Softening new baby blow with a baby doll.. but which one?!

[PeppaNeedsToBeWrappedInBacon]

I’m due our second baby in March, first DD will be just turned two when he arrives.
I thought for Christmas I will get her a baby doll with all the accessories (cot, swing, changing accessories ect) so that she can feel a bit more included when he’s here. She gets jealous of her baby cousin when I hold her so I know it’s going to happen to some extent.

But I’m trying to choose which doll to get her. The choices are:

Interactive baby doll:
Giggles when tickled, snoozes when rocked, sucking sounds when bottle/dummy in mouth.
Cons: eyes are fixed open, very plastic, no hair ect, predominately pink and girl looking.

Less interactive, more real:
Has hair to brush, is soft, eyes open when sat up, close when led down, comes in a ‘boy’ version, can buy outfits for it, has more tailored accessories.
Cons: isn’t interactive, doesn’t make noise.

Which one would you choose? I feel like they more realistic one would be better.. but maybe I only think that because I generally prefer the look of it overall as it looks less cheap, but a 2 year old.. she might prefer the interactive side more than looks? Help me choose!

For me, the more realistic one.
Although my new baby brother bought me a panda when he was born, so I'm not sure why I think realism matters!

For a just turned 2 year old I would buy whichever is the cheaper version. And I would hold off buying the swing, cot, changing accessories etc til I saw if the child actually liked it/had any interest in playing with it.

I'd go for a cheaper version, she's only 2 so will be over the moon to get a present regardless!

I'm due in March also, my daughters just turned 2 so a tiny bit older, but we've been following Big Little Feelings on Instagram and they have some really great tips for how to introduce a new baby to a toddler!

If you scroll along the highlights they have one called "New Baby", they're a great account on the whole though!

https://instagram.com/biglittlefeelings?utmmedium=copyy_link

@Scarby9 😂 good point.. I suppose I feel as if she will lose interest if it’s not like the real thing I’ll be holding.

@LaTomatina the cheaper one is £20, the realistic one is £44!! I thought that was crazy money for a doll that doesn’t make noise but thought maybe it’s because they’re more realistic they’re more worth while?
She’s played with her cousins baby dolls and seems to enjoy pushing them around in the pushchair and trying to get a dummy in their mouth - maybe I’ll start with a couple of bits and buy some more as we go on 🙈

@nousernamehere01 ah thank you! I’ll take a look at the account. I want to be as prepared as possible 😂

Get the more realistic one

Dd plays with them a lot more than the mechanical ones! She has a luvabella and it terrifies her!

Also try and get one that isn't too heavy, luvabella needs to be carried in both hands which makes using the baby carrier etc tricky

Any doll suggestions are also appreciated!

I agree with previous posters, a basic cheaper doll will be fine. We gave ours to my eldest when I came back from hospital after she'd been able to meet the baby for a bit. She loved having a toy bottle to feed the doll when we fed the baby, it was just a cheap bottle though it didn't 'drink' it.
Books are a great way to help her feel prepared too, we read 'Knock Knock Open the Door' by Michaela Morgan a lot when I was pregnant. Then 'I'm a big sister' by Joanna Cole when the baby was born.
Congratulations, hopefully she will be less jealous than she is with her cousin because your baby will be 'hers' too.

In my experience (having two daughters) the small, soft bodied, plastic limbs and head are the biggest hit at that age. The small baby annabell, or dd1 got a Tesco Emmi doll at 18months who is still a much loved doll now at 5 and 3

I agree , she is only little so a big heavy doll won't be very manageable. DS brought DD a little buggy and Noddy to go in it. He was soft bodied and cuddly. At that age and indeed for a few years she liked those soft bodied dolls with plastic faces, hands and lower legs. The buggy was used for years afterwards.

Which one is easier to wash is she drops him in mud / pukes on him / paints him? Get that one.

And I'd stick with a cheap buggy, magic bottle and a dummy for now

I wouldn't worry too much about realism. DC1 was just under 2 when DC2 arrived. Before that he used to get jealous whenever I held another baby, trying to climb all over me, headbutting my arm. As soon as it was his own sister he just adored her and has never showed a hint of jealousy in nearly 4 years now.

Just get a very cheap one, you don't need to overthink it.

We got DS2 a baby boy doll when I was expecting DS3, with some nappies and clothes and a pretend bottle. Then when DS3 was actually born we got him a toy bus from the baby. The doll was useful for role play and working out some feelings but it hasn't really been a favoured toy. I would have been a bit annoyed if I'd spent loads of money kitting it all out TBH.