This was the Christmas morning that my little girl received her first baby doll. She has several dolls that she already plays with and loves, but until now, none of them were babies. I thought it was important for her to have a baby to play with, feed, swaddle and love on as she prepares for her little sister’s arrival in early May. I wanted to make sure she had something just her size and also soft and easy to love on.
The perfect doll came from Madame Alexander, which may really surprise you. When I think of this company, I think of exquisite collector’s items that are lovely to look at but that are NOT for playing with.
As it turns out, Madame Alexander has an extensive selection of dolls, some of which are meant to be played and played with. This doll is from the My First Baby line and is part of the Sweet Baby Nursery collection. She is the Itty Bitty Ballerina doll, and she is such a perfect choice for Darah because she is wearing a tutu, which is currently Darah’s favorite thing to wear (sometimes even to bed).
There are quite a few things that stand out to me about this doll. First, the size is just right for a toddler. I have seen other baby dolls on the shelves that are so huge that they would completely overwhelm a two or three year old who might want to hold them. This one can easily be toted around.
Second, I love that the doll is mostly soft. This makes her more inviting to play with. I can tell you that even as an adult, it’s hard to resist the urge to give her a good cuddle and squeeze! She also is washable, which is good when her mommy is a toddler!
Third, I love that having a doll like this promotes creative play and practice. There will be times when the new baby arrives that Darah may find some comfort in being able to hold and care for her doll while mommy or daddy are doing the same for baby sister. Her practice on the doll will also come in handy to increase her confidence in helping out with the real baby in the house.
Overall, I’d say the Madame Alexander baby dolls are a great find, and I’m so glad to have one!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an Itty Bitty Ballerina doll from Madame Alexander!