6yo/ Gabby's/ Sylvanians/ Barbies...

[XmasDilemma1986]

DD (6.5) has decided she'd really like a Gabby's Dollhouse for Xmas this year, but all the reviews I've read of them say they're terrible quality, plus I fear she'll quickly be too old for it, plus it seems ridiculously expensive and time-consuming given you have to buy the rooms etc on top of the actual house.

For all those reasons I'm reluctant to get it. Which makes me feel a bit mean. I tried explaining this to her and she said what she'd really like is a "little house with cute animals in it". Which made me think of Sylvanians. Except they're also v expensive and I just don't know how much she'd play with them (she's not hugely into small world play)

She does have Barbies which she likes dressing up etc but doesn't seem overly bothered by the idea of a Barbie house.

Any words of wisdom? I've no idea how long Sylvanians etc carry on being played with tbh

And maybe I should just give her what she wants!

We had the same issue with DD last year and we refused to buy it too.

We bought a little Gabby doll instead. It rarely gets played with. The same as the Barbie van that she got for her birthday. The same as the dolls house. I wouldn't bother as at that age they're all probably on their way out.

Things that have been a hit for us have been a Bluetooth microphone, camera (there's a few brands but someone bought us a digital VTech one and it's amazing, you can video and audio record plus edit photos on it) and Squishmallows. They seem to be standing the test of time at the moment.

Ebay is your friend for the Sylvanian houses or Facebook market place. You can get some absolutely bargains. Depending on space you have I'd recommend the Grand Hotel, but you can get all sorts of cottages, houses etc. Personally I think Sylvanian have much more longevity, durability (especially the older versions) and play value that a lot of the faddy toys.

I played with Sylvanian Families for years. I don't think we got rid of them until I was about 12 because I liked rearranging the furniture in the house. I got the barge too for my 10th birthday. They are really well made and look good on display too.

Another vote for Sylvanians, I think the starter cottage isn’t too expensive (20.99) https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/fashion-and-dolls/sylvanian-families/sylvanian-families-homes/sylvanian-families-red-roof-cosy-cottage/p/211505?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces_across_google&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4vKpBhCZARIsAOKHoWQMFnXC3-765iTumrPPqZMfg4ZFSx-kFWWgEyIepnnNft5V2pXRA14aAmc4EALw_wcB

I played with sylvanian until 11 -12 years old but I think depends on the child, how mature she is.
You can always buy second hand and re sell it if she does not play with it.

I'd go for a 2nd hand Syvanian families bundle personally. They're great, last ages and hold a decent resell value.

My dd has a barbie playhouse that she plays with most weekends and sometimes before school.
She too loves gabbys dollhouse - she has the doll, talking ears and some plushies too.
Xmas she is getting the gabby Lego because it's Lego and will be played with in many years to come too.

Very child dependent I think. My daughter is 5 and whilst she still loves small world play, many of her friends do not.

Her Gabby and cats live in the Kidcraft castle with Barbie as the one she has is only a bit smaller than the Chelsea dolls.

We have some Sylvanian families but playmobil has hands down been dd's favourite for small world play. The Sylvanian stuff we do have all came from charity shops or TK Maxx.

My 6yo has been the same. She got a barbie fold away house last Christmas so it’s a definite no on the Gabbys dolls house. She’s has Gabby dolls, DH went to the US just before Christmas last year so got her one you can’t buy here, but she only plays with it when she sees it. She also got headphones last year, they aren’t Gabbys but look like they could be, she loves them.

I did consider the Gabbys boat set when it was on sale in b&m but decided against it.

There is also an advent calendar, my dd initially wanted it, thankfully she changed her mind as that too dosnt look that great.

She was eying up Sylvanian’s but I’ve never been keen on them, she got 1 set for her 5th birthday, the dog ate the animals and bits got lost she’s never bothered with it since. She dose like her Isabella from Encanto playset, she bought it with Christmas money she was given last year and played with it a lot.

Ebay and Facebook are definitely your friends with Sylvanian, I know lots of people who have got nice bundles off them.

When my older 2 were 6&4 I bought a second hand ELC house instead of barbie, the same year they got 2nd hand Our Generation dolls and playsets. LOLs were a really big thing for them too.

This year there is more Barbie for my 6yo, her school friends all love barbie so it’s a big thing, far more than it was for my older girls.

One thing my 6yo is into is mini brands. She’s got a lot, even using her own money to buy them. I’ve got her the advent calendar (wasn’t cheap) and some balls as well as collectors cases. If your dd isn’t into small world play she might not like them though. We’ve got quite a few Disney ones.

The Lego Gabby's Dollhouse is nice and you can add to it (it's 100% compatible with any Lego set).
There's also 3 smaller sets. I have bought the 3 smaller ones for myself despite never having watch the programme in my life.
I just thought they were unbelievably cute.

DD is 13 next week and got her Sylvanians down from the loft this week when she went up there hunting for the Halloween decorations 😂

The li l woodzeez I think they're called are not as expensive as sylvanian families
www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=li+l+woodzeez&adgrpid=104698372026&hvadid=606329128987&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1007846&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17187651697741433531&hvtargid=kwd-301748088388&hydadcr=29102_2403325&tag=hydrukspg-21&ref=pd_sl_36c7mpjbp0_e

My daughter played with her Sylvanians until she was about nine and then kept quite a few on display in her room for several more years.

My 6 year old is obsessed with Gabby and over the last year she has got a few items through birthday presents etc. The lego is great (we have the room sets, not the whole house and I think she would still use it even as her interest in Gabby is waning. The art set is an absolute rip off. The kitty ears are ridiculous but she loves them so much. She has a cuddly Cakey and that’s also a nice toy in itself.

Aww my DD (5) loves her Gabby house. She plays with it every day. The add on rooms are not compulsory, we’ve bought some for birthdays and some for Xmas and got her the cruise ship from Santa this year.
you could get a bundle second hand on fb marketplace or Vinted

Meant to add - you can get the plushies on Temu for £3/4 each - we have the set and they’re great quality

We have the Gabby house and now all the rooms as DD got them for her birthday and Christmas last year and birthday this year. My 1 year old plays with it too and hasn't broken it. I don't think it's any worse than a Barbie house in terms of durability.

It's been a big hit here!

Well, this is mumsnet and people will probably tell you little girls between 7&9 have outgrown them. Though I would expect they’d be pretty happy playing with them until around 12! Certainly was the case for everyone I know. My sister didn’t completely stop playing with them until she started her GCSE’s!! I’d expect them to have a lot of play.
Though for a child not very into small world play, I may hold off a year or two as they’re very expensive! One of my children only got into small world play near 8th birthday. They’ll take better care of them when they’re more interested!
Lottie dolls I’ve found more robust than sylvanian families

My daughter's 8 and really really really wanted to put the Gabby's dolls house on her Christmas list but yes it's wild too expensive!we built one out of cardboard and it's well played with,she loves it,and she's thinking to get the characters for Christmas instead.id do that,build one together and see if it gets played with?

Thanks so much everyone! I've read each and every reply and am now more confused than ever! Lol. I'm thinking of getting her the Lego Gabby Dollhouse as even if it doesn't end up getting played with there'll be fun building it- or maybe the kitty ears as I know she'll love them and at least she'll feel like I've acknowledged her love for Gabby ;-) And also I'm going to get some Sylvanians on Vinted or eBay and seeing how they go- there are loads on there with great discounts. Thanks again.

We got my daughter the Gabby house for this Xmas. Argued with myself over whether it was worth it but ended up with a good deal- Smyths had it for £50 and I snapped it up when they had the £6 off a £50 spend offer last month.
the Lego sets look fantastic.

Got the dollhouse here for christmas, mainly for my 4 year old who is desperate for it, but I imagine my 8 year old will also love playing with it. Amazon and Smyths had it on a good deal