Which dolls house for DD?

[iwishi]

I really want to get DD, who'll be 2.5 at Xmas, a dolls house this year. I'm just lost as to which one to get. I was in JL the other day and she lost her mind over this plastic Peppa Pig light and sounds house but PP is a fad and, whilst she wants it, how long will she want it for really? Maybe she'll play with it for 2-3 years and then it'd be a worthy investment or she could go to nursery next September and be told it's babyish and that'll be that (unless her younger sibling likes Peppa pig by then). Next option is Sylvanian Families but is she too young for that? They're gorgeous but would she be too young? She doesn't put things in her mouth but would she really enjoy all the fiddly bits? Third option is a generic one that isn't branded or character specific but now she's seen the Peppa pig one (and all she talks about), would it be mean to get her that and get her hopes up? Any help would be great!

[iwishi]

It's not the small Peppa Pig one btw, it's £80 and quite tall by the looks of it.

[helpconfused123]

Expensive but I love maileg

[iwishi]

But would a two year old like that? I like the look of the KidKraft one too but you need to buy all the furniture too (same with SF I guess but SF isn't as expensive).

[MonChatEstMagnifique]

I'd get her the Peppa one being as shes got so excited about it. She will get a few years out of it and then you can probably sell it for a reasonable price or like you say, pass it down to a sibling. Most kids go through a loving Peppa Pig stage. it was one of my favourite programmes that my kids watched

My daughter had lots of Sylvanian Families once she was a bit older, from about age 5. It's lovely but some of it is so tiny that they need to be a bit older to appreciate it and look after it well I think.

[itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted]

I bought the wooden John Lewis one last year £100 and then furniture and dolls on top. DC loves it and it definitely won't go out of fashion and something than can hopefully be kept for generations

[AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet]

Mothercare have a beautiful one, can't remember the name of it

They sometimes do half price offers too.

My DD has a KidKraft one and it's absolutely beautiful. We bought it on Amazon a few years ago and it's still perfect. It came with all the furniture individually wrapped.
Amazing quality, it was worth every penny

[mogtheexcellent]

Buy a nice classic wooden one with wooden furniture and slowly replace the furniture with sylvanian familes stuff. We have been doing this with dds. She loves it.

[iwishi]

Do you have a link @AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet

[anotherrainydays]

The wooden ones from ASDA I find are absolutely brilliant. My daughter got the two storey one when she was 2 and it's been played with to death so I've got her the next size up for Christmas. They're not very expensive and lovely imo

[CassianAndor]

make sure it's not too deep, you want one with shallow rooms.

Personally, I think 2.5 is actually too young for a dolls house, they love the idea but it probably won't get played with much and take up a lot of room. I actually think they get more out of these when they're about 8 or 9.

[AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet]

The kidkraft one?

It was called the 'Savannah Dollhouse'

[Elphaba17]

My favourite doll house was the blue wooden one from asda but I suspect your daughter is about a year too young for it.

What about the sylvanian cosy cottage set to start her off with now. Very few smaller pieces in that but nice enough to get a good bit of play value out of.

[Barbarara]

I think she’s too young for sylvannian yet. My head would say a sturdy wooden house with chunky, indestructible furniture. But if she has her heart set on the Peppa Pig house I’d go for that and sell it on in a year or two.

[HappyDinosaur]

My niece had the wooden one from Asda which is nice and sturdy. Or you could make one if you're feeling crafty, I've bought a secondhand homemade one for dd's next Christmas present (the refurb will take a while for me and she'll be nearer 3 at that point!).

[Kanga83]

Have a look at the kidcraft ones. They are made really well, you need to put them together. They are 5ft tall though and some are on offer. My girl got one three years ago and still loves it.

[Kanga83]

Sorry KidKraft- typo in one before. We have the Cinderella castle but they do dolls house versions too

[user1573354]

I'm usually against character toys and say to get the longer lasting, more open ended play ones, but actually this time I think you'd be better off with the Peppa Pig one. I think from much experience 2 is too young for a generic dolls house, but I have seen 2 year olds living Peppa Pig houses and my 6 year old loved playing with relatives and she still watches Peppa Pig sometimes. Her older sibling went off Peppa at 5, I think you could have quite a lot of play out of it.

[user1573354]

I've read on here there is a wooden Peppa Pig house out recently too.

[IncrediblySadToo]

I love Peppa Pig.

But I find their toy range bizarre. The small playsets are made from the wrong material and have too many easily snapped pieces. Not at all right for the age group they’re aimed at.

I would get her something entirely different for Christmas (so she’s not comparing it to the PP one) then get her a toddler friendly playhouse for her birthday.

[SpaceDinosaur]

My DD was 2 last Christmas and was gifted the Little Tykes plastic monstrosity. It has had SO much use this past year and isn't going anywhere soon.

[babynugget]

My DD got the Small Peppa house and characters when she was 2 I think. She still plays with it and she's 5 now - although Peppa has been evicted this week and her LOL dolls have moved in! I was hoping to get rid of it to make room for Christmas toys but I think it will be sticking around for a while!

[orangetriangle]

fisher price do a my first type plastic dolls house which I am getting my niece for xmas. She will be 19 months. will get her wooden one sylvanian sets when she is older and can appreciate it more. Like the little tykes one though

[emsmum79]

Have you looked at the Happyland dolls house? My dd got it aged 2, still plays with it aged 4.

[newreality1]

My daughter had a wooden Early Learning Centre one when she was younger, I think she got it when she was 3 or 4 years old. It was expensive at the time but without doubt it was one of the best toys she ever had. They don't sell it anymore but on the Mothercare website I think there is an Early Learning Centre wooden dolls house. It is one toy that I'm always pleased I bought as she got years of use out of it and it still looks as good as new!