Last Updated on November 30, 2022 by admin
I once watched a 2-year-old open a baby doll at her second birthday party and fall in love with it at first sight. She immediately began demanding for “Paula” to be let out of her box. She insistently called, “Paula!! Paula!!” and refused to open any more gifts until she got that baby out of its packaging.
Her mom later confirmed that she was pretty sure that her kid hadn’t known anyone named Paula up to that point, so maybe it was a mistranslation — but the point remains: Some toddlers absolutely love baby dolls.
My kids were never huge baby doll fans — at least, they they didn’t ever shriek for joy upon opening one or put baby dolls on their Christmas lists. But we did have one baby doll in the house that got a lot of use over the years, and I feel good enough about it that I am adding it to my official staff picks list.
For one thing, the brand Corolle is long established and has been making baby dolls since 1979. It has a lot of great reviews on Amazon, so that helps inform my decision. And the doll that my kids got years ago (shown in the featured image above) is still in good condition (although its little onesie could use a refresh.)
Corolle dolls are small enough for a toddler to pick up and carry around easily, and have soft bodies that make them easy to cuddle. Their little bottoms are full of a heavier, bean-like filling so that the dolls can sit up somewhat independently and are easier to place in strollers and high chairs. Their arms, legs, and face are a vinyl material that is pleasant to touch and smell. Although the material isn’t exactly easy to wipe clean, just a few minutes of Googling lead me to the solution of a Magic Eraser. It took me 5-10 minutes with one to remove years of scuff marks and dirt from the baby’s bald head and grubby little appendages.
A few other features to mention: These babies do close their eyes when they lie down, and they come with a variety of accessories to make play even more interesting for the baby-doll-enthusiast-toddlers in your life.
If you want other suggestions for baby dolls, including fully washable ones, check out the full post on the best baby dolls for 2-year-olds.
