Best Baby Dolls
There’s nothing quite like a first doll (and the many others that’ll inevitably join the crew). Playing with dolls inspires open-ended pretend play, which is critical to a child’s development. Pretending with dolls helps develop your tot’s creativity, fine motor skills and nurturing instincts. It even teaches (a little) responsibility. From changing diapers to reading bedtime stories, watching pretend play in action is a window into everything little ones are learning from you—but don’t feel bad if Baby Stella gets tossed aside when your toddler is solely focused on getting to the cup of Goldfish crackers.
We’ve gathered some parent favorites to help you find your little one’s next cuddly companion:
Oh So Snuggly
Baby Stella is delightfully huggable—her soft body is like a stuffed animal (no hard plastic anywhere), and when your little one gives her a hug, she releases a soothing lavender scent. Stella comes with essentials like a bottle, cozy lamb, pacifier and diaper, and available separately are tons of adorable clothing and accessories.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 12 months+ |
| Dimensions | 15” tall |
Soft & Sweet
Here’s a soft friend both baby and you can feel good about. Not only is it made of premium 100% cotton yarn, this magical, water-dwelling cutie has a heartwarming purpose: for every one sold, 10 meals are donated to children in North America and around the world. It’s handcrafted in Peru using only sustainable fair trade practices—yet another way this sweet character gives back. Keep in mind: This mermaid swims best in pretend water only (okay to be hand-washed, but she shouldn’t live in the water).
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 0 months+ |
| Dimensions | little: 13”; regular: 20” |
Plenty of Accessories
Complete with eight extra accessories including an extra outfit, shoes, bottle, rattle and feeding utensils, this is a great choice if you don’t want to buy accessories separately. This doll is a little on the bigger side at 15 inches, but the soft body and smooth vinyl face and hands mean she’s still cuddly. (Bonus for naptime inspiration: she closes her eyes when you lay her down, so maybe your little one will too!)
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 2 years+ |
| Dimensions | 15” tall |
Charming & Realistic
With an adorably realistic face and soft, huggable body, this baby doll is perfect for your toddler who’s just starting to play pretend. And it’s available in multiple ethnicities, so your little one can get an early start in celebrating diversity.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 12 months+ |
| Dimensions | 11” tall |
Baby Bundle
What’s better than one baby doll? Six of them! We love this set for the diversity of the dolls included, and it makes a great introduction to different skin tones for even the youngest babies. These sweet little dolls are made entirely of plush material and come bundled in a convenient basket complete with handles (so your little one can tote the whole bunch all together). Each doll comes with a sewn-on hat and a removable sack-like garment so your child can mix and match the clothing.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 0 months+ |
| Dimensions | Each doll is 10” tall; basket is 12” wide |
Anatomy Primer
Most baby dolls out there will either have absolutely no detailing on their bodies or have their clothing sewn or painted on—and that’s fine, unless you want to use baby dolls to help teach your little one about human anatomy. Correct anatomy on dolls can be hugely beneficial to toddlers, especially as they start to get curious about their own body, as it helps encourage body positivity. These dolls from Miniland feature accurate outer anatomy for both male and female babies, but they also come with a set of undergarments (top and bottom) if your kiddo prefers to keep their baby modest. Miniland offers a diverse range of babies as well as lots of clothes and accessories that look just like the real-life clothes you’d dress your own baby in.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 10 months+ |
| Dimensions | 15” tall |
A Nostalgic Favorite
Do you remember getting your first Cabbage Patch Kid? For decades, little ones have loved learning the backstory of the babies delivered at BabyLand General Hospital and adopted by families. Each Cabbage Patch Kid comes with adoption papers, a unique name and birthday. However, you can change the name and birthday by creating a custom birth certificate. The collection is huge—there are tons of sizes, styles (like the Cuties Collection animals) and features.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 2 years+ |
| Dimensions | 11” tall |
Twins!
Double the playtime fun! Your toddler doesn’t have to have a twin to enjoy this lovable duo. Their mouths fit the included pacifiers (or their thumbs), and their eyes open and close. The two dolls come together in a package, so it’s a pretty good bargain (especially coming from a well-loved, parent-trusted company like Melissa & Doug).
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 18 months+ |
| Dimensions | 15” tall |
;){kind=link}
![Add to Babylist](javascript: bl.addToRegistry({images: 'https://images.ctfassets.net/50gzycvace50/13b0a165868b5fc5b1f3843a02684cf40b94ae6a7c7e46a746d6656d8bae9a98/725ed7137fc558cdda3ab6b97b9624b5/13b0a165868b5fc5b1f3843a02684cf40b94ae6a7c7e46a746d6656d8bae9a98.png?fl=progressive&fm=jpg&bg=rgb:f9f9f9&w=620&h=620',price: '', source: 'hello_baby', title: 'Cuddle + Kind Mermaid Hand-Knit Doll - Maya, Small 13\"', url: 'https://www.babylist.com/gp/cuddle-kind-mermaid-hand-knit-doll/21241/672115'});){kind=link}
![Add to Babylist](javascript: bl.addToRegistry({images: 'https://images.ctfassets.net/50gzycvace50/1hPHhJSwe4YvjCiqJdfRo6/7b75ddda1dc96b903ca3a6016e206cdb/berenguer_boutique_baby_doll.jpg',price: '\$34.59', source: 'hello_baby', title: 'Berenguer Boutique 15\" Baby Doll', url: 'https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OMVPX0K'});){kind=link}
;){kind=link}
;){kind=link}
;){kind=link}
;){kind=link}
;){kind=link}
