Looking for a doll

[travelbug]

I'm in the hunt for a baby doll that is very lifelike, especially the face. It needs to be soft and cuddly. I'm willing to pay a premium price if it's a really nice quality doll.

I've looked at Toys R Us and a local educational store. Neither had what I'm looking for. I'm not sure where else to look. I'd rather buy this in person instead of online, so that I can see it and make sure it's what I really want.

Any suggestions for me? Thanks!!

 

[java]

Well depending on what you are looking for there is this "real life" baby doll
Reborn dolls
http://www.rebornfamily.com/

but can I add a

If it's for a child, my dd loved dolls by Carole

 

[bengalbelle]

I don't want to assume anything so I'll ask. Do you want a doll you're not afraid of being played with? Or is it more for display?

My daughter's first doll was Baby Huggums by Madame Alexander. It has a soft body with a hard (not too hard, just not cloth..) head. Her eyes open and close and she has a little squeaker inside her when you hug/squeeze her. There are quite a few to choose from (different outfits).

http://www.matildadolls.com/esm_huggums_dolls.htm

Bitty Baby by American Girl is really popular too. http://store.americangirl.com/agsho...iqueId/93/nodeId/11/webMenuId/5/LeftMenu/TRUE

Also Corolle makes lots of different dolls for different age groups. Here's one of the product pages http://www.corolle.com/us/catalogue/premier.php5

Corolle probably has the most accessories if you're interested in that. Bitty Baby would be next with Huggums having the least. The others work with Huggums, though.

Baby Huggums is my personal favorite if it's for 2 or younger. Now that my daughter is older she'll be getting some Corolle dolls. She wants one of the babies that can go in the water.

If it's for display there are probably lots of choices by Madame Alexander. There is another type of custom doll found on ebay that is extremely lifelike. I forget what they're called but maybe someone else here will remember. They're usually adults collecting them, though.

ETA: Thanks, Java! Reborn is what I was thinking and I couldn't remember. I second your

 

[travelbug]

If it's for a child, my dd loved dolls by Carole

Oh yes, this is definitely for kids about 5 years old. Sorry, I should have been more clear about that. I'll try googling dolls by Carole.

(Thanks for the link to the reborn dolls. Not sure what brought about the . Did I miss something there?)

 

[bengalbelle]

Oh yes, this is definitely for kids about 5 years old. Sorry, I should have been more clear about that. I'll try googling dolls by Carole.

(Thanks for the link to the reborn dolls. Not sure what brought about the . Did I miss something there?)

Some are scary lifelike. They're very expensive and some women treat them like they're real children. A very nice woman bought one of my daughter's preemie smocked dresses for hers. She gave me a long explanation about why she had the doll, but it basically boiled down to having an empty nest and wanting something to fill it. At the risk of offending any collectors here (and there are some) I'll leave it at that.

Since it's for 5+ let me add in the Bitty Twins from American Girl. I think you can just get one if you buy from a store but they're very cute! My daughter has them too and they have lots of fun accessories. http://store.americangirl.com/agsho...queId/103/nodeId/11/webMenuId/5/LeftMenu/TRUE

 

[travelbug]

I don't want to assume anything so I'll ask. Do you want a doll you're not afraid of being played with? Or is it more for display?

My daughter's first doll was Baby Huggums by Madame Alexander. It has a soft body with a hard (not too hard, just not cloth..) head. Her eyes open and close and she has a little squeaker inside her when you hug/squeeze her. There are quite a few to choose from (different outfits).

http://www.matildadolls.com/esm_huggums_dolls.htm

Bitty Baby by American Girl is really popular too. http://store.americangirl.com/agsho...iqueId/93/nodeId/11/webMenuId/5/LeftMenu/TRUE

Also Corolle makes lots of different dolls for different age groups. Here's one of the product pages http://www.corolle.com/us/catalogue/premier.php5

Corolle probably has the most accessories if you're interested in that. Bitty Baby would be next with Huggums having the least. The others work with Huggums, though.

Baby Huggums is my personal favorite if it's for 2 or younger. Now that my daughter is older she'll be getting some Corolle dolls. She wants one of the babies that can go in the water.

If it's for display there are probably lots of choices by Madame Alexander. There is another type of custom doll found on ebay that is extremely lifelike. I forget what they're called but maybe someone else here will remember. They're usually adults collecting them, though.

ETA: Thanks, Java! Reborn is what I was thinking and I couldn't remember. I second your

Thanks, bengalbelle. You gave me some things to check out.

Definitely looking for dolls that can be played with, not for display, for kids about 5-6 years old. Mostly interested in the face being natural and lifelike; not interested in the rest of the doll being lifelike, just soft rather than of molded plastic or something like that.

 

[travelbug]

Some are scary lifelike. They're very expensive and some women treat them like they're real children. A very nice woman bought one of my daughter's preemie smocked dresses for hers. She gave me a long explanation about why she had the doll, but it basically boiled down to having an empty nest and wanting something to fill it. At the risk of offending any collectors here (and there are some) I'll leave it at that.

Gotcha. Thanks for explaining.

Thanks again for your help too!

 

[bengalbelle]

Look for an independent toy store in your area that is more "boutique" like. They should have both Corolle and Madame Alexander. If you go with American Girl and have to order online, they are quality dolls so don't worry about that. They also have a doll hospital if the dolls need some TLC/repair.

 

[tommya60]

I'd go with Bitty Baby. DD got hers when she was 18 months old, it literally was the only baby doll she ever played with--and it went EVERYWHERE with us for years. I mean everywhere--grandparents, parks, zoos, vacations, you name it Bitty Baby went with us. The doll is in great shape, some 14 years later.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Gotz Maxi Muffins (I do not name these things, lol) are another alternative- comparable to American Girl's Bitty Twins. (Gotz is the original maker of the AG dolls.) DD has had hers 7 years, dragged everywhere and still looks great. They, as well as the "haired" AG dolls, do need a metal wig brush vs plastic ones.

An added plus, they can go through the washing machine- say hypothetically if a girl were to spill hot chocolate all over one of them...

Tuesday Morning stores often have Gotz dolls at a discount or they are available online.

 

[kidshop]

Ok, the toddler reborn doll is going to give me nightmares!

I saw some really adorable baby dolls at Kmart. I can't remember the name but they were in a white box, and they had a ton of different styles of babies and their faces were different within a line. You know; some with teeth, some frowning or smiling, different hair. I'm not a fancy person, but I thought they looked realistic and very nice. They were around $25.

 

[hentob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkuwjTZRYKo

This real?

 

[NotUrsula]

My DD has a Corolle. It was the only one I could find at a decent price that had both brushable hair and closing eyes. (She has a Cailin, which is a 13" doll, but she's only 2.)

The Corolle's are lovely. They have closing eyes, and they all smell like vanilla; the vinyl is permeated with it. The larger ones are about the same size as the AG dolls, but are considerably less expensive.

 

[travelbug]

Thanks, everyone! You gave me lots of good possibilities to check into. I'll look into each one, including stopping at Kmart (someone mentioned that) and looking for a boutique-like toy store in my area.

The Corolle baby dolls look like a nice possibility, though I wish I could see one in person instead of just in an online picture.

Again, thanks to all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkuwjTZRYKo

This real?

No, not quite that real!!

 

[mtemm]

I echo others with bitty baby, either twins or singleton. my DD6 has several. they are not as pricey as the regular american girl dolls, are very well made, and are adorable. I remember when I went shopping for her first doll I was shocked by how just plain ugly so many baby dolls are out there! lol.

 

[hentob]

No, not quite that real!!

 

[ZeitgeistDuck]

My MIL is a doll sculptor for Lee Middleton and Charisma. Lee Middleton makes beautiful play babies, and many stores have a 'nursery' where you go to adopt the baby, name it, etc. They are very nice and last forever.

http://www.leemiddleton.com/our_babies/product_cat.php/subid=7/index.html

 

[sTINKS]

The friends forever girls are nice quality dolls too. Check them out. You can order directly through their website.

 

[neile45]

I am reading this thread, and thinking about my DD9. We will be at DW for Christmas, and she wants a lifelike doll for Christmas. I was thinking of getting her a Christmas present, while we are at DW. Is there any stores that sell life like dolls at DW or DD?

 

[disneyhand]

Costco is just starting to get in toys for Christmas. They usually carry nice baby dolls at a very good price. If you have one near you, I'd check them out.