How to choose the best doll for your child
Size: How big is the doll? Smaller dolls such as Lottie Dolls are more portable, whereas larger dolls such as Our Generation are great fun for use in the home. If you’re buying for a toddler or preschooler, most standard dolls range between 30 and 45cm in length and you should pick a size that best suits your child’s age.
Hard or soft-bodied: Soft-bodied dolls are generally more cuddly, while hard-bodied dolls tend to be easier to clean and may be suitable for water play. If you're buying for a younger child, also consider how easy the doll is to hold and carry.
Interactive: Does the doll have any interactive features? While children may enjoy sounds, actions and responses such as giggles or the ability to cry tears, the more basic models can still provide plenty of imaginative role play opportunities, allowing your child to get creative when playing and caring for their dolls.
Included accessories: Does the doll come with any accessories such as bottles, dummies and outfits? If not, you may want to weigh up how much they cost to purchase separately, as it’s likely your child is going to want to have a few options when playing with their new doll. If you’d like to expand the baby doll imaginative play take a look at our list of best doll prams.
What age are dolls suitable for?
There are dolls to suit a wide range of ages, but always check the manufacturer's recommended age before buying. Soft dolls without small parts can be suitable for younger children, while more detailed dolls with small accessories may only be suitable for children aged three and over.
Toddlers may enjoy carrying, cuddling and dressing a simple doll, while older children may prefer dolls with clothes to change, hair to style or interactive features that offer more opportunities for imaginative play. As children get older, dolls can also become part of more elaborate games involving friendships, careers, hobbies and storytelling.
How can you tell if a doll is safe?
When buying a doll for a child, make sure it’s safe and suitable for their age. Check the age recommendation carefully, as some dolls come with small parts and accessories that could pose a choking risk for children under three.
Buy from a reputable seller and look for the CE or UKCA mark, which indicates that the manufacturer has declared the toy meets the relevant safety requirements. You can also look for the British Toy and Hobby Association's (BTHA) Lion Mark, a voluntary mark associated with the BTHA's code of practice for toy safety and responsible manufacture.
What are the benefits of playing with dolls?
Playing with dolls can encourage imaginative play, communication and storytelling as children create characters, scenarios and everyday routines. Caring for a doll can also give children opportunities to explore nurturing behaviours and practise social skills as they pretend to feed, dress, comfort or put their doll to bed.
Doll play can change as children get older too, developing from simple cuddling and caring games into more elaborate role play involving friendships, hobbies, adventures and different characters.
What’s the difference between a baby doll and a fashion doll?
Baby dolls are designed to look and feel like babies or young children and are usually aimed at nurturing and pretend play. They may have features such as feeding, crying, sleeping or toileting, and often come with accessories including bottles and dummies. They're a good choice if your child enjoys caring for their toys.
Fashion and character dolls, such as Barbie, Rumi and Lottie, tend to focus more on dressing up, characters and imaginative storytelling. They often have a wide range of outfits and accessories, while some are based around different careers, hobbies or interests that encourage children to create their own stories. If your child particularly enjoys dressing dolls, styling hair or creating elaborate games and adventures, a fashion doll may offer more play possibilities.
What’s the best doll to buy?
The best doll will depend on your child's age, interests and how they like to play. However, our top pick is the BABY born Annabell, a soft-bodied 43cm interactive baby doll with realistic sounds and movements and plenty of accessories for nurturing role play.
For younger children, a soft and cuddly first doll such as the Dozy Dinkum may be more suitable, while older children who enjoy dressing up, hairstyling and storytelling may get more from an Our Generation, Barbie or other fashion doll.
What is the best first doll for a toddler?
The best first doll for a toddler is one that’s soft, lightweight and easy for small hands to carry and cuddle. Look for a simple design without small parts or complicated features, and always check the manufacturer's age recommendation.
Soft-bodied dolls such as the Dozy Dinkum make lovely first dolls because they’re cuddly and easy to carry, while a small baby doll such as the John Lewis My First Baby Doll is a good choice for toddlers beginning to enjoy nurturing role play.
What are the best dolls for 2-year-olds?
The best dolls for 2-year-olds are usually lightweight, easy to carry and simple to play with. The John Lewis My First Baby Doll is a great budget-friendly choice for this age, while the soft and cuddly Dozy Dinkum is ideal for toddlers who like to take their doll everywhere. The Berenguer Boutique La Newborn is another good option for two-year-olds who enjoy more traditional nurturing play.
What are the best dolls for 3-year-olds?
Three-year-olds can enjoy a wide range of dolls, from baby dolls they can feed and care for to fashion dolls that encourage storytelling and imaginative play. BABY born Annabell is our top pick for children aged three and over, while Lottie Fossil Hunter is a good choice for children who enjoy smaller dolls and adventure-based play. Always check the manufacturer's age recommendation, particularly for dolls with small accessories.
About the authors
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of baby products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
Originally from an HR background with a degree in Business Studies, Lucy developed a real passion for blogging and writing when her children were young, going on to write for several online publications including US parenting site Pregistry and The Evening Standard. When she’s not manically tapping the keys of her laptop, Lucy loves nothing more than to cosy up with her Kindle and enjoy the latest thriller, or compete in Nintendo Switch rallies with her daughters aged six and 10.
Clemmie Millbank is a freelance writer and content editor specialising in parenting and women’s lifestyle. A mum of two, she and her family have tested hundreds of children’s products and gadgets, from mud kitchens and paddling pools to changing bags and mattresses.
Her work has appeared in The Independent, The Evening Standard, Stylist and MadeForMums. When she’s not writing, Clemmie is a keen photographer and loves travelling with her family - preferably somewhere she can eat all the food too.
Back at home, she can usually be found playing pirates, dinosaurs or any kind of small-world imaginative play with her two children (and sometimes playing all three at once!).
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