Worry doll

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Worry dolls, or trouble dolls, are very small dolls originally made in Guatemala. A person (usually a child) who cannot sleep due to worrying can express their worries to a doll and place it under their pillow before going to sleep.

According to folklore, the doll is thought to worry in the person's place, thereby permitting the person to sleep peacefully. The person will wake up without their worries, which have been taken away by the dolls during the night.

The dolls are about 1/2 to 2 inches (13 mm to 50 mm) tall and handmade using wood or wire as a frame, cotton fabric and thread for clothing and cardboard for its body and face although they can be made from clay. Worry dolls are often sold as a fair trade item. Worry dolls are now part of Guatemalan culture and are very popular.