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A cute baby doll is something every child should have. The kid in your life might want a soft cuddle buddy to sleep with a night or a doll that comes with a few outfits for a dress up session.
Here are the best baby dolls for every taste and budget.
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Adora Friends dolls are 18-inch dolls with individual, unique styles. Every year, Adora creates a new doll in their line, inspired by the vision and drawings from a contest submission by young Adora Doll fans. There are dozens of accessories and outfits that can be purchased separately that you can use to further personalize your child's doll. Each doll is machine washable, non-toxic, and perfect for kids ages 12 months and up.
"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
These baby dolls have a delicious vanilla scent and strike the balance of looking both realistic and adorable. The 12-inch Babibunny Night Light is snuggly enough for younger babies, and is just the right size for small hands to fit around. As your child gets older, they'll be able to press the tummy to create a soft glow (the light shuts off after five minutes) and play eight different soothing songs. And since where there are babies, there are messes, parents will love that they can remove the battery case and machine wash the doll on the delicate setting.
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For kids absolutely obsessed with the Mira, Royal Detective show, they absolutely need the Mira doll. She stands 10 inches tall and comes with a magnifying glass necklace that can be used to reveal a special pattern on her dress. She's perfect for kids ages three and up who love the Disney show or who just appreciate a bit of mystery.
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This small, affordable baby doll from Taggies isn't just safe for babies to play with—it's built for it! The doll features a mix of textured tags that help even the youngest children practice grasping and holding, both of which are important fine motor skills. It's machine washable and at just 8 inches tall, it's an ideal size for tiny hands.
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This doll makes the perfect lovey in the beginning, and as your child gets older they'll love incorporating it into pretend play. Taking the doll in and out of its pod helps kids practice their fine motor skills, and the cozy bunting will make your toddler feel like they're caring for a baby all their own. Besides this adorable pea pod, you can get dolls that nestle into a bunny, bug, or peanut—or get two peas in one pod (twins!).
Recommended for children age one and older, cuddly Baby Stella dolls come in a variety of skin tones and hairstyles. Your child is likely to become obsessed with the magnetic mouth, which the included plush pacifier can stick to (don't be surprised if they spend hours simply putting it on and taking it off). A magnetic bottle is also available as part of a feeding set that's sold separately, and the company makes dozens of outfits and themed accessories like beach items, rain gear, a bathtub, diaper bag, and stroller.
Inspired by the "Baby Shark" song, this waterproof baby doll is meant to be taken in the bath. She's got a funky shark tail and hood, and a swimsuit underneath with—you guessed it—baby sharks on the front. Best for kids ages 3 and up, there's a choice of pink, blue, or yellow shark outfit, each with different skin tones and hair color.
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American Girl dolls don't come cheap, but the quality is high: Your child could easily end up passing on theirs to a sibling and maybe even their own kid one day. The 15-inch Bitty Baby dolls come in a mix of different skin tones and hair colors, and have snuggly cloth bodies and eyes that open and close. Each doll comes with a diaper and a sleeper, and there are tons of accessories available to personalize your child's doll to their interests. They're designed for children ages 3 and older.
Hasbro's Baby Alive line has incredibly tricked-out dolls, and this one, aimed at kids 3 and up, is no exception. They come with relatable accessories like light-up shoes and eyeglasses, and can eat, drink, talk, giggle, walk, and dirty their diaper after drinking from a sippy cup. Each doll can say more than 25 phrases, and if you lay them down flat, they'll even yawn and say, "I'm tired." The Step and Giggle dolls come in six different styles (three boys and three girls) and have two language modes (English or Spanish) as well as the choice of addressing your child as "Mommy" or "Daddy."
This 12-inch doll from Melissa & Doug is a solid option for the 3-and-up set. She can be posed in different ways, does the drink-and-wet thing, and comes with extras like a bottle and a potty seat, so playing with her may help get kids familiar with the idea of toilet training. Her eyes also open and close and she's able to suck on either her thumb or the included pacifier.
Give your unicorn-obsessed child this Cabbage Patch Cutie dressed up as her favorite mythical creature. If you loved Cabbage Patch Kids when you were younger, you'll be happy to know that they still come with the powdery scent and adoption certificate. At 9 inches tall, the Cuties dolls are smaller than their regular counterparts, have outfits that are sewn on so they won't get lost. They're best for children ages 3 and up.
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Olli Ella's 14-inch Dinkum dolls feel cozy but also collectible, thanks to their soft cotton fabrics, intricate embroidery, and sweet details like rainbows over their hearts. They can be set into poses, have their hair brushed into different styles, and their outfits are removable, down to the socks, shoes, and diaper. There's also a feel-good factor for parents, since Olli Ella donates a portion of the proceeds from each doll to Save the Children, a youth-focused nonprofit that focuses on health and education.
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Do you know a little girl who is inspired by fashion? Camille, Cécile, Chloé, and Clara are 13 inches tall and have gorgeous outfits and accessories. Les Chéries fashion dolls feature sleeping eyes and long silky hair perfect for brushing and styling. Corolle dolls are lightly scented with the smell of vanilla.
Size The average size for a baby doll is between 14 and 18 inches, but some are available in even smaller sizes. Younger children and toddlers may find it easier to tote around a smaller doll, while older children may enjoy playing with a larger doll that's more lifelike.
Interactivity Dolls can come equipped with lifelike animations and functions for your child to respond to—like feeding, crying, diaper changes, and even app connectivity. Others leave much to the imagination and require no batteries or technology.
Accessories The right accessories can help your child use their imagination when playing with their doll. Some popular ones include clothing, toys, strollers, or themed playsets.
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