A Houston teenager is turning a question about what makes stuffed animals soft into a growing business focused on safety and representation.
Colton Cyr, 14, launched Dough Babies after looking into the materials found in plush toys, prompted by his younger sister’s collection of stuffed animals, according to his father, Dr. Steven Cyr.
“About a year and a half ago, my daughter was showing my son all of her plush toys,” Steven Cyr said. “He was noticing how they all felt, and he was intrigued by what made them soft.”
Dr. Steven Cyr who a board-certified orthopedic and cosmetic surgeon said his son began researching what toys are made of and found information he described as alarming including claims that many toys may contain chemicals such as heavy metals, phthalates, formaldehyde and other substances that can disrupt hormones.
“He was so worried about his sister and other kids playing with these toxic toys that he talked to me about his idea of starting his own toy company with non-toxic toys, focusing on cute dolls that were safe to cuddle,” Dr. Steven Cyr said.
Cyr said he was surprised by what his son found, adding that as a physician he had not been aware of the issue and decided to look deeper as a family.
The teen’s idea became a yearlong project, Steven Cyr said, as the family researched materials, manufacturing and testing.
“It actually took us about a year or so to get the dolls out into the market, because we had to figure out how to test them and how can we go above the minimum testing standards?” he said.
Steven Cyr said the family went to multiple manufacturers and was told by several that the design would be difficult to produce as a plush toy because of details such as “chubby cheeks” and hands. He said they eventually found a manufacturer that could make the concept work.
Along with safety, Steven Cyr said representation was a priority for his son, who wanted the dolls to reflect a range of skin tones so more children could see themselves in the toys.
“We represent the range of skin tones that are seen in America, so that every kid could see a doll that made them feel like they could relate to it,” he said. The line includes four skin tones and two genders, he said.
The family says the brand is also expanding beyond its original doll line. Steven Cyr said a new bear-themed plush “Cubby Chubkins Baby Bear” is being released for presale in connection with National Bear Day.
Steven Cyr said he hopes the project raises awareness among parents about what children may be exposed to and encourages families to ask more questions about the products they bring home.
“I love what Colton is doing,” he said. “He’s a young guy trying to make a difference in the world.”