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Little Kiddles

By Lorraine

Tiny and adorable, vintage 1960's Little Kiddles dolls from Mattel include Calamity Jiddle and Florence Niddle. Sweet childhood memories!
What were your favorite toys as a child? Chances are if you are a girl, dolls hold a special place in your memory. Liddle Kiddle dolls were some of my very favorite toys from childhood. So tiny with the cutest little faces. I still find them endearing.
 

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Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted February 2009 with better photos and additional information.

 

Little Kiddles

 
Were you that kind of kid? You know… the one who kept Barbies and other toys in as perfect condition as possible and handled then gingerly replacing them carefully away when finished playing?
 
That was me, feeling a little apprehensive when my young cousins came to visit and we pulled out the dolls. Only one cousin shared my concern of proper playtime and we are the only ones who still have and cherish a few of our now vintage toys.
 

A little history about Mattel Little Kiddles

Kiddles were tiny dolls made of soft vinyl with painted facial features and rooted, brushable hair. They ranged in size from 2¾ in to 3½ inches.
 
Originally produced by toymakers Mattel Inc. in 1965. They were introduced at the 1966 New York Toy Fair and put on the market soon after.  
 
The name Liddle Kiddles came from the words “little kid”. The dolls had detailed clothing and accessories that perfectly matched their theme and size. Wire skeletons inside the vinyl bodies enabled the dolls to be posed and re-posed realistically.
 

Storybook Kiddles

Here are a few of my Little Kiddles that have survived many hours of play from several generations of kids. Inevitably, many of the tiny accessories have gone missing and hair more messy that original. But all-in-all, in good condition for being over 50 years old and with lots more life to entertain more kiddos that come a-visiting.

Peter Paniddle and Tinkerbell

Tiny and adorable, vintage 1960's Little Kiddles dolls from Mattel including Peter Paniddle Kiddle.Oh, this freckled, impish face gets me everytime. Peter Paniddle with Tinkerbell is a 1967 Storybook original. He came with a booklet, and alligator and his Shadow. 

Calamity Jiddle

Tiny and adorable, vintage 1960's Little Kiddles dolls from Mattel including Calamity Jiddle.The cutest little cowgirl, Calamity Jiddle gallops along on her spotted palomino rocking horse. One of the original 10 Kiddles introduced in 1966, Calamity sports a large black felt hat with a gold strap, a fringed skirt and itty-bitty white cowgirl boots along with a blond ponytail with bangs. And those big blue eyes.

See why these tiny dolls were so endearing to me!

Liddle Middle Muffet and her spider

Little Middle Muffet, also from the Storybook Kiddles set was released in 1966. This cutie with strawberry blond hair came with a less-than-scary spider. Originally included was her pillow, her spoon, curds & whey, and a mini color illustrated storybook. 

 

Tiny and adorable, vintage 1960's Little Kiddles dolls from Mattel including Little Middle Muffet

 

Florence Niddle

Tiny and adorable, vintage 1960's Little Kiddles dolls from Mattel including Peter Florence Niddle.Another one of the original ten Little Kiddles, Nurse Florence Niddle was released in 1966 as well. She stands just 3-inches tall and wears a low ponytail under her cap and teeny T-strap shoes. Not shown in this photo, I have a yellow stroller that once included a baby wrapped in a blanket. 

 

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Cinderiddle

Tiny and adorable, vintage 1960's Little Kiddles dolls from Mattel including Little Cinderiddle.Blond curls in a high ponytail with straight bangs and a fancy white dress embellished with lace and silver trim was how this Little Kiddles Cinderiddle doll came in 1967. I think she also came with a clothing change of rags as well.

Vintage fun

I really lighten up about playing with my old toys and freely allowed my kids and grandkids to play with them. They don’t intermingle them with other toys and play in a place where tiny pieces are less apt to get lost. They love dressing, redressing and loving them the same way I did at their age. That truly warms my heart. And just maybe a few will survive for future chubby hands to hold and play with.

 

 

 

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Comments

  2. Miss Jen says

    Mrs.H,
    What darling little dolls!
    I have many fond memories of playing with my dollies when I was a wee girl. Thanks so much for sharing. I always enjoy my visits!! 😉

    Love & Blessings,
    Miss Jen

    Reply

  4. Cass says

    Oh how cute! I am too old to remember these dolls and my daughters are too young. 🙂 But I’m sorry to have missed them; my girls would have loved them madly! I’ll be my nieces remember them.
    Cass

    Reply

  9. Lady Farmer says

    oooh! I have never heard of kiddles before. I wonder if they we just popular in certain parts of the country? Florence is my favorite!
    Maybe because we have had that nasty bug for so long. We could use her here about now. :~}

    Reply

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