Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To return unwanted dolly given to DD?

76 replies

HollyFP · 04/10/2011 14:44

DD received a late birthday present recently from family friends, their 7yo DD chose it (she told me this). I do appreciate the gift and the thought but I just don't like what it is: a 'baby stella' dolly thing.
Not my cup of tea at all and my DD doesn't show signs of wanting to play with dollies yet.

They included a gift receipt with the package so I presume they are giving me the option to return it anyway if I want...I guess I feel bad cos it was chosen by their sweet DD who has taken a shine to mine, it feels a bit ungrateful.

Tbh they wouldn't know either way if we kept it or returned it unless they specifically asked. And who does that?! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
HollyFP · 04/10/2011 15:05

Ok fairy nuff, I will keep it Smile I think my dolly phobia was overriding normal sensibilities Grin

OP posts:
MrsCarriePooter · 04/10/2011 15:05

"I'm just not into dollies" makes me want to scream "It's not about you" I'm afraid. Children like all sorts of toys and it's good to have a mix about the place. If she generally turns out not to play with it that much then hey, at least you didn't spend any money on it yourself. It's not even a girl thing if that's what's stressing you - DS loves playing with various of DD's dolls and pushing the pushchair, feeding them, changing their nappies.

ViviPru · 04/10/2011 15:06

very reasonable of you, OP

Original poster
HollyFP · 04/10/2011 15:06

vivipru Grin I like the experiment idea!

OP posts:
MrsCarriePooter · 04/10/2011 15:07

genuinely, damn it

Hulababy · 04/10/2011 15:07

"I'm not into dollies"

TBF it's not a toy for you Grin

Original poster
HollyFP · 04/10/2011 15:07

I think I was put off by the dummy, but hey that's a whole other thread Grin

OP posts:
MissPenteuth · 04/10/2011 15:09

My DD loved books at 14mo (still does, in fact) and I wouldn't have thought of her as the 'dolly' type. But fastforward a few months and she has tea parties for her toys and dolls, loves jewellery and handbags, and tears round the garden with her doll in a pushchair like nobody's business.

Original poster
HollyFP · 04/10/2011 15:12

Ah see missP when you put it like that...Smile

OP posts:
YusMilady · 04/10/2011 15:13

I would keep it out of respect for the little girl who chose it as a present. As you say, it does seem a bit ungrateful (even hurtful) to reject it . Imagine how heartbroken the poor little moppet will be when she learns you have spurned her gift...

Think I might be a bit hormonal.

Thumbwitch · 04/10/2011 15:13

Since it sounds like you're unlikely to buy her any dollies yourself, I'd keep this one and let her have it when she's a bit older! She's not far off playing with that type of toy. What a lovely DD your friend has as well, to want to give her something! :)

Goodness, if I'd got rid of all the toys my DS wasn't interested in when he was given them, he'd have hardly any cuddly toys at all now! He only developed an interest in them when he was 2, having had some since birth - but has made up for it since then. (We now have an embargo on cuddly toys - there are too many here).

Those Baby Alive dolls are well creepy - we saw some in Toys R Us and DS thought they were brilliant - they just made me shudder!

Original poster
HollyFP · 04/10/2011 15:20

Yes you are all right and eminently more wise Smile
And agree those baby alive things are just hideous, that's not helping my doll phobia Grin

OP posts:
TheTenantOfWildfellHall · 04/10/2011 15:26

Sorry Holly!

Just wanted you to see it could be a whole lot worse Grin

onefatcat · 04/10/2011 15:28

I would keep it- your dd would be very unusual if she never, ever, ever plays with a doll, ever in the next year or so! (I suppose she won't though if you don't ever buy her a doll or return all the ones she is given).

halcyondays · 04/10/2011 15:28

She's still very young, I would keep it as she will probably grow into it. When my dds were younger they were given cuddly toys and dolls that they didn't bother with much, but when they were a bit older, they loved playing with them. It is the sort of thing that they play with for years, while other toys are soon outgrown.

HeidiKat · 04/10/2011 15:33

My DD is getting baby Stella for her first birthday, so far she hasn't shown a lot of interest in dolls but I'm thinking that she probably will before her next birthday.

porcamiseria · 04/10/2011 15:37

Oh FFS you have only posted here as you know loads of MN "hate pink" brigade will sympathise!

just re gift it! or will that offend you feminist principles?

but I think to chage a gift that another little girl chose is really mean

Thumbwitch · 04/10/2011 15:41

unnecessarily harsh, porca - especially as the OP has already said she is going to keep it.

TheSecondComing · 04/10/2011 15:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chandon · 04/10/2011 15:47

oh, if their 7 year old chose it I really would keep it.

It would be so heartless otherwise, and the 7 year old girl is BOUND to ask at some point about it all, and would be gutted.

mumsamilitant · 04/10/2011 15:49

Don't know what the big deal is here? Its a doll!

Are you going to stop her liking pink dolls?

blackteaplease · 04/10/2011 15:50

My dd is 21 months and has just started to get into dollies, putting them to bed, kissing them and carrying them around. I think you should keep it to see if your dd grows into it.

Original poster
HollyFP · 04/10/2011 16:08

Um Hmm at porca. Not sure why you have such an extreme reaction tbh.
It was more to do with age-related toys, but as pp have said DD could end up playing with it sooner than I expect. She is vehhhh clever you see Wink Grin

OP posts:
AuntiePickleBottom · 04/10/2011 16:18

return the doll for your own sanity.

DD has loads of dolls, and they drive me nuts especially when my 2 year old undresses them and then can't get them back on and screams blue murder until i put them back on.

Ineedacleaneriamalazyslattern · 04/10/2011 16:22

I just googled baby Stella I an going to buy one of them for ds2. ds1 still loves his babies and his buggies at 5 and a half and ds2 is starting to play with his things so was going to get him his own for Christmas. Dd was never really interested in dolls but her little brother loves them.