along the top, bottom, middle and straps. The dress is lined and both the dress and blouse have velcro closures. Katya also comes with white lace booties.
All three dolls come with a diaper and each doll costs $80 (US). Accessories for each doll include a book that tells the story about their country of birth and the love that brought them to a new world. Other accessories include “pets” (tiny stuffed animals), clothing, satin blankets, a picture frame and a carrier sling.
Mary Beth Wells, the company’s founder, has an interesting adoption story. She writes:
I am a birth mother that relinquished my child for adoption when I was a very young girl. It was at a time when a young girl’s cries went unheard. I located my birth daughter and was met with hostility and anger from the adoptive parents. They took out a restraining order on me and made my daughter do the same when she was 18 years old.
Trying to close that chapter of my life, I attempted to move on. I married and found out that I could not conceive again. Four years ago I adopted a beautiful daughter from Guatemala. I have since divorced and am in the process of adopting another baby from Guatemala. I also now have a relationship with my birth daughter that grows stronger every year.
For Mary Beth, the joy of having two daughters means that for her, the circle of adoption to adoption is now complete.
For more articles about adoption and to locate additional sources for adoption merchandise, please visit my Web site, www.laurachristianson.com.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi,
I do think the dolls are great, as they do celebrate the child’s individuality as an adopted child. What I do not see representated is the African American, and African origin children of other countries. Please represent all, thank you.
We will be celebrating the beauty and heritage of the African baby! We don’t have a time schedule for them as yet but please keep checking our website for new additions. Thank you!
Precious Baby Doll Company