On June 11, 1918 Georgene Averill – Madame Hendren, patented and created an improved baby doll.  Averill’s Lyf–Lyk (Life-Like) doll is the size of an infant child, has a composition flange head, molded painted hair, painted eyes, closed mouth, cloth upper arms with partial composition lower arms and hands, a wide cloth stuffed torso body and straight, swinging cloth legs with stitched heeled feet (exclusive to Averill’s doll) to simulate walking, when led by the hand.

What is a Mama doll? Not long after production had begun on the Averill doll, a voice box was added to the tummy that cried Ma-Ma when the doll is tilted, which is how these dolls got their name.  By 1921 Mama dolls were also patented in England. 

During 1923 – 80% of all dolls preferred by a child in the United States were Mama dolls.  By 1926 costly production of dolls and high import tariff’s, the European bisque head doll market dominance had ended.