Help me choose a non-grim baby doll for 3.5yo

[MrsBadger]

So dd has just turned three.
She's starting to get more into mothering her toys and is beginning to feel the limitations of her long-beloved 'baby' - no clothes, nappy etc to change.
She got a dolls' pram thus as a surprise birthday present from her great-grandma and is adoring pushing the damn thing about.

Soooo

I can see that for Christmas she's going to need a 'proper' baby doll but I simply cannot face shelling out £50 for a squealing, pooing monstrosity.
However, the Corolle doll that's the size of Baby Born / Annabel etc (so will fit pram, newborn clothes etc) thus, is, although nicer-looking than Annabel and Born, still £55 and 'does' nothing at all...

I also don't know how long it'll be played with and/or how soon (if ever) it'll need to be replaced, perhaps by a more grown-up Lilydoll type.

Or is size not important and I'd be better getting somethign smaller, cheaper, with hair to brush?

Or something slightly smaller but makes noises?

I know I have till Christmas to decide but I am dithering like a ditherer and am secretly yearning to improve on my own doll experiences...

Ooh MrsBadger, haven't seen you for ages!

When dd1 was that age we bought her a chouchou which did nothing, and which she adored until my mother gave her a usurper, (an usurper?)
But this was, admittedly, at least 10 years ago and I;m not sure you can still get inert chouchous.

Can you getaway with a nice waldorf type doll?

Oh, Bishopston Trading do lovely fairtrade, handmade, reasonably priced dolls clothes in a variety of sizes.

(oh but I have had to namechange so you wouldn't recognise me)

no indeed I don't recognise you [squints]

all Chou Chous now appear functional (learn to walk, my first tooth, mummy make me better)

the Waldorf ones are even more expensive [sigh]

Ew, I'm not keen on dollies wot do stuff. Dd2 wants one that swims

I always felt rather affectionate towards you because my ds1 had a thing about badgers for many years and I pictured you as an actual mummy badger
but anyway, i can't out myself because I have a couple of sensitive threads on the go.

DD is almost three.

She hasthis corolle doll which goes everywhere with us. We bought as her first doll for her first birthday (and I secretly think I love her more than dd!)

DD also has an Annabel doll which I got for her last Christmas (it was half price in Tesco around the summertime and too hard to resist)

Annabel sleeps in the cot next to dd's bed and is much loved by her, she gets changed in out and out clothes (well newborn baby grows and some hand knitted dolls clothes I found tucked away in a charity shop!) and dd found some of her old (clean) nappys in the bottom of the bathroom cupboard recently and is trying to put them on her.

Annabel crys if fed water (and switched on .. ahem!) but dd has little intrest in this, its more to do with dressing and changing. She has recently started trying to brush her hair though so the corolle doll you linked to with hair is looking like a good buy for this christmas.

That would be 3 dolls but each has their place, one small enough to cart around, one to dress and change at home and maybe one with hair!

HTH Sorry for rambling!

I love these dolls - and will be buying for DC3 if a girl (or maybe even if a a boy!)

We have this one - dolls world bathtime doll.

We had a baby born but this one was preferred. It is a bit smaller and lighter so easier to hold. It fits in premature-size baby clothes, which I have plenty of (although I still occasionally get a shock when I see the doll lying on the floor in ds2's old babygro!).

Best of all, you can put it in the bath and it doesn't leak for days afterwards.

It doesn't keep making unexpected wierd noises that have you hunting under the sofa for a stray cat.

And it smells nice.

ok I have done it
baby-shaped, brushable hair, last one in stock on Amazon, free super saver delivery

put away in Christmas cupboard

MIL briefed to purchase shoes and clothes

[ticks off list]