Starting to collect Sylvanian Families - help!

[elm26]

Hello!

My DD is 3 and loves role play with her peppa pig figures and house, loves role play with her dolls etc so I thought we’d start to collect Sylvanian Families for her Christmas present this year.

I didn’t realise that there is so much to choose from!

I want to get her a house, a little family and the accessories. Where should I start? Want to keep to the £100 mark for this as she has spoke about new books, a couple of Barbie’s and a Moses basket and high chair for her doll.

Thanks!

I think there is a starter set called the cosy red roof cottage - it comes with a few items of furniture and a couple of cat figures I think. You can then buy more furniture for the bedroom and kitchen in separate sets. Honestly though you could start your collection with anything - it’s all super sweet and lovely!

Brilliant idea .
But be warned its addictive ! This set is simple and reasonably priced compared to most of it.
We have my 18 year old daughters collection stored away , we won't part with it as it's so lovely and hopefully her children will play with it in the future.

EBay

As shes 3 look on marketplace, vinted etc and see if you can buy preloved. I got DDs the huge preloved manor house in its box and saved ££

Thank you! I’ll look at that one. I was thinking it would be a good thing as if she likes it, we can then buy additional
bits for her birthday.

When I was having a brief look, I saw that there are other families not just rabbits! So cute!

I wouldn't buy new at all. Go on vinted, eBay, marketplace etc.

I'd be careful to keep aside some of the smaller bits. Sylvanians typically come with tiny chokable accessories.

@tsmainsqueezethat’s lovely that you’ve got it stored away, if you ever have grandchildren they could play with it too. I wanted something classic that we can collect and play with together. If she likes it, I’m sure DH and I will end up bankrupt from it 😂

Great idea about second hand @CanYouComeUpand @TeenWithNoFilter! Will look at marketplace and eBay now!

@Gertlushthatisthank you! I did think this as 1 year old DS puts everything in his mouth so everything small is a choking hazard to him.

DD always been really grown up for her age and never puts anything in her mouth but she didn’t as a baby either, we didn’t even know she was teething until teeth appeared.

DS has really painful teething so maybe that’s why he does.

She has a Peppa Pig set, a vets set and a few Barbie’s that come with tiny accessories. They’re all in labelled boxes out of DS’s reach so will do that with these too.

I think the best way to start is buy looking at the second hand offers. We got a house, caravan, 8 x families and lots of other bits for £50 on ebay and it was all in great condition.

I started buying Sylvanian Families for DD about the same age, we started with the red roof house and now but a mix of second hand from ebay and local Facebook pages and new when on sale. The only issue with second hand is they often have the small parts missing and as they get older, they want to play with those parts too.

I’d agree with second hand to start, my friend bought her child loads as a birthday or xmas gift at a slightly older age. Because she love role play etc. But she didn’t really play with it as much as thought she would.

I would have loved it as a youngster but we didn’t have the money for collections like that.

They are all so so cute, I love their detail and old-time beauty! The detail! I started my daughter with them at about four or five but it was too young.

She had a long run with Schleich horses and figurines back then , and then it all clicked with the Sylvanians waiting in the wings.

She’s 12 going on 13 and I saw on her Christmas list (she is a planner!!) that Sylvanians are still going strong. Long may it last! There are two house/cottages, these are played with for hours and hours… they were worth it!

i found relatives loved knowing what she liked, buying her the various bits over the years. Enjoy!

Definitely get second hand (at least the cottage/wagon/treehouse if not the animals), it stays in perfect condition. DD had all my Sylvanians that my mum had kept for 30 years!

I got a huge bundle second hand for about £50 a few years ago and it still often gets played with.

We started at 3 and I think it was too young. The stuff is gorgeous but so tiny for their little hands and she would get frustrated with the bits falling over. Fast forward to almost 11 and they're still on her Christmas list! If you go ahead, get one of the bigger houses off vinted or something like that. I like to buy the figures new but houses and furniture are great second hand.

Thanks everyone! I think I’ll get second hand and if she doesn’t like it, at least I haven’t spent retail price and can try again with it next year 😊 it’s so lovely to read the stories of it being played with by different generations!