Dolls

Cloth dolls, monster dolls, unique dolls, collector dolls and interactive dolls are all part of little girl’s dreams. Girls adore dolls and with all different shapes and styles, they make finding the perfect age appropriate gift easy. Dolls offer children a chance to nurture and bond and often times, these dolls become their best friends. If you have a little girl in your life, we have a doll for them!

Dolls: Best of Everything

Cloth Baby Stella: Baby Stella is soft sweet and cuddly doll that your toddler will fall in love with. There are four different dolls to choose from, you can pick the one that best matches your babies personality. All of Baby Stella dolls feature a pacifier that attaches to her mouth with a magnet, a diaper that your toddler will have fun changing and a set of clothes. Soft, cuddly and adorable, Baby Stella will become your toddlers constant companion. Why We Like It:Cloth babies are perfect dolls for toddlers because they are huggable. Baby can sleep with Stella at night and you don’t have to worry about hard lumps in bed with her. Best of all, she is machine washable for all the little accidents baby might have.

Monster High Monster High: The best toys for 2011 includes the Monster High doll series. Freaky and fabulous, girls love the Monster High Barbie like dolls. There is an entire collection of these dolls and girls love collecting them all. Each doll comes with a journal, brush and pet and other accessories can be bought separately. There is also an interactive website where kids can go to play games against their favorite Monster Doll. Truly a great series, the Monster Doll is as different from Barbie as you can get and girls are loving the change from princess and diva. Why We Like It:It’s nice to see a change from the beautiful princess that Barbie is and have a doll that is modernized. With cool trendy outfits and neat hairstyles, girls love the Monster Dolls because they are different. We also love the extras that come along with the dolls, the journals encourage girls to write their thoughts and feelings down and they don’t ever have to share them.

Holiday Doll 2011 Holiday Barbie: Barbie’s have always been a much loved doll and when they release their special seasonal dolls, they become highly sought after and collectable. This year’s Holiday Barbie is on the top toy list for all collectors, new and old alike. Barbie is ready for the winter ball in a stunning green and gold gown and shimmering hair. Her included earrings make her sparkle and the elegant backdrop of the box makes for perfect displaying. This year’s Holiday Barbie is modern, trendy and stylish. Why We Like It:Everybody should have something they treasure and cherish and for little girls, collecting Holiday Barbie’s can become a lifelong adventure. Each year Barbie releases a special Holiday Doll, giving girls something to look forward to, which is a great learning experience for children.

Characters Ugly Dolls: Hip and huggable, ugly dolls really aren’t ugly at all; they are different, just like every child is different. There are dozens of differernt Ugly Dolls to choose from, making choosing one for your child easy and painless. Perfect for girls and boys, Ugly Dolls foster creativity in children of all ages. Ugly Dolls will become your child’s secret mate as you can’t look at their faces and not tell them a secret! Why We Like It:We think Ugly Dolls are a top toy because they teach kids that beauty is in the eye the beholder. Being different and unique is ok. Well that, and they are just so darn ugly that they are cute! They come in three sizes, mini, regular and the super 2 foot dolls, making them perfect for all kids, boys and girls, young and old.

Most Unique Sing-a-ma-jigs: Whimsical and unique, the Sing-a-ma-jigs sing sweet and silly songs in their own made up jibberish language. Each creature has its own color, ear design and singing voice. They even have little teeth and tongues inside their moveable mouth! When kids press the belly, the pitch of the singing voice changes and if you get a group of them together, they harmonize as one. Giggles will abound when your child plays with their own Sing-a-ma-jig! Why We Like It:We love the otherness feel of the Sing-a-ma-jigs. They are unlike any other plush toy and the way the mouths pucker up when they sing is just adorable. Soft and huggable, we know that your toddler will fall in love with their creature in a matter of minutes.

Designs Lalaloopsy Dolls: These dolls come from a whimsical world of fun and silliness. Each doll has its own personality and accessory and their colorful world will brighten up your child’s day. Each doll is made from real fabric, which is what brings these girls alive. Peanut Big Top doll is sewn from a clown costume, making her a silly prankster. Bea Spells-a-Lot is made using a little girls school uniform making her a smarty pants. There is a scientist, a nurse…the list goes on and on making finding the perfect one for your child easy! Why We Like It:The creativity that comes from these magical dolls in simply amazing. The designers take a piece of fabric and turn it in to a doll that kids can idolize. Have a child in love with animals? There is a Lalaloopsy doll for that! Have a little girl that wants to take care of people? Lalaloopsy Nurse might be the doll for her! Each doll is different and unique, making them extra special.

Classic Baby Doll Melissa and Doug Brianna: Brianna is soft and sweet with plastic hands, feet and face, but a huggable body. She features opening and closing eyes and a thumb that fits in her mouth. Her soft hair is styled in adorable pig tails and her interchangeable outfit is stylish and modern. Brianna is the perfect doll for toddlers and little girls. Accessories like high chairs, cribs and outfits can easily be found, making Brianna your child’s personal baby that they’ll love taking care. Why We Like It:Brianna is a doll that can be cuddled when baby needs a hug or played with when baby wants a tea party partner. Her soft body makes her the perfect bed time companion and children will love watching her eyes close as baby Brianna falls asleep along with them.

Interactive Baby Doll Little Mommy Walk and Giggle Doll: Your little girl will fall in love with this fully interactive doll. She sits up, crawls and then does her first big girl steps! She giggles when she falls and loves playing peek a boo with her special blankie with her playmates. Tickle her silly and she’ll laugh and she’ll even tell you when she’s hungry so she can be fed from her included bottle. She even comes with her own little puppy pet, making role playing easy with the Little Mommy doll. Not only fun, but educational too, your daughter will fall in love and enjoy playing mommy to this one of a kind doll. Why We Like It:Perfect for interactive play, this doll speaks over sixty phrases, making her perfect for social interaction and toddlers learning words and phrases. She sings and will ask your daughter if it’s time to play peek-a-boo. She’ll let you know when she’s hungry and she even asks your child for help up when she falls. She’ll provide hours of entertainment and plenty of giggles of her own!

Dollhouse KidKraft Annabelle Dollhouse: An Annabelle Dollhouse filled with elaborate furniture and fun playful dolls will ensure that playtime will never be dull! From the molded latticework to the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, this dollhouse is full of gorgeous details sure to put a smile on any young girls face. Includes sixteen colorful pieces of furniture with plenty of additional items to choose from. Considered one of the best toys for older girls, children will spend hours decorating the dollhouse and then making it home for all of their favorite dolls. Why We Like It:While it looks elaborate, it is easy to assemble and made of sturdy materials. We also love the new elevator design that will take your child’s playmates from level to level. Provides hours of enjoyment and plenty of decorating options, this dollhouse is sure to please even the pickiest of children on your list.

Porcelain Alexander Dolls Fancy Nancy Doll: When fairy tale stories come to life, it makes reading that much more interesting for kids. Fancy Nancy is a doll based out of a story land book that was written by Jane O’Connor. With her lavish style and curly red hair, children of all ages will fall in love with Ms. Fancy Nancy. Combine the doll with the book and watch your child’s excitement grow as they read the story and interact with the doll at the same time. While she is porcelain, so not a heavy play toy, she can still be played with loving care; a perfect bedtime story and mate. Why We Like It:We love to encourage reading whenever possible and when you have a story land character come to life, it encourages youngsters to enjoy the book. Ms. Fancy Nancy is a great series and when you combine the doll with the book, magic happens.

Justin Bieber One Less Lonely Girl Doll: What tween girl isn’t a Justin Bieber fan? You know they’ll fall in love with his singing doll! Singing his popular One Less Lonely Girl song, the Justin Bieber doll is outfitted with an outfit that looks just like the one he wore in the video. Also included is a mini fan magazine that girls will love to read! This is a “just for fun” toy that will leave any Justin Bieber fan screaming with joy. Why We Like It:There isn’t any educational value to the Justin Bieber dolls, but that doesn’t keep them from being great gifts! These are purely fun dolls that no Bieber fan should be without. The added bonus of the miniature guitar and mini fan magazine make this a fun doll that your tween girl will swoon over.

Dolls are made for all ages of people. From the beautiful clothe dolls for the smallest baby to the fan doll for tweens to the Holiday Collector Barbie’s for adults, dolls have always made perfect gifts. Children love nurturing others, and dolls allow that to happen.

Types of Dolls

Baby dolls are the toys that many moms grew up with.  Some are made of cloth, some are made of plastic or rubber, and some are made of a combination of materials.  They don’t really do much except lay there are look cute, but parents like them because they don’t require batteries and don’t make any noise.  These dolls also tend to be the least expensive choice.  Girls can pretend give one of these dolls a bottle, wrap them up and rock them, push them in a stroller, and generally mother them all day.  Little girls love to be little caretakers for their dolls, and there is nothing wrong with allowing girls to develop these nurturing behaviors from a young age.

Interactive dolls are baby dolls that can talk, cry, and move in addition to having very life-like bodily functions.  Some of the more advanced ones are capable of responding to a child’s voice.  Girls love these dolls because they can have a doll that is remarkably similar to a real live baby.  When your little girl gives the doll water out of a special baby bottle, the baby will wet her diaper.  When the girl feeds the doll the special baby food that comes with the doll, then the doll will make a poopy in her diaper.  Girls really like to be able to change a doll’s diaper when there is actually something in the diaper.  One of the interactive dolls on the market can actually make a cute little belch sound.  It’s no wonder girls have such fun with these toys.

Fashion dolls are dress up dolls that girls can use for pretend play. They have different outfits so that girls can change the clothes they are wearing, and they can also change their jewelry, accessories, and even style their hair. These dolls are more appropriate for girls in the seven to ten year age range, because sometimes changing the clothes on one of these dolls requires a little patience and they ability to hold your mouth just right. Barbie dolls are a good example of fashion dolls, also referred to as dress up dolls.

Doll Brands & Characters

Barbie is a brand of dolls that has been around for decades. There are dozens of different dolls available in several different lines, and Mattel also offers a line of play sets that Barbie can play in. There are also hundreds of different outfits and sets of shoes and accessories so that girls can change her Barbie dolls into a thousand different combinations in apparel. There are special Barbies released from time to time, like holiday themed dolls or dolls based on movie stars or popular musicians or characters from movies and TV shows.

Madame Alexander is a line of dolls that looks very much like the old porcelain dolls. They have painted faces and some are dressed in old- style Victorian dress. These dolls are for little girls who love fancy, beautiful dolls. There are accessories available to go with these dolls. The best part about these dolls is that there are so many different dolls available to choose from. There are dozens of different themes, and each doll looks pretty much the same- it’s the outfit that changes (and in some cases, the skin tone- as in the case of the Wicked Witch of Oz dolls- her skin is blue). There is a Madame Alexander doll for every character in the entire Wizard of Oz movie world. There are Halloween and Christmas dolls, ballerina dolls, Cinderalla dolls, an Amelia Earhart doll, and there is also a whole set of smaller Wendy dolls.

Baby Alive is a line of interactive baby dolls for the little girl who would rather play with a baby than a doll.  These babies are truly amazing in their range of capabilities.  They blink, they cry, they laugh, they drink from a bottle, they eat baby food, and they pee and poop in their diapers just like real babies do.  There are several different versions, and the dolls are available in African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian versions.  There are lots of accessories available for these dolls, as well as some nursery furniture.

Cabbage Patch Kids are a brand of baby dolls created in 1978.  They were wildly popular when they were introduced, and their popularity among little girls lasted for several years.  Cabbage Patch Kids are still available in stores, as well as clothing sets, nursery furniture and other accessories.  The Cabbage Patch Kids are very distinctive with their rugged good looks and trademark buttock signature.  Their hair comes in many different colors, and is generally made of small loops of yarn.  There are other varieties besides the Cabbage Patch Kids, such as Preemies, to offer a more baby- style of doll to girls who might prefer those to a pretend child.  There are accessories sold for these dolls, like baby furniture and extra sets of clothes and shoes.  Cabbage Patch Dolls are now quite reasonably priced, even though they were prohibitively expensive when they were first released over thirty years ago.

Polly Pocket is a line of dress up dolls that is very portable. The dolls and their houses are small, so girls can take them anywhere with them for portable dress up fun. There are many different dolls available in the Polly Pocket line, and there are also several different houses and play sets to choose from. The portability of this line of dolls is what have made them so popular, and that is also where they got their name.

Bratz dolls are another brand of dress up dolls, most likely introduced as competition for the wildly popular line of Barbie dolls.  These dolls have a very different look than the impossible beauty of Barbie.  Bratz dolls have very large heads, huge eyes, short torsos and very long legs with shoes that snap off.  The four original doll characters, Cloe, Yasmin, Sasha and Jade, have been joined by a large group of new friends.  There are clothing and accessories available for the dolls, as well as shoes, pets and play sets, even cars.

Dora the Explorer started out as a fun, educational TV show designed to be educational for preschool kids and to introduce them to the Spanish language and the Latin culture.  Since then, it has grown quickly into a full line of merchandise, toys and dolls for girls.  There are several different kinds of Dora the explorer dolls.  There is a line of small dolls and several play sets to go with them- even a pony for Dora to ride.  There is a line of Dora Mermaid dolls, a set of baby twins, and a line of bigger Dora dolls that are big enough for your daughter to set up at the table for tea parties.  There is a whole set of collecting Dora dolls, one who is dressed up in her pretty Quinceanera dress, a cowgirl, a fairy tale Dora, an on the go Dora, and several others in addition to the backpack- toting Dora you know so well.  The dolls in this collection are about four inches tall and poseable.  Another favorite with little girls is the larger Buenas Noches Dora, who is soft, cuddly, and ready for bedtime.

American Girl is a whole line of dolls designed to empower girls through fun play that also has a historical component.  There are dolls designed to represent different periods in our country’s proud history, and the dolls are designed to show girls what they came become if they simply believe in their own personal power.  These dolls are larger than the average doll, and they all have a story behind them.  The Just Like You doll line is designed to give girls a doll that looks just like them (as much as possible), and you can choose the doll’s eye color, hair color, and skin tone to look just like your daughter.  Girls really love this doll because they say it is like having a twin sister who looks just like them.  These dolls also fall into the category of dress up dolls because accessories are available to go with these dolls so that girls can dress in the exact same outfit that their doll wears.  There is also a line of Bitty Baby toy dolls designed for girls as young as age three.

With so many different types of dolls and different brands to choose from, you’ll surely be able to find the doll that is just right for your daughter.  If you’re still not sure though, there is another option available to you.  You can always decide to take your daughter to the store in person, so she can look at all the choices and pick out the one she wants- with your help of course.  This way, there is no chance of buying her the wrong one.  Being able to go to the store and pick out her own present might just be a memory that she holds dear for years to come.  After she has picked the one she wants, you can always stop by the gift wrapping paper aisle and pick out a cute little gift bag that you can ask the cashier to use at the checkout instead of the store’s bags.  That way, she can leave the store carrying her wrapped birthday present, and she will be so happy that she was able to have this experience with mom.

How to Pick the Right Doll for Your Child

The first thing to do would be to ask your child, if she’s old enough, to tell you exactly what the doll she wants looks like.  Ask her if it’s a doll she’s seen on TV and if so, ask her to show you the commercial next time it comes on.  If she doesn’t know what kind, she just wants a doll, or you are buying her one for a present without her having asked for it, then start with the age recommendations on the package for any doll you are thinking of buying for her.  If the doll with likely be used for cuddling at bedtime and just carrying it around with her, then one of the dolls available with a soft head and body may be just the ticket.  If she will most likely want to sit the doll at the table and feed her, then a firm plastic doll with joints that move might be the right choice.  Older girls may really enjoy Barbie dolls or Bratz dolls, as these dolls are an endless source of dress up fun for girls in a fairly wide age range.