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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not buying LOL dolls for DD

119 replies

soloula · 29/08/2018 16:16

Is anyone else in the same boat? DD1 is 4, nearly 5 and just started school a few weeks ago. Ever since she started she’s been going on about LOL dolls and asking when she can get one. We don’t really buy many toys outwith birthdays and Christmas and I don’t really want to go down that road. They seem expensive, especially as you can end up with doublers, and we’ve also been making a real effort to cut down on toys. It also seems like it’s a competition amongst the mums as much as the kids to get rare ones. At the same time, I really don’t want DD to feel left out. I know this will be the first of many trends that I won’t feel comfortable keeping up with but I don’t want DD to suffer because of my decisions iykwim. AIBU to not buy them? What have you done if you’ve felt the same as me?

OP posts:
ThePinkOcelot · 30/08/2018 20:07

I’ve never heard of these dolls. My dds are 17 and 14 though!

CastleFeck · 30/08/2018 20:56

Sometimes when you’re little it’s just nice to be able to fit in with your class mates and have the same toy. They’re not expensive and they have been played with a lot in our house. I’d buy her one.

Liadan · 30/08/2018 21:31

My two dds 4 and 6 adore them... They get them as very special treats and play with them constantly... They are their favourite toys.

Benandhollysmum · 30/08/2018 22:14

I would get them, if they aren’t expensive and cherish every moment because the minute they hit 12 they become drama filled mini divas wearing makeup and what not..and you will wish they were still playing with dollies

Get her 1 or 2 and then start buying for Xmas

PiggyPoos · 30/08/2018 22:23

I think it's a bit weird to make them give something away before they can have something new but we sort & donate things every few months.

They are absolute shite but I would be happy enough to get small things once in a while like this and I don't usually buy a lot ad hoc.

You could do some sort of pocket money over a few weeks so she saves up and buys one with that.

I've got little DSes they did have a thing about Zomblings but they lasted days if that, the price of those LOL dolls is nuts.

I

MustShowDH · 31/08/2018 00:17

I was in Smyths Toys and found a LOL Girls activity book. Was only about £3 and meant DD could be 'involved' in the trend without me gaining extra plastic tat!

agnurse · 31/08/2018 01:56

There are a number of LOL buy sell trade groups on Facebook if you're on there. (My kid is almost 14 but I collect LOLs. I admit to basically being a big kid. I come by it honestly. My uncle visits Disneyland every year and he's in his 50s.) Usually you can get a pretty decent price.

smellsofelderberries · 31/08/2018 02:08

My DD is only 2 so not started down this road yet but DH and I will be saying no to this sort of thing. I'm so aware of how much of this stuff (most) is plastic and we're trying to go as low plastic in our household as possible.

We went to see my niece the other week who's just turned 4, and I was horrified by the LOL dolls and all the other plastic shit she has. Most of it was hand-me-downs from other relatives, so not quite so bad. I just hope it goes to charity/gets passed down.

GiveMeAllTheGin8 · 31/08/2018 02:19

Dd has been OBSESSED with these dolls for the past two years. She has loads and so do all her friends.
She swaps her matches so we don't have any doubles at the moment.
She also likes to do an "unbox me" video week she's opening them!
She gets so much value out of them and brings some with her when we are going away, eating out etc which is great as they are so small.
I think you should buy your dd one

pastaandpestoagain · 31/08/2018 02:46

I bought some for dn, her friends had them and it was her birthday. Yes they are tat but things you really want in childhood often are.
I found pocket money was the best way to manage dc wanting things as they got older, it gave them a concept of money and relative worth. Over the last few years ds has learned not to impulse purchase just so he has bought something. I am really happy he can walk out of a shop with money in his pocket and figure it's a good lesson to have learned.

NelleB · 31/08/2018 06:20

My DSD loves them. She is well behaved all the time and a lovely little girl, she gets pocket money and sometimes we will top this up (eg doing really well in SATs and what not). DSS is into fortnite 🙄. Much prefer to spend £10 on a doll she plays with imaginatively in her dolls house than V bucks.

Sweetpotatoaddict · 31/08/2018 08:09

I totally agree with letting your children have what they want. However the amount of plastic packaging in them is disgusting. Drinking straws are the current target but they at least serve a purpose,

krustykittens · 31/08/2018 10:32

I do understand you not wanting to buy tat but I would be wary of denying your child something she would love because you don't love it. I hated it when my parents would dismiss things out of hand because they didn't see the point of them. Buy her one and see if the novelty wears off.

chocatoo · 31/08/2018 12:07

I am in my late 50s and can still remember the joy when my parents brought me a troll! Remember to add inflation to the things that you say were pocket money budget cost when you were little.

I would buy her one and maybe mention to grandmas that they are 'all the rage' in case they want a treat to give.

Dancergirl · 31/08/2018 16:16

I am in my late 50s and can still remember the joy when my parents brought me a troll

Yes absolutely. I've never got this loathing of 'plastic tat' on MN. It may not mean much to you but some of these toys, even if short-lived, bring a lot of joy to a small child.

OP - buy her some. I have 3 dds, youngest is 11. Over the years we've bought various craze toys - polly pockets, shopkins etc. Youngest has pretty much outgrown toys now, do it while you still can!

LivingDeadGirlUK · 31/08/2018 16:26

This reminds me of Trolls, so many to collect but they were expensive I was only allowed a pencil topper!

GreenMeerkat · 31/08/2018 16:28

My DDs get one doll a month at the end of the month if they get 'good stars' for the full month. It's a good incentive for them to behave and prevents us having to buy more than that. They know not to ask now but when they did we'd just say 'no it's not the end of the mo th'.

Fireworks91 · 31/08/2018 18:03

Short lived is exactly the problem.

XiCi · 31/08/2018 18:25

Please don't be tempted to get them from Ali express or Ebay, they are very noticeable fakes and just not worth saving a few quid over.

My dd absolutely loves lol dolls. She has about 10 now, she got a few from friends for her birthday, has a couple from me and has saved for some with her pocket money. There's a lot of different dolls so unlikely to get dupes. She plays with them a lot and opening them is really fun. I think if you can afford it it's a bit mean not to get her one as an odd treat. You might even enjoy the opening bit yourself Smile. Dds reaction when she got punk boi was priceless.

OutPinked · 31/08/2018 18:44

my killjoy parents would tell me everything I wanted was 'crap' and it made me feel stupid and small for wanting it

I mean at the time, it was annoying when my DM said I couldn’t have something but looking back and especially now I’m a parent myself- she had a point.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 31/08/2018 19:20

Ok so I was curious about what a LOL doll actually was and ended up on youtube.

Why are grown adults recording themselves opening these things with cringworthy over enthusiasim?

I am not sure what I have spent the last 10 mibs watching :/

TheMonkeyMummy · 31/08/2018 19:34

They are awful. My DD got one for her birthday and that's it from us. I was shocked at how shit they actually are. Never ever again.

Soubriquet · 31/08/2018 20:05

I must admit I’ve got a soft spot for them too

So I’m glad my dd likes them

I’ve got a soft spot for hatchimals too

XiCi · 31/08/2018 20:12

It doesn't matter though if I as an adult think a kids toy is shit. It's whether my kids like them that's the important thing and dd loves lol dolls. I love watching her open them, getting all amimated finding the little clues and accessories before finding out what doll she has got. She plays with them alot as do all of her friends. Most kids toys are shit to us adults lets face it

XiCi · 31/08/2018 20:14

I've got a soft spot for them as well soubriquet. I'm hankering after beatnik babe Grin

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