What to look for when choosing a doll
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? - Hard-bodied dolls are robust and hard-wearing, and some even offer the ability to pop them into the water as a fun bath time companion. That said, soft-bodied dolls are often more comforting for children to cuddle.
Interactive? - Does the doll have any interactive features? Whilst children love 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.
Does it include 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 caring for their new baby.
How can you tell if a doll is safe?
When buying a doll for a child, you must ensure that it’s safe and suitable for their age. Check the age recommendations carefully, as some dolls include smaller parts and accessories that could be a choking hazard for children under the age of 3.
You should always buy dolls from a reliable trusted seller, and look out for the CE mark (which proves it meets health and safety or environmental requirements) or the British Toy and Hobby Association's (BTHA) 'Lion Mark' - a voluntary code of practice that guarantees ethical and safe manufacture of toys.
What’s the best doll to buy?
The best doll for your child will ultimately depend on your budget and the age of your child. That said, Mumsnetters were fairly unanimous in recommending Baby Annabell, thanks to her soft-bodied comfort, adorable easy-change outfits and engaging lifelike appearance.
That said, in a market that still has a long way to go in terms of inclusivity, we have to give huge praise to Lottie for offering a diverse range of dolls in a world where representation matters.
About the author
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 a 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.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on their children’s favourite dolls, including the dolls their children love, play with regularly or that they would confidently recommend to others.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted dolls that they felt were poor quality, overpriced, failed to hold their child’s attention or simply didn’t work as expected.
Authentic consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best dolls, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Argos and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist. We looked for consistent criticism and frequently praised features, to help us gain real insights into the dolls in our selection.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.