Not buying LOL dolls for DD

[soloula]

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?

LivingDead I assume they get them sent free by the manufacturers? Or they are idiots, possibly. I hate the videos way more than the dolls (although to be fair on the 'plastic tat' front, they are at least carefully made plastic tat, although it creeps me out the way their clothes clip onto their bodies and they remind me somewhat of mini blow up dolls of the sexual variety -- urrgh). But whoever thought of filling the containers with loads of plastic confetti you have to pick off the floor...there are no words...

My DD loves them and has 12 regular ones and 3 lil sisters. She plays with them all the time. The tiny bits of accessories are constantly getting lost and I’m always under the sofa with flashlight.
But, I checked the price for them on eBay and they go for tenner or so. And one rare one she has is going for £18+. I also have couple put away for her for Christmas (Argos 3 for 2 toy sale) and one of them is white, so rare or ultra rare. Ultra rare is £50+ on eBay. So if they’re not played with, you can still get the money back.

DD loves hers and plays with them regularly (the clothes get swapped around between them, for example)

They are an absolute plastic nightmare, though - so much waste!

And the whole "will she spit water, cry or wee herself" is so bizarre

Yeah the couple on the youtube video were very excited about the 'spit, tinkle, or cry' test. Its not right!

My DD loves LOL dolls and tbh it’s one of the games I really like playing with her. She has them every so often as a reward for good behaviour but to avoid duplicates I try and buy from different series. We’re definitely not collecting them! She has 6 and one of the pet ones. She loves playing with them so I consider them worth the money as an occasional reward as she’s so happy when she gets one.

Please please don't get yours from Ali express as one cannot be sure if it passed european standards of safety testing!

Even if it has a CE mark on the packaging, remember it's fake.

XiCi I really want the Alice in wonderland one

Managed to get the incredibly rare 9ct Lux but not the common Alice

I won't buy them or any other toy like it as it's bad for the environment and a massive rip off. My daughter knows this as well and she's only six.

I've come along to be a killjoy.... sorry

Please avoid any of the ones available on Ali Express, Wish or similar.

They are made totally differently... cheaper materials, contain screws etc also products don't go through the same testing & quality procedures we have in the UK. Pay more & buy less...

Just get one of the small ones. Don't make her the minority at school this early.

As for only buying gifts at birthday and Christmas, that's just a little odd and with school, you'll find your DD taking more of an interest in toys that others have

My daughter loves them. They're not cheap I know, but my daughter does play with them afterwards, she has about 12 now so changes their outfits etc and plays schools etc with them. To me they're worth it, but I guess if your LO doesn't have one yet it may not been worthwhile starting the obsession! :)

My 2 and 4 year old love them, they have loads and play with them constantly.

My dh and I buy far too many, but they make them so happy! Plus I love them too!

I don’t mind buying DD faddy toys or collectibles. However, for some reason I find LOL outrageous, she’s had various cards, stickers, pez, moshi, etc. I was fine with it.

It’s the price I think, they are really expensive and she honestly is just as excited by a kinder egg. She had a couple but she had to pay for them herself. Or ask at Christmas.

I see there is a lol dolls house now in smiths toys pre order for Christmas it is €200 I'm hoping my daughter 8 doesn't see them as she loves lol's has loads of them but she already has a large dolls house and our generation stable rv the lol house wouldn't fit in her room lol

We have pre ordered the house too

The two options aren't plastic toys designed to hook kids into rampant consumerism with no thought to the environment collecting or TV all day. 😂

My own view is that within reason I don't dictate what toys my DD (6) has or give her my opinions on what is or isn't crap, but I do dictate how much is bought for her and when. It's birthday and Christmas and very occasional treats (usually holiday money). She also has pocket money (£1 per week), which she uses to buy small things.

Agree with PP that it's valid re them being able to join in, not being the only one without a popular toy. I never had any cool stuff growing up because my parents viewed it as tat and it did affect me socially I think.

I don't even get the appeal of these toys. DD got one in her Christmas stocking and it seemed to have nothing to it. She deliberated over spending her holiday money on one recently but plumped for a TY in the end. I certainly wouldn't buy them just because and it has never occurred to me that I'm tight with the DC - they have loads of stuff. I think you have to develop a hollow laugh and an ability to say "put it on your Christmas list then if you still want it by then" as this will be the first of many similar situations.

i wonder if it would be worth searching on ebay for some second hand but unopened ones? that way she can join in the fun, but it would be a much lower price than if you bought them brand new.

My DD5 just got an undercover capsule for completing a reward chart. She opened it this morning and I was really impressed with it for the price (£15). She had to work find secret messages and use them to unlock 4 or 5 combinations to open various safes. It was very engaging and a lot of fun for us both. I think I'll buy another to pop away for an xmas stocking filler or a prize for a few months time.

My niece asked for these and jeez they’re plastic tat. But then I think back to when I was desperate for Puppy In My Pockets in the early 90’s so was probably the same!

Plus the ultra rare ones have good resale value, my dd got one yesterday that sells for £75 on eBay

Have a look on boom when doing your xmas shopping as that way you have a chance of winning the full transaction back rather than a small percent on topcashback ect. I have won over 400 pound back since Feb and now they have ebay im doing all my xmas shopping through it. You simply buy as usual through the site like any other cashback site but you have a 1 in 25 chance of winning it back in cash into your paypal and even if you loose you get 50p bonus that adds up with your losses and you can withdraw when you withdraw your winnings. With special odds of 1:10 ect you will soon win. boom25.com/?referrer=525ca2aa-eb54-4034-a4d4-9e17e2617413