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title: American Girl Dolls Underwear Parent Backlash
description: Find out why parents are so upset about the change to American Girls dolls' underwear.
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article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T09:04:48.316Z
og:title: Why Are Parents So Upset About American Girl Dolls' New Underwear?
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4922b018f838a114/6988ba458fd2eea227355ca6/american-girls-dolls-underwear.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Why Are Parents So Upset About American Girl Dolls' New Underwear?

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by 

[Lindsay Kimble / People](https://time.com/author/people/)


## Lindsay Kimble / People


Contributor

Feb 14, 2017 2:58 PM UTC

![The American Girl Doll Store Ahead Of Mattel Inc. Earnings Figures](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4922b018f838a114/6988ba458fd2eea227355ca6/american-girls-dolls-underwear.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Melody Ellison Dolls are displayed in the window of an American Girl Place store on 5th Avenue in New York, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016\. Mattel Inc., the parent company of American Girl Brands LLC, is scheduled to release earnings figures on October 19\. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Melody Ellison Dolls are displayed in the window of an American Girl Place store on 5th Avenue in New York, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016\. Mattel Inc., the parent company of American Girl Brands LLC, is scheduled to release earnings figures on October 19\. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg—Bloomberg via Getty Images

by 

[Lindsay Kimble / People](https://time.com/author/people/)


## Lindsay Kimble / People


Contributor

Feb 14, 2017 2:58 PM UTC

A recent change to the beloved [American Girl](http://www.americangirl.com/) dolls has some longtime customers up in arms.

The company announced last week that its dolls will now have their underwear sewn on to their cloth bodies. Previously, undergarments for the dolls needed to be separately purchased and could be interchanged like the rest of the company’s toy accessories.

“We take our customer comments very seriously, as well as any changes to our dolls. We would never change our dolls without careful consideration, and we want to address feedback received about the new underwear design, which will eventually affect all of our Truly Me dolls; the BeForever characters Julie, Melody, and Maryellen; and some of our contemporary dolls to come,” American Girl wrote in a [Facebook post](https://www.facebook.com/americangirl/photos/a.417907931585706.91492.175829615793540/1327998453909978/?type=3&theater).

The company showed a side-by-side of the previously unattached underwear and the new design. They also showed a doll wearing their bikini swimsuit design, with the sewn-on underwear underneath.

“Doll play is fueled by imagination and the new underwear design should not hamper a girl’s ability to create limitless play opportunities,” American Girl said. “We appreciate all the feedback. We love our fans and love how passionate this community is about American Girl. We care deeply, too.”

American Girl – which is a subsidiary of Mattel – has sold its popular, 18-inch dolls since 1986\. Current lines include Girl of the Year, WellieWishers (14.5 inch vinyl dolls), BeForever (a line of historically-themed dolls), TrulyMe (customizable dolls) and Bitty Baby (baby dolls).

_This_ [_article_](http://people.com/babies/american-girl-dolls-underwear-controversy/) _originally appeared on_ [_People.com_](http://people.com)

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