A baby bump is all it takes for pregnancy and family play with a fashion doll such as Barbie®. If you are wondering how to make Barbie pregnant without buying a special doll, the answer is a removable belly. It goes on the doll you already have for the story and comes off again when she changes her outfit or the baby arrives.
Below are the two kinds of belly we make, how each one stays on, which dolls they fit and what a pregnant doll can wear over the bump.
Was there ever a pregnant doll in the Barbie line?
Yes, but not for long. In 2002 Mattel sold a pregnant Midge, Barbie's friend, in a set called Happy Family. Her belly was attached with a magnet and opened to show a tiny curled-up baby. By the end of that year Walmart had stopped selling the doll after customer complaints, as the Lawrence Journal-World reported in December 2002. Today the simplest answer to how to make Barbie pregnant is a removable belly for the doll you already own.
How to make Barbie pregnant: two kinds of belly
Both of our bellies are removable and both are made for 11.5 in fashion dolls. They differ in how they are made and how they feel.
| Sewn fabric belly | 3D printed belly | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Woven fabric, stuffed | The material of your 3D printer |
| Stays on with | An elastic loop around the back | Side tabs on the body |
| Feels | Soft | Firm and smooth |
| Fits | Regular and Curvy dolls | Selected 11.5 in bodies, two fit variants to try |
| You need | Fabric, elastic, stuffing, needle or sewing machine | A 3D printer or a print service |
| Pattern | Pregnant doll belly sewing pattern | Pregnant belly 3D print files |
How to make a pregnant Barbie belly from fabric
Our pregnant doll belly sewing pattern makes a small stuffed bump from woven fabric. An elastic loop at the back holds it on the doll, so there is no glue and nothing to stitch onto the doll. The belly comes off again whenever you want.
The same pieces fit Regular and Curvy dolls, only the elastic is cut to a different length. It is a beginner project, and you can sew it by hand or on a machine. The pattern has full instructions with 12 steps and photos, and a short version for experienced sewists.
A 3D printed pregnant belly
If you have a 3D printer, or you use a print service, the pregnant belly 3D print files give a firm, smooth bump. There are two STL files with the same outer shape and a different inner fit, and side tabs hold the belly on the body. Dolls of the same height can differ in torso, waist and hip shape, so print both at 100% and keep the one that sits better on your doll. Test the fit before you paint.
A printed belly is a small part and not a toy, so keep it away from young children.
Which dolls can be pregnant?
The sewn belly is made for Regular and Curvy 11.5 in dolls. In our photos you can see it on both, also on dolls with jointed knees and elbows, standing and sitting. The 3D printed belly is not universal: try both fit variants on your doll. Before you choose how to make Barbie pregnant, check her body type. If you are not sure which body your doll has, read how to tell and measure your doll's body type or check the Size Guide.
What can a pregnant doll wear?
Once you know how to make Barbie pregnant, the next question is what she can wear. Clothes cut for a flat tummy can be tight over a bump. Stretch fabric and loose cuts work best, and the belly goes on first, under the clothes.
A free dress that works as a maternity dress
Our free no-sew doll dress pattern comes with a matching wrap top. Nothing is sewn: you cut the fabric, put it on over the doll's head and tie it. Tie a narrow ribbon under the bust and the dress becomes a simple maternity dress.
A sewn maternity dress
The doll maternity dress sewing pattern is a close-fitting one-shoulder midi dress in stretch fabric, made for a pregnant doll. A ribbon bow sits on the shoulder and one side seam can be left open for a slit. It has separate pieces for Regular and Curvy dolls.
Stretch dresses and separates
A simple stretch dress goes over the sewn belly too. A short top that ends above the bump, with shorts or wide leg trousers, is another easy look for a pregnant doll.
Questions about making a doll pregnant
How to make Barbie pregnant without sewing?
The 3D printed belly needs no sewing, only a 3D printer or a print service. The sewn belly needs a needle or a machine, but the clothes can be no-sew: the free no-sew dress is cut and tied.
Is the belly hard to make?
No. The sewn belly is a beginner sewing project, and you can sew it by hand. If you want a first project with no sewing at all, the free no-sew dress is easy enough even for children.
Does the belly stay on when the doll sits?
Yes. In our photos the dolls sit with the sewn belly on, held by the elastic.
Can I sell the bellies I make?
Sewn bellies: yes, in small batches, please credit DiNerija. The 3D print files are for personal printing only, and printed copies may not be sold. All our patterns are in Sewing Patterns.