AIBU to buy my 11 year old a doll?

[leopardprintchick]

Dd 11 (just started secondary late August Birthday) is doll crazy and I mean crazy, she lives breathes dolls and babies, birthday money is spent on really baby clothes for her dolls etc

She has 30 plus dolls all her children with names own clothes etc.

She's desperate for a reborn toddler doll for Xmas and I'm currently looking but everyone else around me is saying she's to old etc and at secondary school and I should make her grow up

She's a young 11, really she should only be just starting year 6 has she be been born a few days later

Should I just go with it knowing it will make her the happiest girl alive and make the most out of it while it last?

Of course!!

Rubbish she’s too old! No one but her gets to decide when she’s too old. Get it for her and she will have the best Christmas ever!

I’ve met adult women that collect those reborn dolls, some kids obviously never grow out of it.

Oh get her the doll

OP, honestly if you know it’s not a passing fad or something she’ll tire of easily... i would - it’s not like she has to take the dolls to school so that minimises the bullying risk. If it makes her happy, stuff what everybody else thinks - she sounds like a lovely, happy girl. :)

FWIW I’m nineteen and my bedroom is still full of plushies and I bought myself the Cinderella Disney Animator Collection doll for Christmas (Cinderella as a toddler )

My DD is 10 and I got her a reborn for Christmas. Her best friend loves dolls too so they're both getting one.

My neice similar aged laughed when DD told her what she wants. Who cares it won't do any harm, I am definitely making the most of it and wish I played with dolls longer.

Not a reborn but my DD1 is 11 just after Christmas and she's got dolls on her Christmas list. I've made sure she knows that it's no one else's business what she chooses to like.

If she wants a doll get her a doll. I say that as someone who finds dolls incredibly creepy. "Make her grow up" piss off.

Definitely get it if it will make her happy. But don't be surprised if one day, all of a sudden, she decides she is too old (due to peer pressure). I think kids should be kids as long as possible. Plenty of time to grow up. FWIW my 12yr old son still occasionally buys soft toys as holiday souvenirs!!

I played with dolls up til age 15. I remember pretending to buy my cousin one and keeping it myself!

To this say I no longer bother with dolls but have a stuffed owl I sleep with every night and some Pokémon teddies etc.

I'd buy her it!

I actually got my first doll (a Tiny Tears!) when I was 10. I collected dolls of various sorts up until my late 20s! I swear it never harmed me. It wasn’t something I shared with people at school though. I had the foresight to realise it might make me an even bigger target for bullying. Now I look back in my 20s I’m sure I was filling a void because I was desperate for children. Don’t have any interest at all since I’ve had a child!

There are loads of adults that collect dolls! However, I personally wouldn’t buy her a reborn doll, not because I think she needs to grow up or anything like that, but because I think they’re creepy as fuck and I wouldn’t want one in the house. If you’re ok with them then go for it though!

Makes me so sad when people make kids feel bad for being kids! my own mum denied me dolls from about 9 just because it was time to 'become a young lady', and I was secretly heartbroken. Shes only a child for so long, definitely get her it!

Get her a doll. DD 11 started yr6 in September, and although she's never been into dolls, she still plays with toys. We're going window shopping for Christmas toys this week.

I'm really torn as to what to advise OP
On one hand I'm worried she'll be teased in school that she still loves dolls which maybe is a little unusual for her age although nothing wrong with that
However I remember that when I was her age Tiny Tears had just come out and I was so desperate to have one for Christmas- I didn't and ridiculously over 50 years later I still feel the disappointment because as my mum told me I was too old
Not very helpful sorry, wish I could offer a solution for you

My last doll of childhood was when I was 9. I mourned that loss going forward knowing I was too old to ’play’ with dolls.

It took me until I was in my 30’s to realise that dolls make me happier.

I now collect, repaint and sell them. I am surrounded by my dolls.

You are never too old for what makes you happy.

Go on, buy her that doll!

Oh yeah, make her grow up. Maybe a big box of make up and a bottle of vodka. Definately better for her than a doll.

Seriously people are crazy. SHE gets to decide what she likes, not anyone else.

But agree with Josella Re creepy, I'd lock my bedroom door haha

I feel a bit similar about DS who’s 11 and still loves Lego and playing imaginative games. I love the fact he’s still a child but I worry a bit that he seems ‘younger’ than his peers.

I would get her a doll. My year 7 dd has asked for a couple for Christmas. Her eldest sister also had them at this age, and of course she doesn't have them know at almost 17!.

She is only little still.

Definitely. I used to have a friend who loved dolls until she was about 13. Then switched to boys over night and never looked back!
Make the most of the doll phase

Should say that she does hide it from school friends and has done for past year or so, her best friend at school knows but she's a nice girl who keeps it to herself. She plays a lot with our neighbour who's just about to turn 10 and she lives dolls also.

Def not a passing faze she's been into her dolly's since she was about 3.

She currently sat next to me nursing Hunter, he's been poorly with a cold for few days now.. just had calpol and his bottle

Haverhill - my son also occasionally builds Lego and imaginative games. As a teacher when I had a year 6 class lots of the boys would play 'Lord of the Rings' and so on at playtime. Don't worry, a good imagination is something that will stand him in good stead IMO.

In America there's a doll called American Girl, they're hugely popular with girls of your daughters age.

my dd is 12 (Year 8) and she still loves her dolls. She gave up her baby dolls last year but still very much collects her Design a friend dolls and has more bits on her Christmas list this year. If I am honest I did think that once she started secondary school she would lose interest in her dolls. But she still very much likes them. I am happy to keep her young for as long as I can. Children grow up far to quickly these days.

Ah buy her the doll. I got a Zapf creation baby doll (Victoria) for my 11th birthday - one of my all time favourite presents. Christmas and birthdays are for gifts that make you happy, so let her be happy.