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K.T. asks from Portland, OR on November 24, 2006

Need Moms to Recommend Baby Doll

Hi moms! I am trying to find a baby doll for my son. I have been looking around but would like some recommendations from moms who have gotten dolls for their little ones. I am hoping to find something that is interactive. Something you can feed, change, put to bed.... a doll that offers extra accessories "sold separately" as i'd like to be able to get a little bed or cradle for it. Something YOU'VE experienced has been a well liked and played with doll by your little one(s). My son just turned 3 and is very nurturing and loving. He puts his animals to sleep and rocks and kisses them. He's always talking about baby dolls when he sees them and I've been trying to find one for sometime now. There are just SOOO many out there and I need some help! Thanks in advance! Have a great day!

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So What Happened?™

Thank you all soo much for your responses! I was thinking this morning that I shouldnt have specified wanting to find an interactive doll, as I was hoping to get feedback about all diff kinds....and I did. I am leaning in the direction of Cabbage Patch for now, and perhaps something a little more high maintenance when hes older. I thought back to Christmas when I was 16. My parents bought me an interactive doll, still not sure if it was an expensive gag gift or if they were trying to deter me from having children of my own, but it was too much for me....even at 16. I think it was more needy than any of my children have ever been. So between your responses and my recently triggered memory, I'm gonna stick to the tried and true. Thank you all again for your help and Happy Holidays!!

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H.S. answers from Stockton on November 25, 2006

I would absoulutly recommend "baby alive" She talks to you asks for hugs,sings,eats,needs to get a diaper change,even opens her mouth wide for you to feed her. My daughter loves who is 2 years old loves it. I think it is the best realalistic doll you can have. Also there are accesories sold seperatly. The accersory I like the most is the night gown because it comes with a pacifier that puts the baby to sleep.Hope you find one.

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G.C. answers from Reno on November 27, 2006

Hi K.,

My little boy is three and at the age of two I got him a doll. Have you ever watched PBS? It is usually a local supported station with educational programming for children. They have a show called Caillou. One day around dec. I was in toysRus and ran into this doll. It is stuffed and has a small box in the middle of the doll that sings the theme song of the program. If you haven't heard of Caillou let me enlighten you. He is a three or four year old boy who has a little sister, cat, dad, mom, grand parents, friends, and some times school and goes on many adventures through life. These show helped my now 9 year old when he was this age and my three year old now to know how to react in certain situation. I highly recommend this doll and the coolest thing is we both sing the song together and my three year old get really excited about it.

My recommendation is to find a cloth doll that you can both relate to. Something that is on your son's favorite program or book so when your read this to him or watch the program he can run and get his doll and you both have good experiences with this moment.

~G.

P.S. My oldest son got a doll from his uncle at the age of one and a friend of ours made a comment about how boys shouldn't have dolls. I was a bit offended with this luckily the father did mind about the doll situation. The point that I'm trying to get across is that some people are very judgmental and this Caillou doll looks very boy with his red baseball cap, earphones with microphone, and blue top green shorts. So if you decide to go with a real baby look be prepared to get the stairs and criticisms’ of other people even if it's friend or family.

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L.B. answers from Anchorage on November 25, 2006

Hi K., have you checked out the cabbage patch dolls they have a little boy. i got that one for my nephew. he loves that doll so much it is his little side kick.and you can get a stroller that will fit. and you can buy extra boy clothes for the boy doll. you can get them target,walmart, k-mart, toys-r us, i wish you luck you might try this doll. good luck.

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L.M. answers from Las Vegas on November 25, 2006

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-10/qid=11644734...
The link above is to target and it is for amazing amanda. But since he is a boy maybe you would like the animail version. The furreal pets are awesome they do alot of the same things.

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C.O. answers from Seattle on November 25, 2006

K.,
I think the best dolls for any child are the ones that don't have the "bells and whistles". Maybe they have that little hole at the mouth so they can stick a bottle in, but that's about it. Kids need to use their imagination. I never got my daughter the dolls that did everything for them and she had and has the most amazing imagination. When people would give her the "fancy" dolls she didn't have any long lasting excitement for them and always went back to her basic dolls. You will be thankful as he grows up to have gotten him a doll that will allow him to follow his own little heart and mind instead of being "told how to play" with it. How nice that you have a boy that feels so much already.

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J.D. answers from Spokane on November 24, 2006

My daughter is TURNING three in January, and we are having this same issue....so I will recommend this, a lot of dolls that pee and poop and need to be changed are a little too much for the age, they cannot comprehend the process yet, and the toys are recommended for 4 or 5 years old...not three due to the hazard of chocking.

We seem to attach ourselves to Cabbage Patch dolls, and they make newborns now, he can get a boy, a girl, a hispanic, an African American you name it. Also "little mommy me" babies have a wardrobe to change into for different dolls, and they have a variety of choices too. Our current baby choice is one that goes into the tub with her....sigh, its specialy made for bath tub fun...you can find all three of these, and a few more choices at Target.com, or a Target store (sorry, we literaly do not shop ANYWHERE else)....

Good luck

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M. answers from Las Vegas on November 25, 2006

I just bought my 2 1/2yr. old a Baby Alive doll to prepare her for being a big sister. We haven't given it to her yet, so I don't have a personal opinion. However, I bought it based on great reviews on Toys R' Us and Amazon as well as couple of recommendations from friends.

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V.H. answers from Las Vegas on November 25, 2006

my son got a boy cabage patch for his first birthday and he still sleeps with Craig. He has a wagon he pulls him around in and when I was first getting my son to sleep by himself he would hold craigs hand. There are strollers and stuff for baby dolls that craig fits in too. We would pretend to feed him and give him sippy cups too. He has a baby that wets and stuff but he never liked it as much. I think he liked that craig is a "big boy" too and he can take care of him like I take care of him. Hope this helps. They have some baby cabage patch dolls too. They were always my favorite dolls as a girl. ~V.

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E.H. answers from Yakima on November 25, 2006

I bought a Baby Born doll for my 8 year old daughter a few years back, my 2 year old son just loves this doll he loves to put the doll in the stroller and push it around the house, he is also very loving and often kisses Katie Kay (babys' name). I would highly recommend you get one as these dolls as you can buy numerous different clothes and accessories for this doll.

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D.G. answers from Portland on November 25, 2006

HI K.,
I know the feeling. Finding a doll for a little boy can be difficult. Alot of dolls are so pink and frilly that boys arent interested. I run a childcare and so in my search for a doll my son would like to nurture the girls I care for got a lot of new toys. What I found that my son never goes without now was actually a really inexpensive find. It was a wlamart brand doll and it came in a box with a stroller and an extra outfit and some little toys. It is a standard size doll so it fits in most doll cribs and accessories. She opens//closes her eyes and when you squeeze her belly she coos he loves this baby and wont do much of anything without her. When we go for walks he put her in her stroller and pushes her and when we have a snack or meal he pute her in her highchair with her pretend food and at bedtime he tucks her in the crib beside him. I highly recommend not getting a doll that drinks or eats because of the hygiene facot. If something goes in there how do you clean it out?? one of my childcare girls had a doll that you fed this fake baby food and she brought it over a few times and one day we noticed a funky odor coming from the doll. I have no idea what could be growing inside that toy so it didnt come back toour house. Anyhow my main advice would be to take your son with you to choose a baby for himself. If this is a secret present you can take him and have him help pick a gift for someone else and watch to see which intrests him most and then pick it up on a day he isnt with you.
Good luck.

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H.S. answers from Stockton on November 25, 2006

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V.M. answers from Sacramento on August 02, 2008

I know I'm late to the conversation, but wanted to offer a resource for wonderful dolls that both boys and girls like. www.novanatural.com has the neatest selection of dolls, with tons of unique accessories for doll play too.

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L.M. answers from Yakima on June 24, 2008

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU FOR LETTING YOUR BOY HAVE A DOLL! I have a daycare with several dolls, doll buggys and strollers and a big outside playhouse. All my boys love to dress up just like the girls do(in their boy clothes)and play house. Theyplay with the dolls and I cannot think of a better way to introduce a child to the experience of fatherhood.Why shouldn't little boys have the desire to play Daddy? It is a natural instinct...we wantthem to be goodfathers when they grow up but yet somemen thinkit is terrible if their boyswant to play the role. I have watched the interaction between the boys and the girls as they are playing make believe and wonder why some people are sooffended. I personally think it is a lack of confidence in their manhood to think there is something wrong with boys role playing in a family type play. My little kids play Mama and Daddy..dress up in dress up clothes and the boys fight to take care of the baby. I think it is extremely healthy.....
Not that my boys do not play their boy games too but why is it okay for the girls to play with action figures and cars but when the boys want to play with the girl's toys there is something wrong with it....
I think that they learn unselfishness, sensitivity and toshow their feelings ina safe way...you will have a very good father to his child some day....
I got Mac a doll called Benny, I think that washis name...he had a soft body and had alot of clothes becausehewas the size of a 6 month old. He was definitely a boy...he had soft skin arms and legs andfacewith a stuffed body, It was a great boy's doll...he had reddish brownhair and had a baseball hat that he came with. He was very big and was like a real baby...about three months old...i either ordered him or got him at a specialty store. L.