Baby Bow-Tie in the United Kingdom

Baby Bow-Tie was sold in the UK in 1985, with the Baby Pony Stroller. She was the first release of two baby-and-stroller sets sold in the UK and parts of Europe. These releases predated the UK release of Baby Cuddles and the Baby Buggy, which was available quite early in the US.

Baby Bow Tie's Stroller
(UK Insert, 1985)

Although she featured on the 1985 insert, the style of artwork that featured on Baby Bow-Tie's box was similar to that used on the packaging for the Rainbow Ponies and first set of Play and Care Baby Ponies, suggesting she might have been a late 1984/early 1985 release.

Baby Bow Tie Mint In Box
(Image courtesy of Ebay Seller)

Baby Bow Tie's Stroller was available in Argos through a special release around 1985-6 with Snuzzle as a free inclusion. I think she appeared in Winter 1985 and Spring 1986.

Baby Bow Tie's Stroller featuring Snuzzle
 Argos circa 1985-6.

Baby Bow-Tie in Europe

In some parts of Europe, Baby Bow Tie was sold in a different pose.

Baby Bow Tie (Made in Spain)

Sometimes this release was included with the stroller, in the same box as the UK version but translated. Her name, here Bebe Lacitos, means Baby Bows.

Baby Bow Tie and Stroller, made and sold in Spain
(Thanks to Shivhae for this image)

This version of Baby Bow Tie w also sold Mint on Card. The below image records her with a different name, "Bebe Regordete" (Baby Chubby). It is not clear whether she had two names in Spain, or whether the below pictured baby is sealed on the wrong card.

"Bebe Regordete" Mint on Card
(Image courtesy of a collector at Ponycon 2005)

Baby Bow-Tie's Character

According to the Fact File and the stroller's box, Baby Bow Tie was a popular and gregarious little soul who loved to visit her friends in her pink stroller. She was also a generous little filly, as she wasn't averse to letting her friends have rides in the stroller, too, and she always made sure that the back was safely fastened before allowing them to begin their journey.

She was also, unsurprisingly, a lover of ribbons, and a child with a kind heart. In one rather disturbing comic book story, her naivety and desire to help her fellow ponies overcome some of their negative habits led to her getting wrapped up in a scheme organised by Wizard Wantall. She obtained some ribbons, believing they would help the other ponies, but instead they were designed to abduct them. Fortunately, the spell was thwarted, but Baby Bow Tie was brokenhearted to lose her ribbons, and with them the ability to help the other ponies.

Baby Bow Tie learns a lesson and gives a gift
"The Apron of Ribbons"
UK storybook, 1986

Seeing her sadness, Majesty gifted her some new non-magical ribbons, warning her not to be so trusting in future. Despite her loss, however, Baby Bow Tie's kind heart still shone through - and her first action was to gift a music-print ribbon to Wind Whistler for her birthday.