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Mommy & Me Baby Doll 5 Piece Feeding Set

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The 9 Best Baby Dolls of 2022

Adora PlayTime Baby Doll is our top pick

Julia Fields

Julia is the Assistant Commerce Editor at The Spruce, covering all things toys, gifts, and holiday. She studied English and minored in Journalism and Gender and Sexuality Studies at New York University.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 12/02/22

Fact checked by

Richard Scherr

Fact checked by Richard Scherr

Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. The Baltimore native also covered the technology scene for LocalBusiness.com and has been a regular contributor to the sports pages of The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

Dolls are a great way for kids to play and pretend at the same time. All children can enjoy and learn from gentle, nurturing play that teaches empathy and care.

With so many options on the market, we researched and tested the baby dolls, evaluating lifelike features, interactive elements, durability, and included doll accessories. We chose the Adora Playtime "Little Prince" doll as the best overall pick for its realistic features—like a weighted bottom and ability to suck its thumb—skin tone variation, and high quality feel.

Here are the best baby dolls on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Adora Playtime "Little Prince" at Amazon

Best Classic:

Cabbage Patch Kids Baby Doll at Amazon

Best Realistic:

American Girl Bitty Baby Doll at Americangirl.com

Best Plush:

Manhattan Toy Wee Baby Stella at Amazon

Best Interactive:

Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Baby Doll at Amazon

Best for Infants:

Creative Minds Basket of Babies Plush Dolls at Amazon

Best for Older Children:

American Girl Historical Characters at Americangirl. com

Best With Accessories:

Our Generation Dolls at Target

Best Customizable:

American Girl Create Your Own Doll at Americangirl.com

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon View On Adora.com

Adora PlayTime Baby Doll Review

What We Like

Machine washable
Eyes open and close
Interactive

What We Don't Like

What do buyers say? 84% of 500+ Amazon reviewers rated this 4 stars or above.

The Adora PlayTime Baby Doll has a weighted bottom allows your child to position the baby doll in a seated position or carry it tucked under their arm. The doll can suck its thumb and close its eyes and comes in different skin tones, genders, and outfits.

Our tester found that the doll was high-quality and soft to the touch. Also importantly, the doll is BPA- and phthalate-free, and compliant with the standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The doll even comes with a cute onesie that your child can take on and off, and our favorite feature is this baby doll is machine washable. This ensures that the baby doll will be clean and cute for years, no matter what games your toddler wants to play. This is a 13-inch doll, so your child might outgrow its size within a couple of years. But our tester found it was perfect for toddlers, even if baby dolls aren't their usual toy of choice.

Price at time of publish: $52

Weight: 1.3 pounds | Dimensions: 13 inches | Age Range: 1+ years | Machine Washable: Yes

What Testers Say

"Right out of the box, the Adora PlayTime Baby Doll was a huge hit with both my 3-year-old daughter and my 6-year-old son. Each thought the Little Prince version we selected was adorable and immediately went about building him his own place to sleep ... so he’d be cozy in his new home."—Nicholas McClelland, Product Tester

Courtesy of Cabbage Patch Kids

View On Amazon View On Cabbagepatchkids.com

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Multiple generations of children have known and loved Cabbage Patch Kids. These dolls are “born” in Georgia and “adopted” by loving children around the world. The charm of these baby dolls comes from their elaborate backstories and the experience of adopting, rather than simply purchasing. Sizes range from 9-inch babies to 16-inch toddlers. While there are a lot of skin tones, hair colors, and eye colors, you might have to wait a while for a doll with the exact combination you want to be “born.” If you are feeling extra nostalgic, consider one of the one-of-a-kind vintage collectible dolls, which start around $250 to $300.

Weight: 1.4 to 1.7 pounds | Dimensions: 9 to 16 inches | Age Range: 3+ years | Machine Washable: Yes

Courtesy of American Girl

View On Americangirl.com

What We Like

What We Don't Like

The Bitty Baby from American Girl comes in multiple skin tones, hair colors, and eye colors. It comes already dressed in a onesie that your child can remove, but the closures might require some help from an adult. It also has realistic accessories, such as bottles, a high chair, diapers, and a stroller. This doll is expensive, but still one of the more affordable options from American Girl. It is the perfect way to allow your child to care for their very own baby right alongside you and makes a great gift for children getting ready to welcome a sibling.

Price at time of publish: $60

Weight: 1. 32 pounds | Dimensions: 15 inches | Age Range: 3+ years | Machine Washable: No

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bed Bath & Beyond

What We Like

What We Don't Like

With a 100 percent plush body and head, this doll is soft enough for your little one to take to bed and snuggle. It comes with a magnetic pacifier to encourage pretend play. The doll itself doesn’t have any special interactive features, but there are numerous accessories available separately to allow your child to care for their doll, such as feeding and sleeping. We love that the accessories also work with the 12-inch and 15-inch dolls from Manhattan Toys.

Price at time of publish: $21

Weight: 3.8 ounces | Dimensions: 12 inches | Age Range: 12+ months | Machine Washable: Yes

50 Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds That Are Engaging and Fun

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Not customizable

The Melissa & Doug Mine to Love babies come with a pacifier, which your child can put right in their mouth. They can also “suck” their thumb and close their eyes as your child rocks them to sleep. The separate accessories allow your child to interact with their new baby doll in a variety of realistic ways: bottles and cups with “disappearing” liquid, pretend shampoo for bath time, and doll-size toys and play mats. One of our favorite aspects of the Melissa & Doug toys is they offer boy dolls.

Price at time of publish: $27

Weight: 1.26 pounds | Dimensions: 12 inches | Age Range: 18+ months

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

The Basket of Babies from Creative Minds comes with six plush dolls, all nestled into a cozy plush basket. Your infant can snuggle them, stack them, change their easy-to-adjust rompers, and begin to pretend play. They aren’t the most interactive, and children might outgrow them quickly. But they're great to pass along to a new sibling. They include a variety of skin tones, which we also appreciate as a way to introduce diversity from a young age.

Price at time of publish: $48

Weight: 10.24 ounces | Dimensions: 4.55 inches | Age Range: Newborn and up | Machine Washable: Yes

These Are the Best Gifts to Help 1-Year-Olds Learn and Grow

Courtesy of American Girl

View On Americangirl.com

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Needs some upkeep

The historical character dolls from American Girl are great for getting your older children immersed in their doll's world. With 11 girls to choose from, each has its own story that describes the life of a typical girl in that time period and location. They come with six books that depict everyday life and adventures that your child can relate to and learn from. They also have realistic accessories that complement the books. These 18-inch dolls are also compatible with the modern clothes and accessories from American Girl. Even though they are a pricey investment, you can be sure that your child will get plenty of play from this purchase. To take the best care of your child’s doll, follow the care instructions or send them off to American Girl’s doll hospital for bigger repairs.

Weight: 3 to 4 pounds | Dimensions: 18 inches | Age Range: 8+ years | Machine Washable: No

Courtesy of Target

View On Target

What We Like

What We Don't Like

If your child has a special interest, chances are that Our Generation has a doll and accessories to match. These budget-friendly dolls are comparable to American Girl in size and range but at a fraction of the cost. They have everything from career interests such as a doctor, astronaut, and teacher to hobbies such as dance and sports. They also have a lot of options for boy dolls and pet accessories. Our only wish is that they had more accessories that encouraged kids to go into fields like STEM or sports. Most of their offerings are weighed heavily toward dance, gymnastics, and other interests traditionally marketed to little girls.

Weight: 2.48 pounds | Dimensions: 18 inches | Age Range: 3+ years | Machine Washable: No

The 10 Best Baby Doll Accessories for Pretend Play

Courtesy of American Girl

View On Americangirl.com

What We Like

What We Don't Like

The Create Your Own line is the most customizable doll on the market. You can choose skin tone, hair color, eye color, facial features, interests, and glasses. It is also one of the most inclusive doll brands and has special features, such as hearing aids and glasses, to make sure your child can customize a doll that looks just like them. These dolls are expensive though, and the additional accessories, purchased separately, can quickly add up. They make a great gift for a special birthday or celebration and can even be passed down to grandchildren one day. Giving your child a doll that looks just like them is a special moment.

Price at time of publish: $220

Weight: 3 to 4 pounds | Dimensions: 18 inches | Age Range: 8+ years | Machine Washable: No

The 13 Best Dollhouses for Kids of 2022

Final Verdict

Our top pick are Adora Playtime dolls (view at Amazon) for their more realistic features and interactive qualities, like eyes that open and close, a weighted bottom, and the ability to suck its thumb. If you want to invest in a top-of-the-line doll that you can pass down to future siblings or generations, opt for the American Girl Historical Character (view at American Girl) or American Girl Create Your Own Doll (view at American Girl) lines and accessorize from one of the more budget-friendly companies.

Recommended Age

Infants and younger children can get overwhelmed by too many ways to interact with a toy and will gravitate to simpler toys, such as plush dolls they can hug. Older children will appreciate baby dolls that they can care for, often mimicking their parents as they feed, dress, and put their baby dolls to sleep.

Safety

Baby dolls should be made of non-toxic materials, whether they are plush or plastic. Children will hug and kiss their baby doll, having the material close to their mouth and nose. You should also be on the lookout for small parts that might make a particular baby doll unsafe for infants and toddlers. Accessories like earrings, sports gear, or doll art supplies are better left for older kids who know not to put them in their mouths. For families with children of different ages, make sure to organize your playroom to keep the smallest pieces away from the youngest children.

Features

Some dolls have special features, such as eyes that close or sounds, that make them more realistic. Others rely on accessories to create a doll world that your child can enjoy, such as strollers, cribs, or pets. Think about how your child likes to play as you choose a baby doll with the features they will love. If your doll is a common size, such as 18 inches, you might even be able to combine dolls and accessories from two different lines for a customized play experience.

The Spruce / Nicholas McClelland

FAQ

If you have access to the manufacturer’s instructions, start by reading and following them. Otherwise there are several popular methods for smoothing out a baby doll’s tangled, unkempt hair. These include soaking the hair in fabric softener, hair conditioner, or a mix of baby shampoo and water for 10 minutes or longer depending on the damage, then rinsing well with water and combing gently before allowing to air dry.
Different dolls require different cleaning methods since baby dolls, unlike actual babies, are made from a variety of materials. Some dolls are machine washable, while others are too delicate and must be washed by hand. You can try cleaning a plastic baby doll by hand by removing any clothing and dipping it in a bowl of water mixed with a small amount of baking soda, gently scrubbing off any dirt, rinsing in clean water, and gently towel drying. While baking soda is a natural cleaning product, keep in mind that it is abrasive so don’t rub too hard. Plastic baby dolls can also be wiped down with a cloth dipped in warm or cool water and mild detergent, before being wiped with clean water and towel dried. You can try spot cleaning a baby doll using a soft toothbrush dipped in water and mild detergent to remove stubborn dirt from a baby doll. When in doubt, do a patch test on a small area that isn’t too visible to make sure that the cleaning method doesn’t damage or discolor doll skin. Plush baby dolls can be washed like stuffed animal toys.
Some baby doll bottles have “disappearing” milk that vanishes when the bottle is tipped upside down to convince little ones that their toy dolls are drinking milk. To achieve this visual illusion, baby doll bottles have a bottle within a bottle construction. Liquid “milk” is trapped between the bottles, and flows into the nipple cap of the bottle when tipped so that it appears the doll has sucked the milk down. When the bottle is returned to an upright position, the faux milk flows right back into the reservoir and the bottle is magically full so that the doll can be fed all over again.

This article was researched and written by Katie Begley, a freelance writer specializing in home and family products. Katie has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. For this roundup, Katie looked for features that kids would enjoy playing with and top quality that would last through years of playtime. She also consulted a few local experts, her three young children, to see which dolls got the most hugs and made their eyes light up.

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Role-playing games "Feeding Katya's Doll"

Role-playing games games

"Feeding Katya's dolls

Purpose: To consolidate children's knowledge of tableware, to activate the speech of children, to cultivate a culture of behavior during meals, caring attitude to the doll.

Material and equipment: Doll Katya, set utensils in the play area.

Game progress: The game is played in the game corner. The teacher shows and tells what dishes are used at dinner (deep bowls for soup, shallow for the second, spoons, forks, cups, etc.), shows how the table is laid, the rules of conduct at dinner, how use cutlery. Invites the children to feed the doll for lunch.

"Let's go to kindergarten by car"

Purpose: To activate and develop the speech of children, reveal the intent of the game. Develop basic role-playing skills.

Material and equipment: Cars

Game progress: The teacher reports that today they go to kindergarten by car and we need to drive through crowded streets, and for this you need to know the rules (do not enter houses, do not knock down pedestrians, drive carefully on the roads without hitting oncoming cars, etc.). Next, the teacher pushes the children to play actions, prompting, following over the course of the game.

Doll Katya went to the store”

Purpose: To activate and develop the speech of children, reveal the intent of the game. Develop basic role-playing skills.

Material and equipment: Katya doll

Game progress: The teacher tells the children that doll Katya is going to the grocery store, but she doesn't want to go alone, because she needs to buy a lot of groceries. Then he chooses helpers from the children for a doll. "Take bag and go. Put toys, boxes, jars in a bag, commenting on your actions. “This cube will be our butter. But this one a box of corn flakes. The rings from the pyramid are drying, and the details are from constructor - cookies. Next, the teacher encourages the children to game actions and monitors the progress of the game.

sad a letter has come"

Purpose: Develop dialogic speech, teach perform several actions with one object.

Material and equipment: Letter and bear cub

Game progress: The teacher tells the children that in Kindergarten received a letter. And in this letter, Misha asks very much to send him parcel. Shall we send? Then you need to collect gifts for him. Finding out from children what Misha loves hotels. Children collect a bag with presents for Misha. Further The teacher pushes the children to play actions and monitors the progress of the game.

Bunny goes to kindergarten”

Purpose: To activate and develop the speech of children, reveal the intent of the game. Develop basic role-playing skills.

Material and equipment: Bunny

Game progress: - Guys, Bunny needs to go to the nursery garden, and it is very far away, so Bunny decided to go by car. Help him get to kindergarten. We need a chauffeur. But it's not so simple because you need to go through different obstacles. Next, the teacher monitors the game and arranges obstacles in the way of the car.

“We do doll Katya’s hair”

Purpose: To form the initial skills of a role-playing behavior, associate plot actions with the name of the role.

Material and equipment: Tools for hairdresser games

Game progress: The teacher reports: “Katya doll going to the ball and she needs a very beautiful hairstyle, so she came to your salon to the best master. Chooses from the children of the master. Next educator encourages children to play and monitors the progress of the game.

Help Misha to collect toys in kindergarten "

Purpose: Group orientation, activation dialogue speech of children, the ability to play in small groups.

Material and equipment: toy bear

Game progress: The teacher tells the children that Misha scattered all the toys in his kindergarten and now he's crying because he doesn't remembers where it was. Let's help him. Next, the teacher prompts and guides the children's play.

Child garden for chickens”

Purpose: To activate and develop the speech of children, reveal the intent of the game. Develop basic role-playing skills.

Material and equipment: Chickens.

Game progress: - Children, chickens want to walk too to kindergarten, but they don't have a kindergarten. Let's help them! choose from caregiver's children and nanny. Next, the teacher prompts and directs the game children.

Doll Katya got sick”

Goal : To form the initial skills of a role-playing behavior, associate plot actions with the name of the role.

Material and equipment: Play set "Hospital"

Game progress: The teacher tells the children that doll Katya got sick. You need to call a doctor. The teacher chooses from the children "Doctor" and dresses him in a white coat and cap and invites him to examine sick. Next, the teacher directs the children's game and observes its progress.

Doll Katya is going to kindergarten”

Goal: attention to their appearance, caring attitude to the doll.

Material and equipment: Clothing set for dolls.

Game progress: The teacher shows the children that doll Katya is still sleeping, and she already needs to get ready for kindergarten. Together with children the doll is lifted out of bed, taken to wash and brush her teeth. Choosing clothes for the doll and dress it up. The teacher closely monitors the progress of the game and corrects it.

"Walk in kindergarten”

Purpose: Activate and develop children's speech, reveal the game plan. Build basic skills role behavior.

Material and equipment: Dolls.

Stroke games: - Children, our dolls went for a walk. Let's show them how we walk. What we we do it for a walk and what games we play. Next, the teacher pushes the children game actions and monitors the progress of the game.

Bunny - postman"

Purpose: Activate and develop children's speech, reveal the game plan. Build basic skills role behavior.

Material and equipment:

Stroke games: The teacher reports that Bunny is a postman today, and he delivers mail, and if If you want to send a letter or parcel, then Bunny will deliver it to its destination. Further The teacher pushes the children to play actions and monitors the progress of the game.

toys”

Purpose: Create children have a cheerful, joyful mood, activate communication skills children.

Material and equipment: The game takes place in play corner - shop.

Stroke games: The teacher tells the children that he is a salesman in a toy store, and offers buy something for the kids. Praises various toys to children and explains how they work. Then he chooses one of the children as the seller. Next, watching game and directs the game action.

Child the toy repairman came to the garden"

Purpose: To lead to an understanding of the role in the game, to activate children's communication skills and dialogue speech.

Material and equipment: Play set "Tools"

Game progress: The teacher chooses from the children toy repairman, dresses him in an apron and gives him a suitcase with tools. Informs the children that the toy repairman has come, to whom it is necessary that call the master to repair. Next is watching behind the game and directs the game action.

"To the children's a guest came to the garden”

Purpose: To create in children a cheerful, joyful mood, enhance children's communication skills.

Material and equipment: cook doll

Game progress: Educator: “Guys, come to us in a kindergarten guest came - Katya doll, she is a cook. She needs to cook soup. But, that's the trouble, what, she forgot what vegetables are needed for soup. Help the doll remember and choose the necessary products.

let the kids themselves will put the vegetables in the pan, salt and stir the resulting soup. Ready soup can be treated to other dolls.

Haircut for Bunny"

Purpose: Promote the desire of children independently select attributes for the game. Build basic skills role behavior.

Material and equipment: Tools for hairdressing games, Bunny toy.

Game progress: The teacher chooses from the children master and says that Bunny came to him for a haircut. Next educator watching the game and directing it.

kindergarten”

Purpose: To activate and develop the speech of children, reveal the intent of the game. Develop basic role-playing skills.

Material and equipment: Animal toys.

Game progress: - Guys, look the animals came to the kindergarten. What are they doing there, how should they behave in kindergarten? Let's help them and teach them to behave properly. Further observes the game and directs the game action. "Doctor"

Kindergarten”

Goal: Play promotes skill development communication, social adaptation.

Material and equipment: Hospital set

How to play: Invite the kids to play the doctors. Put on a white coat or something similar. Let the children bring their “children” (doll or soft toy) to the reception. Have a friendly conversation with the "parent" and his "child". Ask: "What do you have pain? Where does it hurt, how does it hurt?" Offer the baby to change roles.

Games with plot toys

Bunny goes to kindergarten"

Goal: Develop speech, activate dialogue speech.

Materials: Bunny toy, pet toys animals

Game progress: - Guys, today Bunny went alone in kindergarten. Bunny appears. On the way he meets various animals and asks them how to get to kindergarten. The game situation unfolds. AT at the end of the game Bunny should come to kindergarten

Chanterelle sits down to dinner "

Purpose: Develop speech, activate dialogue speech. To consolidate knowledge about dishes, to instill a culture of behavior at the table.

Materials: Chanterelle toy, set of dishes in game corner

Game progress: - Chanterelle ran through the forest for a long time and very hungry, she asks you to feed her. Children seat Chanterelle for table, put on her bib and set the table. The teacher is watching closely behind the game, corrects children, helps them, directs the game action.

Theatrical games

"Doll in washes himself in kindergarten”

Purpose: To activate and develop the speech of children, to consolidate children's hygiene habits.

Material and equipment: Dolls for puppet theater

Game progress: - Our puppet has dirty face, code walking, she needs to wash. The teacher shows how the doll washes (washes eyes, mouth, nose, cheeks) and wipes his face with a towel, and then offers wash the doll for children.

kindergarten are built in pairs and go for a walk "

Purpose: To activate and develop the speech of children, reveal the intent of the game. Develop basic role-playing skills.

Material and equipment: dolls for puppet theater

Game progress: The teacher distributes dolls and says that the dolls are built in pairs and go for a walk. Children put dolls in pairs and remind them how to walk in pairs. The teacher helps and guides game.