Doll Buying Guide


Choosing the best baby for your “Loved” one.

When chosen correctly, a doll has the power to be a best friend, a source of comfort, and a way to show creativity.

So how do you make sure that the doll you select will be all of those things and so much more?

You can start by choosing a doll appropriate to the little girl’s age. Every age group uses dolls differently, which means you probably shouldn’t buy the same doll for the 1-year-old and the 5-year-old in your life.

Here are some features to look at in a doll to find the right doll for the right age:

Newborn Stage

During their first year, babies don’t have the motor and cognitive skills to gently cuddle or play pretend with a baby doll (at least until they get closer to their first birthday).

However, they will love looking at and clutching baby dolls. For this reason, it’s important to choose a baby doll with defined, high-contrast features and a soft, squeezable body.

Toddlers

Once an infant transforms into a toddler (around age one), they will want to get as much cuddle time with their new doll as possible. When choosing a baby doll for this age group, again, the softer, the better. That being said, you also want to ensure it is machine washable because who knows what the toddler will do with it? Keep in mind that this age group is still susceptible to choking, so keep any small accessories far away!

Preschoolers

By age two or three, little girls are starting to exercise their imaginations.

They love playing mommy and treating their baby doll as if it was their own. Look for a doll that allows movement and promotes discovery, such as one that can be fed or have its clothes changed.

And while very small items are still an issue, you can promote her creativity with some accessories for feeding, changing, and sleeping.

Kindergartners

With independence & freedom taking center stage, dolls for the 4-6-year-olds should be about making the young girl’s dreams come true and being a great momma.

Grade School Girls

Once they have reached the age of seven, little girls do everything with their dolls. They become their best friends and are always invited to sleepovers and tea parties.

Junior High and Beyond Ages

While some girls have outgrown their dolls once they reach the double-digits, many of them just move up to more grown-up versions. Since responsibility and maturity are now present, this is the age to start giving collectible dolls that can be treasured for life.

Conclusion

Dolls are significantly more than a toy. They’re an appreciated piece of our child’s growing up, a connection between the child and the universe of grown-ups. Doll play helps children to investigate distinctive roles through nurturing and offering trust, dreams, and encounters with companions and friends that will always understand them.