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Mumsnet users share their memories of playing with dolls with Baby Annabell

510 replies

LucyBMumsnet · 07/11/2019 14:38

This activity is now closed

Most people have some fond memories of playing with dolls in their childhood, from sweetly changing their nappy and rocking them to sleep, to taking them everywhere or ‘customising’ what they look like. Baby Annabell would like to find out more about your memories of playing with dolls, as well as how your children play with their dolls.

What was your doll’s name, and do you still like it now? Did your doll cry real tears, drink real water, burp after feeding, or need its nappy changing? Or did you have to make pretend because the technology wasn’t available yet? What were your favourite games to play with your doll? How does your child play with dolls now? How does it differ from how you played with dolls?

Share your memories on this thread and you will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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Mumsnet users share their memories of playing with dolls with Baby Annabell
OP posts:
SouthWestmom · 08/11/2019 21:22

Dd had a baby Annabel. She left her in m and s once and we had to go back the next day. I was actually crying Blush at this baby being lost (disclaimer was pregnant).
Man behind the counter denied all knowledge but baby A was behind him which I pointed out and then sobbed happy tears.
HmmShock

DisgruntledGuineaPig · 08/11/2019 21:36

I wanted a baby skates. I asked Father Christmas for Baby Skates. I mentioned it to Dad several times. Said something to my Mum about the doll I'd asked Father Christmas for. I knew she'd not really listened. I was disappointed with normal Baby doll that was all about learning to look after a baby, not a funky doll that could roller skate. I tried to pretend I wasn't, as that was the year I realised Father Christmas wasn't real and my mum didn't know what I really wanted.

I listen so carefully to my DCs to what they ask Father Christmas for!

canuck43 · 08/11/2019 21:51

Christmas 1950 received two dolls, one dressed in Blue satin, pants, dress and bonnet, the other from what I can remember just had a turquoise dress not sure what material. I can't remember giving them names but I did have a pram that was used all the time. I now have five dolls of various sizes sitting on a chest in my bedroom collected over the years. I did buy my granddaughter Baby Chou Chou and she was delighted with her.

PickledChicory · 08/11/2019 21:53

I got a dolly and pram for my 4th christmas. The doll was beautiful with long brown hair with a soft body and I named her Sophie. I liked wrapping my ballet skirt around her to make a very ott dress and throwing her down the slide. She was mum to some of the littler dolls.
Dd loves dolls we bought her a doll for her first birthday and we have lovely footage of her taking her out the wrapping and patting her on the back. She is called soft baby cos her body is soft its still her favourite doll,
just a £5 doll from asda. Her second favourite is hard baby who cost a quid at a charity shop, she has a hard body. Hard baby creeped us all out as we didnt realise she had moving parts until v late one night when she stated moving Shock. Think she is a bit broken as only moves intermittently!

mandes1 · 09/11/2019 00:59

My overriding memory of playing with dolls as a child, was making and "feeding" them real food - the smell was atrocious! For some reason it always seemed to involve cabbage!

Fond memories....

PorridgeAgainAbney · 09/11/2019 06:08

My absolute favourite was one that could kiss you (there was a hole in her mouth so if you squeezed her tummy, put her mouth to your face then let go of her tummy, the vacuum made her suck your face in a little kiss!)

mountainofdreams · 09/11/2019 07:43

I had over ten dolls growing up including Baby Annabel. I absolutely adored playing with them for years! Great memories!

tillymint21 · 09/11/2019 08:15

My doll was my companion, confidante, best friend and hugely important. She wore pjs most of the time and tended to spend a lot of time stuck in my bedroom where the dog couldn’t reach her (!) but she was always there for me and a key part of my childhood.

SSCRASE123 · 09/11/2019 08:24

No dollies for me, unless action man counts ?. Love to see my little girl playing with hers though and making up adventures and stories.

Goingovertosusanshouse · 09/11/2019 08:29

I played with dolls until I started secondary school. I used to make my own nursery and all I ever wanted was to care for these ‘babies’. I have such happy memories of being in the garden with my dolls, up and down the path with the buggy. Dd is the same.

blackleggingsandatshirt · 09/11/2019 08:36

I had a tiny tears, she went everywhere with me, she drank 'milk' and she would wee, and need her nappy changing, she would sit in the pram I got one Christmas, and my mum knitted her clothes for her (to match mine) jumpers and bobble hats, and a blanket. I have many photos of her on holiday, at dinner time and in the supermarket trolley.
I still have her - sitting in my wardrobe (no eyelashes and looking a little unloved(

jmsrowlands · 09/11/2019 08:38

The memory i have with playing with 'dolls' Is my action men hiding behind the sofa a shooting bullets out of the tank.

AuFinch · 09/11/2019 08:45

I remember my grandma bought me a doll that cost a lot of money as she fainted when they told her the price of it. It was in the 70's when she took me on holiday to spain which was a complete waste of money as the only things i remember are the doll and a very sticky pine cone. I had two dolls a tiny tears one (no name just called tiny tears) and spanish "pepe" and my sisters had barbie dolls. Spanish Pepe was a boy doll with curly red hair and freckles. I was a bit of a tom boy and used to strap one of my dolls in a pink pram (which i hated) and zoom round everywhere pretening to be a F1 racing car (mother actually used to cringe at the car sounds i made). Tiny tears got a short back and sides from one of my sisters and "the beetroot treatment" (we used to have a tortoise that was fed beetroot and it would pee pink). My mother and grandma wanted me to be a pretty pink lady but I was the kind of girl with spanners in my pockets and oil from the bike chain on my ankle socks. I think back then I would have appreciated a doll that wore a F1 outfit and was just as fast as the boys.

As for the generation following me, there was no dolls as my DS didnt want any (he was always given the opportunity to have whatever type toys he liked), although he is 18 now he still has some old teddies in the back of his cupboard he wont ever part with. I think there is a huge gap for dolls for boys (and girls that dont like to play pink and gender neutral) why cant you get an F1 normal sized doll to play with? or a mechanic one that looks all grubby! haha

MimiJoy · 09/11/2019 08:51

I didn't play much with dolls ... I much preferred my older brothers' train set! and other toys. A right little tomboy x

youkiddingme · 09/11/2019 08:53

I don't really remember having baby dolls but I remember getting my first Sindy doll. My friend had barbie and I'm afraid hers seemed much more glamorous but we still had great times playing with them together. And borrowing her brother's action man to join in.

MimiJoy · 09/11/2019 08:54

I didn't play with dolls .... I was a right little tomboy and much preferred my older brothers' trainset and other mechanical toys they played with! x

MimiJoy · 09/11/2019 08:56

Sorry - dupe!

IonaAilidh11 · 09/11/2019 08:58

i had a barbie and would cut and style its hair

phillie1 · 09/11/2019 09:01

Had 4 elder brothers, dolls didnt feature in our house

minkeymonkeys · 09/11/2019 09:11

I remember tiny tears. You fed her water and she peed her nappy Grin

insancerre · 09/11/2019 09:12

I had lots of dolls
I never could remember their names, so I wrote them all on their arms with a black marker pen
My favourite doll got left too close to the fire and her face melted

kagglen · 09/11/2019 09:15

I don't remember having any dolls when I was a child but I did have lots of Barbie and Sindy toys if that counts.

dippydeedoo · 09/11/2019 09:19

I had a tiny tears, she was hard plastic with glass looking eyes, she had a full hand knitted layette and matching prom and cot blankets, she didn’t really drink but I had a magic bottle that looked like she did.
She was very clever for my first baby, she wore knickers from the start and looked like her hair had been shampooed and set at my nannas hairdresser.
Anyway I was a good mum to her and last ones after her really well especially throughout her bic pen gallstone surgery that left a hideous scar on her tummy just like Auntie Mavis had had.
Mum was very cross as she came from
Grattans catalogue and she was still paying for her after said surgery.

pusinky · 09/11/2019 09:21

I had a gorgeous doll called Mimi that I took everywhere with me. I used to style her hair and make tiny hats

Sleepycat91 · 09/11/2019 09:31

I can remember having a cabbage patch doll. And being absolutely DESPERATE for the one that you feed the cherry scented food too with the spoon, but never got one unfortunately!