Who is Ruth Handler’s daughter? Not many people know about the real-life inspiration behind Barbie - here's everything we know about the girl the iconic doll was named after.

Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie has been the unmissable film of the summer, disrupting the industry by breaking records all over the place and setting new standards for equality. Even the unexpected age rating hasn't put some parents off taking younger viewers along, such are the important messages of the film. The movie's ending perfectly encapsulated the feminist perspective depicted throughout - how much Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were paid for their work pushes the message further. 

With viewers already asking when Barbie will be available to stream, Barbie fever has well and truly taken hold. Questions are now being asked about the inspiration behind the iconic doll, and there's a fantastic story behind it. Read on to find out who creator Ruth Handler's daughter is, and her part in the resulting Barbie we know and love.

Who is Ruth Handler's daughter?

Barbara Roberts is the daughter of Mattel co-founder and one- time president, Ruth Handler. She serves as the inspiration behind the original Barbie doll.

Born Barbara Handler on May 21, 1941, Barbara is still alive and currently 82-years-old. Both of her parents were involved in the formation of Mattel; her mother Ruth and father Elliot teamed up with friend Harold Matson and built the company from their garage. The name is a hybrid of Matson and Elliot, with Ruth's name conspicuously left out of the title. 

According to the New York Times, Barbara loved playing with dolls as a child, with this continuing into her teenage years. During a family trip to Europe, it was in Lucerne that the 15-year-old Barbara spotted a doll in a shop window like nothing she'd ever seen before. Having only ever played with paper dolls, the Bild Lilli fashion doll with the ability to change clothes, was very different to the one's she was used to and was a rare feature for dolls of this era.

"It was an adult, figurative doll, sort of a sculptural thing, I guess," Barbara said. "You could change the clothes, playact. Once I had seen the doll in the window in Switzerland, I noticed it in some of the other countries also. I was going crazy because I wanted different clothes for it, and they didn't sell the clothes separate. You had to buy a different doll every time you wanted a different outfit" she added.

Ruth purchased four of the dolls for a delighted Barbara, but once she'd played with them throughout the trip, her mother took them back. The dolls were then taken apart and researched by Ruth, who had now formed the concept of her own toy - a doll that wouldn't need a new purchase for every outfit change, but would come with interchangeable outfits and accessories. The Barbie doll, named after Barbara was born, and Ken was named for Barbara's brother, Kenneth. 

However, Barbara has always been keen to point out that her desire for changing dolls outfits, along her own name, are the only inspirations for the adult-themed dolls - their physical form were modelled on adult bodies. "It was not molded to look like me. That's a misconception," she said, adding "People do think it does. But it was never made to, and that's it. It was only a doll to me, and it wasn't [based on] my life." 

Is Barbara Handler in Barbie?

Despite rumours Barbara was going to cameo in the Barbie movie, she did not appear in the film.

Some viewers thought it was Barbara portraying the elderly lady on a bench who chats with Barbie at a Santa Monica bus stop. However, Barbara shut down those rumours, clarifying the woman was not her and that her family had nothing to do with the film.

Barbara has said that from the trailer, she thinks Margot Robbie completely nailed the role. She added that her mother Ruth, who passed away in 2002, would never have envisioned her creation becoming a smash-hit Hollywood film but does believe she would have been delighted. 

Who was the old lady at the bus stop in Barbie?

The old lady at the bus stop in Barbie was actually Oscar-winning costume designer, Ann Roth.

Roth is a friend of Gerwig's, who has worked on Margot at the Wedding, While We're Young, and White Noise. Gerwig told Rolling Stone that she was initially urged to cut the poignant scene from the movie, as it didn't add value to Barbie's story - she felt it was extremely important, insisting it be kept in. "I love that scene so much," she said, adding "And the older woman on the bench is the costume designer Ann Roth. She’s a legend. If I cut the scene, I don’t know what this movie is about."

Viewers clearly agreed that the moment between Barbie and the older lady left an impact, sharing their thoughts about it to social media. One person wrote on Twitter "Thinking about Barbie and the old lady on the bench, and Barbie calling her beautiful. Help, why does just thinking of the scene already make me teary?"

Another added "Oh btw when Barbie turned to the old lady on the bench and said 'you’re so beautiful' I had a LOT of trouble holding it together. It’s so earned in the film and Margot Robbie is magnificent." 

Did Barbara Handler have children?

Barbara Handler has spoken of a daughter named Cheryl and has another child whom has not been publicly named.  

She married a man named Allen Segal at the age of 18, and divorced him 11 years later. Kveller reported that Barbara Handler and her daughter, Cheryl Segal had referred to the Mattel factory in Hawthorne as "A wonderland of diversity and inclusivity, where workers were welcome regardless of the color of their skin or sexual orientation." Her brother Ken went on to have three children with his high school sweetheart.

When asked if her own life had been as interesting as Barbie's with the many "careers" the doll has been depicted undertaking over the years, Barbara said "As far as my careers, there haven't been too many. I did have a store with a partner - all sorts of bedding, linens, comforters, comforter covers. That was a good 10 years, in my 30's and 40's. My interests have been pretty normal interests. I've done a lot of skiing; I do a lot of golf." 

In more Barbie news, you might be surprised at the most popular Barbie doll right now. Barbie and Ken baby names have surged in popularity, and these Barbiecore buys will keep all Barbie obsessed households happy.

Everyone's talking about Greta Gerwig's box office record-breaking movie, and many want the Barbie ending explained. 

Director Greta Gerwig's feminist take on the iconic Mattel doll has the whole world talking. The original doll took inspiration from creator Ruth Handler's daughter and love it or hate it, there's no denying that it's been a success. It's already sparked rumours of a second Barbie movie and an entire Mattel cinematic universe, with a Polly Pocket movie recently being confirmed. 

Sparking conversation about the evolution of Barbie, and a fierce debate about whether the Barbie movie is suitable for kids, film fanatics have been eagerly analysing the meaning behind the Barbie movie and it's strong feminist undertones - how much Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were paid for their roles reflects the message further. Despite the dance numbers and lashings of pink, the film has a serious side - and more than one cinemagoer has admitted to tearing up at the Barbie movie ending. Here's the poignant plot explained...

Barbie movie ending explained

At the ending of the Barbie movie, stereotypical Barbie - played by Margot Robbie - becomes human and enters the real world. The final scene sees Barbie - now going by the name Barbara Handler, who her creator named her after - living in the human world.

She makes the decision after Ruth Handler - the creator of Barbie and played by Rhea Perlman - gives her a glimpse of what it means to be human. She explains that joining the real world will mean living through human experiences - joy as well as heartbreak - and illustrates this by showing Barbie a montage of women going about their daily lives.

We then see Barbie, along with her new human friends Gloria (America Ferrera) and her daughter Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), arrive for a meeting. The viewer is initially led to believe Barbie is going for a job interview, before it's revealed that she has an appointment with her gynaecologist. 

This plays on a running joke about Barbie and Ken dolls' lack of genitals, and suggests that Barbie really has been turned into a human, otherwise she wouldn't need the appointment.

Speaking to USA Today about the last scene in the film, director Greta Gerwig revealed that "with this film, it was important for me that everything operated on at least two levels. I knew I wanted to end on a mic-drop kind of joke, but I also find it very emotional.

"When I was a teenage girl, I remember growing up and being embarrassed about my body, and just feeling ashamed in a way that I couldn’t even describe. It felt like everything had to be hidden."

She continued: "And then to see Margot as Barbie, with this big old smile on her face, saying what she says at the end with such happiness and joy. I was like, if I can give girls that feeling of, 'Barbie does it too' - that’s both funny and emotional."

And there's an added personal touch to the film's final scenes, as Greta Gerwig's mother worked as an OB-GYN nurse, and the women Ruth Handler shows Barbie in the montage are friends and family of the Barbie movie's cast and crew.

What happens at the end of Barbie?

The Barbie movie wraps up with Barbieland being rescued from the hands of the Kens' when they adopt a take on patriarchy. But instead of going back to the matriarchal society it was before, the Barbies agree that the Kens can have more say in how things are run going forward.

Ken (Ryan Gosling) enjoyed his time in the real world, where he witnessed patriarchal systems playing out, and took the idea back to Barbieland with him. This meant that when Barbie arrived after him, accompanied by new human friends Sasha and Gloria, Barbieland looked a lot different to when they left. The Kens had taken over and created a Kendom, while the Barbies were rendered powerless servants.

This leaves stereotypical Barbie, Sasha and Gloria, along with Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) and Allan (Michael Cera), with the task of bringing the brainwashed Barbies back to their senses and turning the Kens against each other. 

After Barbieland is saved, Ruth Handler arrives and gives Barbie the choice of either staying a toy and remaining in Barbieland, or embracing humanity and returning to the real world.

What is the message behind the Barbie movie?

The Barbie movie focuses on the pressures women face to be 'perfect', which are outlined in a monologue given by Gloria. It is Gloria's analysis of the experience of being a woman in modern society that reverses the brainwashing of the other Barbies, so that they can take back power over Barbieland.

She tells Barbie, who is having a crisis over her looks and her place in the world at the time, "It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong."

She concludes the monologue with: "I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing a woman, then I don’t even know."

And at the end of the Barbie movie, Gloria, who is an assistant for Mattel's CEO (Will Ferrell), suggests they make an 'Ordinary Barbie' - one that doesn't reinforce unrealistic body and lifestyle standards.

The film also explores themes of identity, as Barbie begins to question where she belongs, while Ken has a crisis over always being in Barbie's shadow. Stereotypical Barbie and Ken have a heart-to-heart where she tells him not to base his entire identity on being loved by her, and Barbie realises that she can't go back to Barbieland after experiencing the complexities of life in the real world, saying she no longer knows how her story is supposed to end.

She tells Ruth she doesn't want to be an idea anymore, she wants to do something meaningful. Ruth replies, "Humans only have one ending. Ideas live forever." Fully accepting this, Barbie chooses to leave Barbieland for good.

If you're looking for more analysis of popular films and TV shows, we've also explained the ending of Heartstopper season 2 and the ending of Silo. Plus, here's who survives the Death Date at the ending of Manifest. 

Following the film's star-studded London premiere, parents are asking about the Barbie movie age rating, and if the new film is for kids.

It's the movie we've all been waiting for, and after smashing box office records everyone wants to know when Barbie will be available to stream. It's now over 60 years since the first Barbie was made, with the original doll inspired by creator Ruth Handler's daughter. Yet, this is the first live-action movie featuring the character. Starring Margot Robbie as the iconic Mattel doll, the film follows Barbie on her journey out into the real world with Ken, who's played by Ryan Gosling - the pair have made history by being paid the same staggering sum for their roles.

Barbie has earned its place as one of the best toys out there, with the most popular Barbies contributing to the 100 Barbie dolls sold worldwide every minute. Now, much like parents want to know is Madame Web suitable for kids, the same is being asked of Barbie. We've found out everything you need to know...

Barbie movie age rating: What age is the Barbie movie for?

In the UK, Barbie has received a 12A age rating from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), with the classification citing "moderate innuendo, brief sexual harassment, [and] implied strong language" as the reasons for the rating.

This means that the movie is not deemed to be suitable for children under 12, and no one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. The official definition of 12A films adds, "Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child."

Meanwhile, in the US the Barbie movie has been given an age rating of PG-13. This means that parents are "strongly cautioned", because "some material may be inappropriate for children under 13." That doesn’t mean that kids younger than 13 can’t see the movie - this is up to their parent or guardian to decide.

Some parents have been left unimpressed by the movies age rating, with one pointing out on Facebook, "They put it in the trailers for all the other kids films in the cinema." Others were equally as confused, as another Facebook user wrote, "These age ratings are weird anyway. How are parents supposed to decide if it's appropriate for their kids if they haven't seen it?"

But some agreed with the classification. Another Facebook comment read, "Good… let the millenials and Gen x have something nostalgic that isn’t wrapped up in kid tape".

Barbie movie: Full BBFC guidance

• Violence: Comic fight scenes include undetailed punches, kicks, headbutts and use of improvised weapons.
• Threat and horror: Infrequent scenes of mild threat include a car chase. This occurs within a comic context.
• Language: There is a use of bleeped strong language ('motherf**ker'), as well as moderate bad language ('b*tch') and milder terms such as 'crap', 'God', 'hell', and 'damn'.
• Sex: Moderate innuendo includes occasional gags about 'beaching off' and 'sugar daddies'.
• Sexual violence and sexual threat: There is a scene of sexual harassment in which men catcall a woman and make inappropriate comments about her appearance. A man slaps a woman's bottom, however, his behaviour is immediately challenged and results in negative consequences.
• Dangerous behaviour: A child melts a doll's hair using a lighter.
• Theme: There are occasional verbal references to death and mental health. Occasional references are made to patriarchal attitudes about women’s roles in society. These attitudes are clearly condemned and satirised.

Is the Barbie movie for kids?

The Barbie movie is not aimed at children, although it has been deemed appropriate for children aged 12 and above, making it suitable for teenagers.

While the age rating may seem surprising for a film that's based on a child's toy, Greta Gerwig's latest work sees Barbie experience something of an existential crisis as she leaves Barbieland and enters the real world, with strong themes around gender roles present throughout the film.

Meanwhile, cast member Will Ferrell revealed in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the movie will serve as a pointed satire on male patriarchy and the role that Barbie plays in society, especially regarding social and beauty standards for women

Trailers for Barbie have already teased some "suggestive references" in the film, for example in a scene where two Kens get into an argument about 'beaching' each other off.

This is not to say that younger children would not be entertained by humour, musical sequences and fantastic pink outfits in the Barbie movie, but it's up to their parents to decide whether the themes are too mature.

What is the Barbie movie about?

Barbie sees Margot Robbie as the title charactergo on a journey of self-discovery after her expulsion Barbieland, with Ryan Gosling's Ken by her side. Alongside the pair is a large ensemble cast that includes Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, and Nicola Coughlan as various Barbies, and Will Ferrell as the CEO of Barbie manufacturer Mattel.

When they enter the real world, where the Mattel corporation and its CEO await, the film highlights the contrast between the utopian, female-centric Barbieland and the realities of modern society. Ken becomes radicalized by America’s notions of patriarchy, while Barbie has to deal with being cat called and groped.

In an interview with Screenrant, Simu Liu, who plays another Ken, said, "You have to really watch the movie to understand this, but it is a feat to have gotten Mattel on board with this movie. Because this movie really goes there, and it attacks all the criticisms of Barbie in the past. It joins in on the conversation, and it's not just like a fluffy, cash-grabby, 'Look at us, we're fine. Everything's perfect.'"

Meanwhile, America Ferrera told PEOPLE in 2022 that viewers should expect the unexpected with the new movie. She said, "People don't have any idea what to expect [about the film’s plot], and I think that that's the right vibe. Whatever you think it is, it's not that. It's something else." 

Barbie movie reviews

Barbie has arrived on the big screen to rave reviews from film critics, and landed on review website Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 89% score. Not everyone was impressed however, with the Daily Mail's Sarah Vine writing, "It’s all just a bit of a poorly thought-out soup," and criticising it for being "deeply anti-man".

• "One of the most inventive, immaculately crafted and surprising mainstream films in recent memory – a testament to what can be achieved within even the deepest bowels of capitalism." - Clarisse Loghrey, The Independent (5 stars)
• "Barbie is easily the comedy of the year. One of the funnest and funniest movies ever made, it’s also breezily outrageous." - Charlotte O'Sullivan, Evening Standard (5 stars)
• "Greta Gerwig delivers a new kind of ambitious and giddily entertaining blockbuster that boasts two definitive performances from actors already in their stride. Life after Barbie will simply never be the same again." - Beth Webb, Empire (4 stars)
• "Ryan Gosling steals the show in the most improbable triumph of the year." - Robbie Collin, The Telegraph (4 stars)
• "Greta Gerwig’s bubblegum-fun-cum-feminist-thesis indulges Ken but pulls its punches as it trips between satire and advert." - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian (3 stars)

How to watch the new Barbie movie

The Barbie movie will be released in cinemas in the UK on Friday 21 July. You can book tickets via Cineworld, ODEON, Vue, Showcase Cinemas and most other UK cinema websites.

It's likely that later down the line Barbie will be available to stream on HBO Max, as Warner Bros. - the company distributing the Barbie movie - also owns HBO Max. For UK viewers, HBO isn't available. However, you can get access to the streaming platform by installing a VPN (our pick is ExpressVPN). 

You might be interested to find out the Only Murders in the Building age rating too, or if you're looking for the best TV picks to watch with kids, check out our list of family-friendly Disney+ shows, the best kids movies on Disney+ and the best kids movies on Netflix.

As the stars of the new Barbie movie prepare to make a very pink and glittery entrance for the London Premiere tonight the most popular Barbie Doll right now has been revealed - and you'll be surprised.

Anyone not attending one of the film premieres will have to wait until the Barbie film release on July 21st or shop these family-friendly Barbiecore buys in the meantime. But there's still plenty of time to get (come on Barbie, let's go ... ) party-ready. It's one of the most anticipated film releases of 2023, and given the popularity of the doll, it's no surprise that parents have been asking if the Barbie movie is for kids.

Manufacturers of the popular doll have come a long way in their 64-year history and not only have they recently introduced a Downs Syndrome Barbie to make their collection more inclusive but they've also got dolls inspired by specific job roles.

The popularity of the movie has caused a huge increase in demand for the dolls, luxury retailer Fenwick has analysed how the movie has impacted certain dolls leading to a spike in searches with fans looking to buy their favourite characters from the movies. 

By analysing eBay search data, Fenwick were able to reveal which dolls from the new cast people are already searching for the most and hoping to get their hands on before the release- and there's some dolls available in Prime Day sales.

And whether you're looking to create an iconic Barbie look or wanting to snap up the best selling toys of all time for your little ones then you'll want to know which Barbie doll is the most popular right now. - as we look who tops the Top 10 list...

Most popular searched Barbie

1. Diplomat Barbie  - +1,400% [search] - played by Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan in the movie
2. Physicist Barbie - [+600%] - played by Emma Mackey
3. Lawyer Barbie - [+420%] - played by Sharon Rooney
4. President Barbie - [+315%] 
5. Judge Barbie - [+150%] - played by Ana Cruz Kayne
6. Computer Scientist Barbie - [+125%]
7. Business Barbie - [+125%]
8. Lifeguard Barbie - [+75%]
9. Doctor Barbie - [+50%]
10. Scientist Barbie - [+50%] 
11. Gymnast Barbie - [+18%] - played by Kate McKinnon

As Margot Robbie arrived at the film premiere in LA last night, all eyes were on her much anticipated Barbie inspired look was revealed. Robbie took inspiration from the 1960's "Solo in the Spotlight" doll, wearing a dramatic black sequin Schiaparelli gown.

Since taking to the pink carpet in the Barbie doll inspired dress, fans have rushed to Google to find the original doll, leading to searches for "Solo in the Spotlight Barbie" to grow by 5886%.

Searches for “diplomat Barbie” have skyrocketed by 1,400% in the past month with fans looking to buy the doll played by Bridgertons Nicola Coughlan, a doll which currently Mattel doesn't stock.

The second most searched was Emma Mackey’s “physicist Barbie”, with an increase of 600% over the past month alone. 

“Lawyer Barbie” searches surged 420% after Sharon Rooney's character in the upcoming film was revealed as an attorney.

Fans were disappointed to find that Mattel, which sells dolls in many other professions, does not currently offer a Lawyer Barbie.

Whilst some of these dolls might not yet be available, there is certainly the demand for them and it wouldn’t be surprising to see these dolls on the shelves in the near future. 

To view more best toy content including best toys for 10 year olds and best toys for 9 year olds visit goodto.com

A brand new trailer and posters for Margot Robbie's Barbie movie have dropped and fans are losing it, as they ask when is the Barbie movie coming out?

A staggering 58 million Barbies are sold each year - with 100 dolls sold every minute - making it one of the best selling toys of all time, so it comes as no surprise that Warner Bros. are releasing a Barbie movie - and parents want to know if the Barbie movie is for kids. Check out our tips and tricks for how to get cheap cinema tickets to see the Barbie movie for a fraction of the standard price - that's if you don't want to wait until the Barbie move is available to stream, anyway.

Director Greta Gerwig is at the helm of the movie, with Noah Baumbach, as co-writer as we look at all you need to know about the upcoming Margot Robbie Barbie movie....

When is the Barbie movie coming out?

The Barbie movie is set to be released in cinemas on 21st July 2023, beginning internationally on July 19th. Filming only started in January 2022 in London, so it's been a fairly quick turnaround and now the day is almost upon us. 

As the news of the Barbie release date was shared on social media, fans flocked to air their excitement. "This is perfect, I'm so happy," one wrote. Another fan tweeted, "COME ON BARBIE LET'S GO PARTY!"

A third fan added, "I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am for this movie. the cast is amazing, the sets are beautiful, and I'm sure the storyline will be amazing!"

There is already a Barbie 2023 Soundtrack on Spotify too, and features Dua Lipa, PinkPantheress and Charlie XCX - all of whom have released brand-new singles for the movie - as well as tunes from Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus.

The official main trailer has also dropped and you can watch it below...

What is Margot Robbie's Barbie movie about?

Margot Robbie's Barbie Movie is a live-action feature film based on the popular line of Barbie toys and it centres on Barbie - a doll living in 'Barbieland' who is expelled for not being perfect enough and sets off on an adventure in the real world. 

The film has a strong satirical angle and points its finger at the patriarchy and traditional gender roles, as well as exploring the role of Barbie in society and the beauty standards women face.

It's being directed by Greta Gerwig (Little Women, Ladybird) and her partner Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story).

Who is playing Barbie?

Barbie is being played by actress Margot Robbie, who rose to fame in Neighbours. The Suicide Squad star has admitted that her new role isn't an easy one to play. 

In an interview with Vogue magazine she said, "It comes with a lot of baggage! And a lot of nostalgic connections. But with that come a lot of exciting ways to attack it. People generally hear ‘Barbie’ and think, ‘I know what that movie is going to be,’ and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and they’re like, ‘Oh, well, maybe I don’t..."

Margot is also down to produce the film through her production company LuckyChap Entertainment.

See Margot Robbie in Barbie movie when it is released in cinemas in 21st July 2023.

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Video of the week

Barbie have unveiled their first doll with Down's syndrome - their latest addition to their new inclusive Fashionistas line.

2023 is a big year for fans of the famous doll, thanks to the release of the much anticipated Barbie movie - which has left parents asking if the Barbie movie is for kids. But there's even more for fans to look forward to this May, thanks to the launch of their first ever Barbie doll with Down's syndrome.

The cult brand worked with America's National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) on the new doll to create an accurate representation of women with Down's syndrome. The doll features a rounder shaped face, smaller ears and a flat nasal bridge with almond shaped eyes. Whilst the doll's palms include a single line - a characteristic often associated with those with Down’s syndrome.

Barbie have additionally weaved in thoughtful clothing and fashion accessory choices that champion the Down's syndrome community. The doll's pink pendant necklace has three upward chevrons to represent the 21st chromosome (the genetic material that causes the characteristics associated with the condition). These chevrons are synonymous with 'The Lucky Few' symbol meant to represent the lucky few who have someone with Down’s syndrome in their lives.

The doll's floral dress additionally showcases butterflies and the yellow and blue colors that are symbols associated with Down's syndrome awareness. The new Barbie also has ankle foot orthotics (AFOs) in a matching pink hue, recognising those commonly worn by some children with Down's syndrome in America.

British Model Ellie Goldstein - who is a Vogue UK cover star in May - fronts the new Barbie doll campaign. Ellie has made history in her own right, being the first model with Down's Syndrome to front fashion campaigns for Gucci Beauty and Adidas.

"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," she said. "Diversity is important to me as people need to see more people like me out there in the world and not be hidden away."

The new doll with Down Syndrome follows the recent release of other dolls that focus on disability representation and diversity inclusion. Last May, Mattel launched a Ken doll with vitiligo, a condition where skin loses pigmentation. Then in August 2022, Strictly Come Dancing star Rose Ayling-Ellis unveiled the first Barbie with hearing aids.

"As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play," said Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls, Mattel. 

"Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves," she adds. "Doll play outside of a child’s own lived experience can teach understanding and build a greater sense of empathy, leading to a more accepting world."

Barbie's doll with Down's syndrome is available to buy from Smyths toystore from May 3, 2023, retailing at £13.99 each.

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Video of the Week

Amazon Prime Day is your chance to save some money on everything from baby gear to kitchen gadgets. There are just a few hours left of the two-day sale event.

More than ever this year it makes sense to spread the cost of Christmas - and Amazon Prime Day is a good chance to get a jump start on that. Whether you're after bargains from this year's top Christmas toys or looking to save on little luxuries like Prime Day beauty deals, we're here to help you bag some of the best Prime Day savings in the run-up to Christmas - and beyond.

Amazon Prime Day October 2022 ran for two days on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 October and ends at midnight. You need Prime membership to qualify for the deals but you can try a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime and cancel at any time.

The best offers so far: quick list

• Kitchen Appliances: Up to 44% off Tefal, Kenwood, Nutribullet and more
• Household cleaning: Up to 47% off Finish, Zoflora, Calgon and more
• Baby: Save on baby essentials including bulk deals on nappies and wipes 
• Preschool toys: Up to 42% off toys for babies and toddlers 
• Lego: Up to 43% off selected bricks and building sets
• Barbie: Over 60% off Barbie toys and prod
• Hasbro: Up to 46% off items like Nerf and Play-Doh
• Arts and Crafts toys: Up to 44% off Galt, Kinetic Sand and Aqua Beads
• Food and drink: Save on snacks, sweets, chocolates and treats 
• Amazon devices: Deals include 58% off Echo Dot for Kids

As day 2 of Amazon Prime Day comes to an end, we're still here live blogging the best deals as we find them. From bulk deals on everyday household items to Christmas essentials that we all want to save money on this year, we’ll never tire of hunting for the best Prime Day bargains. Stay tuned to hear about money-saving lightning deals and unbeatable discounts before they end. 

If there's one thing we're particularly excited about when it comes to today's Amazon Prime Day sale it's the toy deals. 

By this point in the year, all the major toy retailers have announced their roundups of the top Christmas toys and most youngsters have a fair idea of what they'd like to find underneath the Christmas tree. But toys aren't cheap and the prospect of shopping for pricy play items brings many parents out in a cold sweat. With Amazon slashing the price on a whole host of toys this Prime Day including Lego, Playmobil, Barbie and LOL Dolls, it's possible to tick some things off your kids' Christmas wish lists without breaking the bank. 

So without further ado, here are some of the best Amazon Lego deals we've found in the Prime Day sale so far this morning... 

Don't forget that supermarkets and other toy retailers often price-match Amazon on Prime day - so do shop around before you buy to check you're getting a true bargain. We'll be checking prices elsewhere and looking for price-matching deals too.

Did someone say Amazon Prime Day Barbie deals?

When it comes to Barbie dolls and accessories you'd be mad to ever pay full price for these - Amazon always slashes the price of the barbie Dreamhouse during Prime Day and today is no different. Hurrah!

These are the Barbie items going in our shopping basket today...

Can we talk about advent calendars? I know it's October but we're all about spreading the cost of Christmas this year, and that means buying them early.

I'm not about to give my age away here but let's just say that advent calendars are not what they were when I was a kid. Forget fancy chocolate advent calendars and the non-chocolate advent calendars full of everything from jame to make-up - we counted ourselves lucky if we got a flimsy little paper calendar with a cute picture of a robin to gaze at in glee each morning in December.

Nowadays. of course, you get advent calendars filled with every conceivable treat. But advent toy calendars are really where it's at for kids. And yet they're often eye-wateringly expensive - especially if you have more than one child to buy for - and the contents doesn't *always* live up to expectations.

So I'm a big fan of the book advent calendar. (For the kids, I mean. I'll take one of the best food and drink advent calendars, please, if you're asking...) There's something particularly lovely about making time each day in December to snuggle up with your youngster and enjoy a festive story together. 

So I'm definitely popping the Mr Men Little Miss Advent Calendar: Storybook collection in my basket this Prime Day. With a recommended retail price of £19,99 you can snap it up for £9.97 today but be quick, it's an Amazon best-seller and when the units sell out, the deal will end.

Amazon Prime Day is perfectly timed if you want to spread the cost of Christmas and snap up some gifts for the ones you love while the deals are flying. But what do you buy the woman who has everything? Perfume, of course. And our eagle-eyed Features Editor Emily Stedman has just spotted that Calvin Klein's Eternity for Women is HALF PRICE today for Amazon Prime Day. 

Amazon Prime Day - Up to 70% off Fragrance

Amazon Prime Day perfume deals are in full swing now with discounts of up to 70% off selected fragrances. These are a few of the best Prime Day perfume deals we've clocked this morning...

• Calvin Klein Eternity For Men - WAS £60.00 | £28.55 (SAVE: £31.45)
• BOSS Bottled Night Eau de Toilette - WAS £88 | £42.29 (SAVE £45.71)
• Joop! Homme Eau de Toilette - WAS £61.53 | £21.99 (SAVE £39.54)
• Calvin Klein CKIN2U For Her Eau de Toilette - WAS £45.00 | £15.19 (SAVE 29.81)
• David Beckham Homme Eau De Toilette - WAS £35.00 | £8.09 (SAVE £26.91

Read more:

• Best perfumes of all time
• 27 perfume dupes that smell just like designer scents
• 11 most popular beauty products in the Amazon Prime Day sale

Hello! Welcome to the afternoon shift on our Amazon Prime Day live blog. We are here throughout Prime Day (Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 October 2022) tracking all the best deals to help you spread the cost of Christmas and make some savings ahead of the festive season. I'm Heidi Scrimgeour, Consumer Editor here at Goodto and I'm wondering if it's too soon to be craving mince pies...?

Speaking of mince pies, shall we talk about Christmas trees?

Amazon Prime day deals on Christmas trees and decorations are a great way to refresh your festive decor without spending a lot. For starters, there's £30 off this artificial Christmas tree for Prime Day.

Up next: Prime Day Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet deals.

*Calling all parents* 

Make Christmas 2022 THE Christmas for the kids with the all-new Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet. Plus, you can make a great saving, as we have found a great deal in the Amazon Prime Day sale, and an even better one at high-street favourite Currys - we look high and low for these savings.

The all-new 2022 Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet has a 7" display with 16 GB of storage and up to 10 hours of battery life. This latest release of Amazon's Fire tablet has a faster processor than the previous iteration and you get a year of Amazon Kids+ which means more games, apps, books and videos than kids will know what to do with!

I've lost count of how many Fire Kids' tablets we've owned over the years but as a mum of three and Consumer Editor at Goodto I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to parents. The built-in parental controls are my favourite feature - so easy to set and adjust so you can filter what your child can access and even when they can switch the tablet on. It also comes with a 2-year guarantee. 

Lightning deal alert!

If you want to know how to get the best deals on Amazon Prime Day one of the tricks you need up your sleeve is some know-how about Lightning Deals. 

Our Money Editor Sarah Handley explains why they're worth keeping an eye on: 

'But you’ll need to be quick - some Lightning Deals will only be around for 30-minutes or so or until the item sells out. But a bargain is only a bargain if you were only going to buy it in the first place, so be mindful about getting swept up by time-sensitive or limited availability deals and spending more than you intended.'

On that note, we've just found a corker of a Lightning Deal for kids - stand by... it's coming next!

Amazon Prime Day Lightning Deal: Toniebox Julia Donaldson Bundle

I'll keep this brief: my nine-year-old daughter has a Toniebox and it's literally one of the few things she owns that I would run into a burning building to rescue. Ok, I wouldn't do that, but I might momentarily pause and consider it. Seriously, this gadget is that good.

If I were you I'd jump straight over to the Amazon Prime Day sale and snap one up while this Prime Day Lightning Deal is live. When they're gone, they're gone!

But if you need a bit more intel, it's basically a screen-free audio player for kids and it's such a doddle to operate that even toddlers can manage it. (Great news for those of us who are technologically challenged!)

We use ours for bedtime stories - there's a huge range of Tonies audio characters available to buy separately and you simply pop one on the top and the playback begins.

It's padded and portable so you can take it away overnight or even pack it when you go on holiday and the battery runs for hours before you need to recharge it. 

The Tonie bundle includes 1 x Toniebox speaker, 1 x creative-Tonie with 60 mins of preloaded content, and 3 classic Julia Donaldson Tonies: The Gruffalo, Zog, and The Highway Rat.

Bargain. Go!

Prime Day price drop: Playmobil Advent Calendar Christmas Ball

Mark my words, these will sell like hotcakes. You can't beat Playmobil when it comes to advent toy calendars. I should know - I'm a Consumer Editor and my office is currently full of every kind of advent calendar you could possibly imagine and these are the ones my youngest is most desperate to play with,

Yep, kids adore Playmobil advent calendars. And parents adore them for buying us five minutes' extra peace on cold December mornings! But they're also brilliant value for money. Expensive, yes, but the Playmobil pieces last for years (literally) and can be added to existing playsets to create fun that extends well beyond December.

Listed with a recommended retail price of £29.99, Amazon has dropped the price of the Playmobil Christmas Ball advent calendar to £17.16 for Prime Day. We've checked it's a proper deal and can confirm that it's still £19.99 if you buy direct from Playmobil.

Get it while it's hot!

We're still here! Good evening... and welcome to our live blog where we're seeking out the best Amazon Prime Day deals to help you make some mega savings on all your Christmas essentials and spread the cost of the big day. We've just stumbled upon some tasty savings on beer, wine and spirits in Amazon's Prime Day sale, so stay tuned... 

Here's a tip to help spread the cost of Christmas - start stocking up on festive food and drink now by adding one or two items to your shopping every week. They won't make a huge dent in your budget but by the time Christmas is here you'll be well stocked. Speaking of which, we promised you some Amazon Prime day deals on beer, wine and spirits - and here they are.

And with that, we bid you goodnight!

We'll be back bright and early tomorrow with even more bargains to help you spread the cost of Christmas. Brace yourself for day two of Amazon Prime Day - your last chance to pick up some bargains. 

But for now, we need some beauty sleep. 

Speaking of which, here's one more deal to end the day... cooling, silk sleep mask, anyone?

Morning! It’s Amazon Prime Day 2 and we’re back live blogging to bring you the best discounts on everything from toys to tech. I'm Heidi Scrimgeour, Consumer Editor at Goodto.com and I'll be here all day sharing the best discounts as we find them on all kinds of items from air fryers, electric blankets and slow cookers to cleaning products, baby gear and household essentials.

Before we get the show on the road, it's worth reading up on how to save when shopping with Amazon and these tips on how to get the best deals on Amazon Prime Daycan help you spend wisely.

'At a time when costs have been rising all around us, Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale could provide a great opportunity to bag some bargains in the lead-up to Christmas,' writes Goodto.com's Money Editor Sarah Handley.

'But even if there are deals to be had, it is important to approach sales with caution to avoid overspending. Keep spending under control by writing a list of what you need ahead of time to avoid getting caught up in the shopping hype. Check prices against other retailers too to make sure you are paying the best price.'

Prime Day Lightning Deal: The Comfy Wearable Blanket

First up today we've spotted this Prime Day Lightning Deal on wearable blankets.

We love blanket hoodies in our house. My kids all have them and they're the single most worn items of clothing they own. Brilliant for keeping cosy at home without cranking up the heating and the perfect loungewear for family film night. I know a few teens who think nothing of wearing them to the shops too! Come to think of it, my kids would probably live in theirs if they could get away with it.

Amazon shoppers have scored this particular blanket hoodie 4.8 out of 5 stars and there's 22% off the normal price in this Prime Day lightning deal. 

Amazon Prime Day Air Fryer deals

They're all the rage. Mostly since we all started Googling how much it costs to run an air fryer and discovered that they're considerably cheaper than other ways of cooking. 

Goodto's Money Editor Sarah Handley says there's no better time than Prime Day to snap up an air fryer deal. “Not only can an air fryer offer a healthier way to cook, it’s also cheaper to run than an oven, so can help offer significant savings on your energy bills when used regularly," she says. "If you’re looking to buy one, check out sale events like Amazon Prime Day where you can likely get a better version, maybe with extra features or a larger capacity, for your budget.”

With that in mind, here are three of the best Air Fryer deals we've found today.

HALF PRICE Yankee Candle Gift Set - Prime Day deal

It's baaack... our favourite Amazon Prime Day Yankee Candle Gift Set deal has dropped!

The 2022 Festive Collection Yankee Candle Gift Set is every bit as lush as we had hoped. Beautifully packaged in a seasonal red (of course) gift box, you get  8 medium jar candles along with pretty but practical accessories - the candle topper enhances fragrance distribution, while the wick trimmer helps reduce the soot that can form as the candle burns.

Whether you gift this to a lucky loved one or split the items up and make your own mini Christmas hampers for teachers or friends, this is one Amazon Prime Day deal not to be missed!

And that's not all the Yankee Candle news I bring you! Amazon has also slashed the price of several of the brand's popular large jar candles by a hefty 39%. With up to 150 hours of burn time for the large jar candles, this is a great value Amazon prime Day Yankee Candle deal.

Below are three of my personal faves included in this offer...

Afternoon... Just 12 more hours left of Amazon Prime Day, bargain-hunters! 

Next up, let me tell you about how the Shark cordless hoover that I impulse-bought last Prime Day has CHANGED MY LIFE. Really. Stay tuned. I just need to go and charge the battery...

Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Prime Day deal

There's only really one thing I'm mega tempted to buy on Amazon Prime Day and it's this: a cordless handheld Shark vacuum cleaner. I know what you're thinking. It can't be worth it - surely you'll end up needing a bigger beast and this will lie abandoned in a cupboard while you revert to a 'proper' vacuum cleaner.

Let me tell you why you're wrong. Last Amazon Prime Day I bought the Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (£179.99 - save £140) and it changed my life. It's just so nifty and I love that there's no more wrestling with a tangled cord or stopping the vacuuming halfway up the stairs to plug it in elsewhere so it can reach. I just grab it and go. 

But my favourite thing about it is the fact that you can lift the top part off and use it as a handheld vacuum. That's a game-changer when it comes to vacuuming the stairs and giving the car a quick once-over. 

The only problem is I never know where the Shark is. Why? Because the kids keep using it to clean their rooms and forget to bring it back. Honestly. It's so cool to use that even the teenagers have taken to vacuuming their bedrooms on a regular basis. Worth every single penny it cost.

And that's why I need the Shark Cordless handheld vacuum cleaner (£79.99 - save £50) too. So that I can keep this one all to myself and hoover the biscuit crumbs out of the sofa whenever I want - without having to play hunt the hoover first.

AMAZON PRIME DAY LIGHTNING DEAL: Anjee Weighted Blanket for Kids

Here's another brilliant Prime Day lightning deal.

Weighted blankets are brilliant for helping children to relax and even fall asleep. Originally designed as sensory tools that simulate the pressure of a comforting hug and can calm the nervous system, they can also be expensive. 

But not today! There's a Prime Day Lightning deal on this one from Anjee which gets brilliant reviews and the full 5 stars from Amazon shoppers.

It's available in two different sizes and several different prints but this blue airplane version is the best deal we've seen. The blanket is made from 100% cotton for optimum breathability and temperature control.

Evening, Prime Day bargain-hunters. Goodto.com Consumer Editor Heidi Scrimgeour here, reporting for the final leg of our Amazon Prime Day live blog, bringing you the juiciest deals as we find them. Next up, a deal that our Food Editor was delighted to stumble upon...

Here it is... Food Editor Jessica Dady's Prime Deal of the day. Coming up next, a couple of Le Creuset Casserole 'dupes' we've also found which you might appreciate if your budget won't stretch to this.

Amazon Prime Day Le Creuset 'dupes'

If your kitchenware could do with updating before Christmas, Prime Day is the perfect time to pick up new crockery, update your appliances, or invest in money-saving kitchen gadgets. Casserole dishes and Dutch ovens are expensive but they don't have to be. Here are a couple of cracking Le Creuset casserole dish dupes, as promised!

Here's one more Prime Day lightning deal before we go...

Amazon has slashed the price of the Oral-B Genius 9000 Electric Toothbrush With Smart Pressure Sensor from £299.99 down to just £89.99 - that's a mega saving of £210!

Lightning deals sell out quickly and when the allocated units have sold, the deal ends. So be quick if this last-minute Prime Day deal is a bit of you.

• Buy now: Oral-B Genius 9000 Electric Toothbrush With Smart Pressure Sensor - £89.99 (SAVE 70%) 

More last-minute Prime Day deals

• Best Prime Day baby deals
• Save £96 on this Tefal Air Fryer this Prime Day
• Save 50% on Finish dishwasher tablets in the Amazon Prime Day sale
• Save 66% on the Nespresso Vertuo Plus XN903140 Coffee Machine on Amazon Prime Day
• Save £90 on this Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush in the Amazon Prime Day sale
• Save 39% on large Yankee Candles this Amazon Prime Day
• Save 35% on a bulk box of M&M's with Amazon's Early Access Sale

Wondering when Prime Day ends? 

There's about ten minutes left! That's just enough time to bag some last-minute deals...

• When does Amazon Prime Day end?
• Save up to 40% on Persil, Ariel, Bold and more
• This top-rated Tefal Air Fryer has a HUGE £96 off - only in the Amazon Prime sale
• Save 66% on the Nespresso Vertuo Plus XN903140 Coffee Machine on Amazon Prime Day

And so... to bed.

Thanks for tuning into our Prime Day live blog... see you back here for Black Friday on November 25th!

You'll recognise a few of these best-selling toys of all time, with plenty of them taking pride of place in many a child's toy box. 

Do you remember pestering your parents for a dimpled Cabbage Patch Kids doll - one of the best toys of the 1990s? Or what about that Christmas in 2008 when you spent hours trying to track down the Iggle Piggle cuddly toy?

These top selling toys of all time are full of familiar favourites and modern mini-crazes that took the toyworld by storm. Featuring some of the best toys for three-year-olds and educational toys for kids, we consulted data from Argos and toy market researcher NPD Group to give you the most popular toys of all time.

You'll be surprised at how many have stood the test of time...

The best-selling toys of all time:

Lego

It's official: these colourful, plastic building blocks - which first went on sale in 1947 - remain just as popular with kids today. A staggering 400 million people around the world have dabbled with lego, with seven sets of these bite-sized bricks sold every second. Used to fashion castles, trains, houses and vehicles (plus not forgetting those infamous lego figures) lego has proved its purpose and ability to stand the test of time.  In 2000, The British Association of Toy Retailers even named the LEGO brick "Toy of the Century" - beating the teddy bear, Barbie and Action Man.

For some amazing discounts, check out the Black Friday LEGO deals for 2021.

View at Amazon

Tamagotchi

What kid didn't own one of these in the 90s? These tiny tech pets would transfix us for hours, with us pestering our parents to take care of them whilst we went to school. Amazingly, this pocket toy had a resurgence in the mid 2000s too, with NPD revealing Tamagotchis took the crown for best-selling toy in 2005, 2006 AND 2007. It's definitely one of the best toys for eight-year-olds.

View at Amazon

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Barbie

American company Mattel were onto a winner when they first released this tall, leggy blonde into the world on 9 March 1959. 62 years on and she's still as stylish as ever, though it's nice to see she's evolved representation-wise and embraced new roles as an astronaut and mermaid. Totally Hair Barbie, with her long head to toe length tresses, is officially the best-selling Barbie toy of all time. She generated 10 million sales worldwide alone between 1992 and 1995.

View at Amazon

Buzz Lightyear

It seems kids past and present have found a friend in Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear - with sales of this popular figurine flying from infinity to beyond. Disney have confirmed that their beloved Buzz is the Disney Store's best-selling toy of all time.

View at Amazon

Sylvanian Families

They may have topped the charts as the best-selling toy of 1987, but these furry friends are still going strong today. There's the cow family, the pig family, the otter family.. you get the gist. Devoted child collectors will also have acquired the stately suburban Sylvanian Families home too.

View at Amazon

Monopoly

It's infamous for causing family arguments, yet that hasn't stopped this Hasbro game from becoming the best-selling board game of all time. 275 million Monopoly boards have been sold worldwide with younger family players soon coming of age and fighting you for the dog or hat counter.

View at Amazon

Game Boy

Boys, girls and even parents were swayed by the magic of the game boy, which allowed us to play favourites like Mario Kart and Donkey Kong on the go. First released in Japan in April 1989, an incredible 180 million Nintendo game boys have been sold worldwide since.

View at Etsy

Furby

Furry and friendly, Furbys first made a storm in the toy world in the late nineties. They took the title of most popular selling toy in 2000 and then again in 2013 when Furby Booms were released. Did you know the latest version can lay digital eggs? The perfect toy for six-year-olds.

View at Amazon

L.O.L Surprise Dolls

These cool, pint-sized dolls have dominated the toy market in recent years. According to NPD, L.O.L surprise dolls were the best-selling toy of the year for four years running from 2017-2019. With each doll hidden inside a ball (with stickers and fun accessories), kids never know which doll they're going to get until the very last minute. Hence the 'Surprise'.

View at Amazon

Cabbage Patch Dolls

These cute chubby-cheeked dolls were a sell out in 1984, becoming the best-selling toy of that year. Fans are still able to adopt their unique Cabbage Patch doll today, with the 'licensed patch doctors and nurses' at Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia, helping you to choose from thousands of their soft-toy residents.

View at Amazon

Rubik's cube

This fiddly, brain-teasing toy could keep us occupied for hours - as we painfully tried to match those dastardly coloured squares and prove ourselves in front of our parents. Invented in 1974, Rubik's cubes are a retro classic which generated a staggering 100 million sales by 1983 alone. For those still up to the challenge - the current world record for cracking one of these is 3.43 seconds.

View at Amazon

LeapFrog learning

Be it the original Leap Pad books or the more modern explorer tablet, there's no doubting that LeapFrog revolutionised the way kids read. Adding interactive elements and sounds, these handy reading devices have earnt a spot on our best-selling toys of all time list for being the sell-out toy of the year in 2004 and 2012.

View at Amazon

Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii is one of the best-selling toys of all time. The impressive, interactive video game was officially the most popular toy trend of the 'twenty-tens' decade - with 1 in 3 households owning one in 2010 itself. Who remembers Wii Sport and challenging friends to a competitive game of tennis or bowling?

View at Amazon

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Turtle power is still very much alive and thriving despite their nineties heyday. These first skyrocketed up the toy charts, taking the top-selling toy spot in 1990. And today, new generations of kids are still enthralled by the likes of Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo.

View at Amazon

KidiZoom Camera

Back in the days of the digital camera boom, kids went crazy for Vtech's kidizoom camera. Young budding photographers could take real digital photos (and even selfies) on these brightly-coloured beauties, then use the memory card to upload their portfolio to a nearby PC. NPD revealed that Kidizoom cameras were a triumph for two years running - securing the best-selling toy spot in 2009 and 2010.

View at Amazon

Bratz dolls

Barbie faced some healthy competition from these hip toy dolls in the early noughties produced by MGA Entertainment. An incredible 150 million Bratz dolls have been sold worldwide since they arrived on the scene in 2001 - with the fashionistas celebrating their 20 year anniversary this year.

View at Amazon

Beyblade

Another Noughties toy icon was this spinning-top toy that turned playgrounds into bases for some serious beyblade duelling. There are over 5000 different beyblade combinations, all with different abilities and catchy names like 'Master Diabolos' and 'Heaven Pegasus'. According to NPD they were the best-selling toy of 2003. Though their popularity peaked again in 2016, when the animated TV series Beyblade Burst began airing.

View at Amazon

Stretch Armstrong

Buff, super-tanned and boasting new levels of flexibility - Stretch Armstrong was a staple in almost every nineties toybox. He beat off heavy competition and became the best-selling toy of 1976. And in 2016, Hasbro announced his return, re-releasing their winning 1976 design.

View at Amazon

Iggle Piggle

In the Night Garden's Iggle Piggle cuddly toy was THE ultimate Christmas toy for five-year-olds in the mid-2000s. Released in 2007, after the mass success of the television show, it became the best-selling toy of 2008.

View at Amazon

Star Wars

Is anyone surprised that Star Wars is one of the best-selling toys of all time? The force has stayed strong with these Star Wars figurines - which first went stratospheric in the 1970s. Half a century on, these figures have racked up a crazy £10 billion worldwide. No doubt, the film franchise's recent reboot and films like The Last Jedi have contributed to this. With new characters like Kylo Ren and Rey now available to add to treasured collections.

View at Amazon

When I was growing up I was really into fashion dolls.

Barbie, Sindy… even Polly Pocket when they made her big and you could change her clothes. But I stopped playing with those dolls when school and boys got more appealing. I left them in the past along with other childhood relics as I grew up.

I would argue that making and raising babies is a pretty solid marker or being ‘grown-up’ (well, we like to think so.) So why on earth some parents to treat their children like those same fashion dolls I grew out of so many years ago is completely and utterly beyond me.

Seeing a pair of children – or even worse, three or four – herded along by smug parents, dressed in identical outfits is cringey at best. At worst, it makes you think of some creepy religious cult where parents raise their children with one singular identity and quite possibly the same name as well.

The point about identity is, I think, the most crucial part. Kids should be taught from a young age that the person they are is their biggest asset. They should be encouraged to set goals, both personal and material, and curate their characters with care and enthusiasm. We all strive to be the best versions of ourselves – why should that version match someone else's under the age of ten? In a few years, when they hit their teens, you'll be spending hundreds ensuring your child looks the same as all the other kids in their school – trainers, GHDs, the lot – why would you actively enforce the idea that acceptance only comes in the form of blending in?

Obviously, dressing our children is as much a part of parenting as wiping bums and toddler tantrums. Young children don't choose their own clothes, so it's our responsibility to make sure their happy and comfortable in what we dress them in. And yeah, very young kids won't notice – but my two boys would have been absoloutely mortified to look back on old photos (the photos, my god, the photos) to see that I'd dressed them the same out of some perverse sense of authority, or because I thought they looked 'cute'.

It's an invitation for strangers to comment – in fact, it's more of a demand – and I cannot bare validating parents' narcissism by cooing over their weird matching kids. It's bad enough when they're around the same age, or even the same sex – but dressing your three and eight year old girl and boy in the same clothes just seems like more hassle than it's worth.

I'm against ridiculously gendered clothing, but if even a hint of pink had shown up in my boys' wardrobes they'd be in their Spiderman onesies for a week, purely out of protest. The practicalities are completely not in your favour. Finding matching neutrally coloured, jeans, jumpers, trainers and the occasional hat in wildly different sizing that both or all of your children would be happy to wear? Wasting precious time in the morning rummaging for that exact Go Jetters T-shirt in all three of your childrens' pigsties (sorry, bedrooms)? No way.

It's even worse – unforgivable, really – when parents of twins dress them the same. As if you're not up against enough developing a strong sense of self when there's another small human made of exactly the same DNA as you are, some parents feel the need to really hammer home the point by forcing them into identical clothes. We can see your children are twins, and they would be just as cute without matching hair bobbles and shoelaces (and everything in between).

Like many of the more questionable parenting tactics, my issue with dressing children the same is that its selfish. The kids gain nothing from it; in fact, in my opinion they suffer for it. I would call it lazy parenting if it didn't clearly take so much effort. The only one to benefit here is the smug parent who's decided matching offspring is a good look, and has the pleasure of getting their own way, regardless of how the kids feel about it.