I remember my first Drowsy doll from when I was just a toddler. I'm thrilled that Mattel has brought her back with the new Mattel Drowsy Doll Classic Series collection!

WHY IS SHE A CLASSIC?

Drowsy was first introduced by Mattel in 1964. I'm not sure how many years she was in production, but she did disappear for quite a few years. The original Drowsy was dressed in pink polka dots with a pink ribbon in her blonde hair. She worked by a pull string mechanism and uttered nine or ten original phrases and laughs when her string was pulled.

I had my own Drowsy doll, though she will always be Sally to me. I was around two years old, maybe a bit less, maybe a bit more, when Sally came into my life. She was my favorite. I loved her like I loved no other doll ever in my entire life. Ah, sweet memories!

I began searching for a Drowsy doll to give to my first daughter when she was born in 1989 and there were none to be found anywhere. I browsed on Ebay and was stunned to see that a 1969 version of the doll, with pull string and voice box both functional, was selling for over $200!

THE NEW DROWSY

While I couldn't afford the Ebay prices to score an old style Drowsy doll, I was absolutely thrilled when I found the new Classic Collection Drowsy available at Amazon.

Drowsy looks very similar to how I remember her. She seems a bit smaller to me, but that's probably because I'm just a bit bigger now than I was when I was two years old! Drowsy measures approximately 15 inches long. She is dressed in her same pink polka-dotted pajamas that she wore thirty-eight years ago when she was mine. She has the same blonde hair, the same pink ribbon, and the same sweet sleepy expression on her face. Drowsy is also available in an ethnic version with brown skin and brown hair.

Honestly, when I opened the box, I wanted to hold her immediately. The flood of memories and emotions from my childhood came pouring back. She is that close of a replica.

The Classic Collection Drowsy is different from her original sister in a few ways. The biggest difference, of course, is that she is no longer pull string operated. The new Drowsy is activated by pressing on her tummy. When pressed, she says one of six phrases (instead of the original nine or ten), all of which were once uttered by the original Drowsy doll in the 1960's. Drowsy's voice is just the same as years ago! Her sounds include a laugh and five statements. The statements are:

Mommy, I'm sleepy!
I want another drink of water!
Mommy, kiss me goodnight!
I go sleep now... night night!
Mommy love baby?

The new Drowsy has the same pull down bottom in her pajamas, but this time it is there in order to access her battery pack. Drowsy requires two AA batteries, which are included, to fuel her voice box.

MY EXPERIENCE

Other than the technological changes to Drowsy, she is the same sweet doll baby that she always was! After giving Drowsy to my daughter, I had to hold my Sally again! I was so taken with her that I decided that I needed to keep my Sally and I ordered an ethnic Drowsy for my daughter to keep. She is very happy with her Drowsy (whom she has named Alexia) and I'm super happy having my Sally doll back, though I do have to share her with my younger daughter now too.

I don't care if I'm in my thirties now! I'm keeping this Sally close by. She is even sleeping either with me or right next to my bed! I won't lose my Sally again. Anyone who had a Drowsy doll back in the 60's or 70's would be super pleased with Mattel's Classic Collection Drowsy. Grab your childhood back and get a hold of this baby... but don't touch MY Sally!


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 12.99
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years