Lovely dress-up doll for 4 year old?

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My nearly 4 year old really loves to play pretend with her soft toys. I'd like to get her a doll that has outfits I can buy for birthdays/further holidays. I'm thinking a good sized doll she could dress up herself and push in a buggy as opposed to a Barbie sized doll.

I don't like the look of Baby Annabel and can spend a bit more money (maybe up to about 50 quid) as this will be her main gift. I do like Olli Ella Dinkum but think that's for slightly younger kids. Any ideas?

I don't have an answer but just a warning. My DD loved her cuddlies but never really bonded with a human looking doll! She had puppies and kittens galore, which looked very cute. The dolls weren't fluffy which didn't help. I would maybe get her something she has expressed interest in wanting as it could just end up not being played with. A pushchair might be good which she can put other toys in. At 4 they are pretty good at knowing what they like. Can you ask her nursery or preschool what she really really enjoys playing with there?

Thanks, this is helpful to hear.

She doesn't go to nursery and doesn't watch tv yet, which I have realized is a huge mistake as there aren't toys that she recognizes and wants! (I asked her what she wanted for Xmas and she said "a green blanket to cover my toys." OK...)

I work with this age. They are fabulous. My daughter wanted a wheelbarrow for Christmas one year! It was hard to get in Winter.

If your dd likes playing with soft toys and bringing them to life, how about 'smallworld' toys. These are small versions of the world like houses, towns, parks, cars etc. which they can bring to life. Sylvanian families are lovely - there are so many bits you can collect and they are very cute. The imaginative play which kids do with smallworld is lovely, loads of story telling. There's also Playmobil but a bit less cute, lots of moving parts though.

She might love a doll but maybe try first with a cheaper one and if she takes to it then it's always great to have more than one.

My eldest had a Build a Bear (a bear) which had all sorts of outfits. She's married now but still has the bear but not the many outfits which various people bought for it. She hated dolls but still loves her bear!

My dd is 4 and very similar, loves her stuffed toys and pretend play with them.

I’ve just (last week) bought her one of the ‘Our Generation’ dolls and she is loving it so far- it’s barely left her side. Smyths have a few reduced at the mo so I got one for I think £40 which came with a couple of outfits and accessories.

Bibi doll for baby type dolls, or have a look at Our Generation dolls

I got some lovely OG dolls from Vinted for a bargain

We also had an Our Generation one which has worn well!

Build a bear or Sylvanian families would be a good choice, my almost 5 yr old loves them both as she also prefers animals and unicorns over dolls. Also they both hold resell value!

www.frillylily.co.uk I got outfits from here last year for my daughters Baby Annabell and Baby Alexander. They have pyjamas, clothes and even school clothes and shoes.

Design a friend doll from Argos

Our generation dolls are brilliant. My DD had them until she was about 11.

Designa friend dolls from Argos are lovely and cost less than similar popular brands. They often have sales on the clothing/accessories too.