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Original poster

Would you buy a 12 year old a doll?

42 replies

Toastandstrawberryjam · 16/10/2014 14:09

Middle DD is 12 but still quite a young 12, she likes her iPad and phone and make up but also playing with her sylvanian families with her little sister and was heartbroken when her dad tidied out all her baby dolls a few months ago.

Youngest DD has a v expensive doll that she got when she was 3, it is an absolutely beautiful rag doll type. Handmade in Canada and I still cringe at the cost of it (and the customs charge I got slammed with!). Middle DD has always coveted it, it's very much the type that could look lovely on a much older girls bed still and be kept forever. Am I crazy to consider buying her one, is it a babyish gift to buy for an almost teenage girl?

OP posts:
lumpyparcel · 16/10/2014 14:16

If she likes dolls there's no harm. :) and the doll sounds beautiful!

SoonToBeSix · 16/10/2014 14:18

Not too young no, for comparison my 16 dd still loves play mobile and she isn't immature.

SoonToBeSix · 16/10/2014 14:18

Sorry I meant not too old.

Wharm14 · 16/10/2014 14:20

As a younger child I wasn't really into dolls however at the age of about 13/14 I suddenly decided I wanted a baby doll. I really wanted a beautiful Zapf creation doll and my parents indulged me with not one but two for that christmas. They were much cherished and looked gorgeous on my bed. I still have them to this day! I say go for it, they're only little once and she'll treasure it I'm sure.

waithorse · 16/10/2014 14:23

Get one. They sound lovely dolls.

waithorse · 16/10/2014 14:23

Get one. They sound lovely dolls.

ChippingInLatteLover · 16/10/2014 14:25

heartbroken when her dad tidied out all her baby dolls a few months ago

So, what, did he just take it upon himself to get rid of her dolls?

Middle DD might not want an expensive doll now, but she is certainly owed a huge apology from her Dad if this is what happened and to be reassured her things wont just be thrown away like that again.

sunflower49 · 16/10/2014 14:27

If that's what I knew she would like, then I would :)

haggisaggis · 16/10/2014 14:27

My 12 year old dd still plays with dolls (but would be horrified if her friends found out). I would not buy her any "normal" dolls now - but would consider something special like you describe. ie. she is quite happy to have a china doll out on display - but all the rest (which still get played with) are hidden away in cupboards afterwards.

Original poster
Toastandstrawberryjam · 16/10/2014 16:46

Chipping - yes he said she was too old for them and she reluctantly agreed. Unbeknown to him I sneaked them back out of the charity shop bags and hid them at the top of her wardrobe.

It's a difficult age, on one hand she wants to be grown up but on the other still wants to be little.

Seems the MN consensus is to buy one, now fingers crossed I can get one. They are fiendishly hard to get.

OP posts:
scrappydappydoo · 16/10/2014 19:05

I think a really nice doll that could also be a treasured keepsake would be lovely
Alternatively have you see the design a friend dolls in Argos?

ChippingInLatteLover · 16/10/2014 20:51

So she still has her other dolls?

I think before I spent a lot of money on it I'd sound her out a bit using youngest DD's doll. It's one thing to love the ones you have, it's another to get given a new one as a present. I loved my dolls still at her age (whilst simultaneously being very interested in boys!!) but I'd have been Hmm at anyone buying me a new one.

ChippingInLatteLover · 16/10/2014 20:52

Actually - do you mean they are still hidden at the top of her wardrobe?? Why?

UncleSue · 16/10/2014 20:57

Ahh, yes get her one. There is so much pressure sometimes to appear grown up by their peers, my 9 yr old after going through a 'not really into' phase of littlest pet shop, cuddlies etc is now embracing them again.

Let the moment last a bit longer, lovely!

SanityClause · 16/10/2014 20:58

It's a difficult age, on one hand she wants to be grown up but on the other still wants to be little.

DD1 used to leave her bedroom window open when she was 12, in case Peter Pan flew in to take her to Neverland.

Hakluyt · 16/10/2014 20:59

"Chipping - yes he said she was too old for them and she reluctantly agreed. Unbeknown to him I sneaked them back out of the charity shop bags and hid them at the top of her wardrobe"

Why didn't you just give them back to her?

UncleSue · 16/10/2014 21:02

Out of interest should have asked, what doll is it if you don't mind me asking.

dd wanted a 'beautiful old fashioned doll' for her birthday, but I couldn't source one, it sounds lovely.

Original poster
Toastandstrawberryjam · 16/10/2014 21:43

the other dolls are the baby doll type. She knows I "rescued them" but says she is too old to play with them. DH did a good number on her over it (that's a whole other story!!!)

Anyhow there is no way youngest DD will let her sister play with hers! Hers was custom made to look like her as a toddler and has a whole wardrobe of clothes I made to match her outfits. Youngest DD adores her even now. And in case she's sounding like some kind of scary glass eyed doll....she's actually a bamboletta doll (not sure how to put the link) and is absolutely beautiful. It would be a smaller version I would get for DD.

OP posts:
ChippingInLatteLover · 16/10/2014 22:24

DH did a good number on her over it (that's a whole other story!!!)

Any Dad that makes his DD feel like that is pretty crap. Not sure if you have posted about him before or not, but if you would like to talk about it/him the Relationships board is really good. However, as this isn't what your thread was meant to be about I'll stop banging on about it, but I hope you don't keep putting up with crap from him :(

I didn't mean let her play with it, just sort of talk about it, try to sound her out.

Do you not think getting a smaller one would be a bit of a mistake? Middle Child might need one equal to small child.

I also disagree that they would look good on an older girls bed, I think they are every bit as 'babyish' as a baby doll - sorry.

ChippingInLatteLover · 16/10/2014 22:27

One thing you weren't wrong about - feck me, they know what to charge don't they and that's for the ones that aren't custom made!!

They don't have feet, that's a bit ... odd.

ChippingInLatteLover · 16/10/2014 22:28

Link here Dolls

erin99 · 16/10/2014 22:47

It's a lovely idea, but she said she was too old for her dolls I'm not sure she would really treasure a new one. I am still a bit jealous of my friends who were allowed My Little Ponies but that doesn't mean I actually want someone to buy me one. I would be checking with her explicitly I think.

Perhaps you could find something else that will give that 'wow' factor in a more grown up way. Some special jewellery? A jewellery box?

KatherinaMinola · 16/10/2014 22:54

"Any Dad that makes his DD feel like that is pretty crap. Not sure if you have posted about him before or not, but if you would like to talk about it/him the Relationships board is really good. However, as this isn't what your thread was meant to be about I'll stop banging on about it, but I hope you don't keep putting up with crap from him sad"

This. Sad for your dd Sad I'm not sure you can 'fix' this by buying her a new doll, but I think you need to get a grip on this relationship before he damages her self-esteem further. I know it wasn't what you were posting about, but still.

Original poster
Toastandstrawberryjam · 16/10/2014 23:36

Yeah I go on the relationships board every now and then......

I know they are eyewateringly expensive now, weren't a few years ago. If they were cheaper I wouldn't be hesitating.

OP posts:
DancingDinosaur · 16/10/2014 23:41

They are very expensive. I like them though. She's not too old for one. Crikey, my mum still buys me soft toys and I'm very old. Bit unfair of your dh to do that to her in the first place though.

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