Everyone Wanted This Toy In The '80s — Now Your Kids Can 'Adopt' One For Under $20

The 1980s were a time of peak toy innovations like My Little Pony, He-Man, and Rainbow Brite. However, none of these created quite as much fandom as Cabbage Patch Kids. Whether children saw these dolls while watching TV or flipping through the pages of the "Sears Wish Book," they dreamed of adopting one and loving it like their own child.

However, it was all about timing. Cabbage Patch dolls made their grand debut in 1983, and during the early fall, kids could take their pick of dolls at their hometown stores. As the holidays approached and the dolls' popularity increased, it was a totally different story. Some stores tried to maintain order by handing out inventory-based vouchers to people waiting in line outside. Without a plan, stores could devolve into anarchy. When 1,000 people battled for 240 dolls in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, five people were injured.

Sadly, some people purchased a Cabbage Patch Kid to sell it for a sizeable profit. Although the retail price was $20 – ironically, you can get some versions today for that same price — one newspaper's classified ads showed resale prices hitting $60 to $350 just before Christmas in 1983. Then again, sometimes parents weren't overly concerned about the cost. In one instance, a parent flew to the United Kingdom in hopes of having better luck in stores there. As a more cost-effective alternative, one department store chain offered a prepaid reservation program for $30. However, this meant kids could have to wait weeks or months before their Cabbage Patch arrived.

While some '80s-era individuals couldn't understand the appeal of Cabbage Patch Kids, the dolls' enduring popularity proves they were way more than just a fad. From the start, Cabbage Patch dolls were available in a variety of skin tones, eye colors, and hair colors/styles. Later on, the options expanded even further to include all-vinyl dolls that could play in the bath. Despite missteps with the '90s Snacktime Kid, which accidentally munched hair and fingers, Cabbage Patch dolls are still being produced in a variety of styles and sizes.

Adjusted for inflation, a $20 "adoption fee" from 1983 would cost about $66. Fortunately for parents today, the brand can be considerably more affordable. For under $20 in modern money, you can choose a 9-inch Cabbage Patch Baby with a soft, cuddly body. For $5 more, you'll get a different version of that baby that can wear different outfits. True, bigger Cabbage Patch Kids cost a little more, but even with a $45, 14-inch doll, you'll still come out ahead. However, if you're looking to duplicate your childhood experience and go for a new doll with yarn hair in the classic 16-inch size, it'll cost $75.

Luckily, modern parents also have the benefit of the internet. Not only is it infinitely faster and easier to acquire new Cabbage Patch dolls, there is also an opportunity for maximizing nostalgia and buying a pre-loved doll from the '80s for a modest price.