The 9 Best Baby Dolls of 2021

Best Classic: Cabbage Patch Kids Baby Doll

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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.

Best Realistic: American Girl Bitty Baby Doll

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If you are looking for a baby doll to introduce to your child, the Bitty Baby from American Girl is the new friend you need. The baby 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.

Best Plush: Manhattan Toy Wee Baby Stella Beige

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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.

Best Interactive: Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Jordan Baby Doll

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Encouraging your child to care for a baby gently, the Melissa & Doug Mine to Love dolls are as cute as they are fun. The 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, which can be a great way to help your child get ready to welcome their baby brother.

Best for Infants: Creative Minds Basket of Babies Plush Dolls

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New parents have enough to remember without keeping track of where a baby doll ended up. 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.

Best for Toddlers: Adora Playtime "Little Prince" 13 inch Baby Boy Doll

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The best baby dolls for toddlers introduce more realistic features and interaction while still being easy to carry and clean. The Adora PlayTime Baby Doll can open and close its eyes and suck its thumb. The weighted bottom allows your child to position the baby doll in a seated position or carry it tucked under their arm. The doll even comes with a cute onesie that your child can take on and off, dressing their own baby just like their parents do with them. 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.

Best for Older Children: American Girl Historical Characters Dolls

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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.

Best With Accessories: Our Generation Dolls

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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.