Welcome to the famous MPMK Gift Guides and congrats on finding the most comprehensive and easy-to-use toy gift guide on the internet –already viewed over 7,000,000 times!
(If you’re not familiar with our famous lists,Dolls are wonderful for dramatic play, teaching emotions, and fostering nurturing and empathetic qualities in children and, with the awesome variety of dolls out there made with boys in mind too, there’s no reason not to take advantage of all those benefits for all of our kids.
Plus, I have so many friends with little girls that are absolutely obsessed with dolls right now that I had to include this guide (they’re just too good of a resource not to take advantage of).
Of course, no doll gift guide worth it’s salt would be complete without a princess section – so be sure to keep scrolling until you get to that section too!
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Top 11 Dolls & Accessories for Dramatic Play
#1 My Baby Alive Series (3 – 6 years)
Looking to really wow your kid this year? This doll is the ultimate in virtual baby care. She comes with more than 30 different phrases to let you know if she’s happy, sleepy, or ready for a snack. Her eyes close when you put her to sleep and open when she wakes up.
And now the Baby Alive dolls can even age! Your child will love watching them grow from newborn to baby to big girl.
She even eats actual food your child prepares (with the included blender) and really needs to be changed later on.
Your little one will be truly amazed.
#2 Disney Doc McStuffins Wash Your Hands Singing Doll w/ Mask and Accessories (3 – 6 years)
If ever there was a doll for our times, this is it!
Doc McStuffins has taken the world by storm since debuting in 2012 and, I have to say, I don’t mind getting behind a character that promotes healthy habits and serves as a great role model for girls.
This doll is a best seller not only because of the character, but also because of the cool stuff she does that will help your child build skills to help them stay safe; i.e. wearing a mask and washing their hands!
This would be a great pick for any child who has doctor-visit anxiety too.
#3 Melissa & Doug Classic Heirloom Victorian Wooden Dollhouse (3+ years)
A dollhouse serves as another great way for your kids to experiment with playing house but, let’s be honest, it’s a big purchase that’s going to take up a lot of space and cost a pretty penny. Which is why, you want to make sure you get the best.
This sturdy, wooden Victorian-style dollhouse has 6 rooms and 3 floors. It features updated white, pink and gray exterior artwork, including intricately-patterned gables and friezes, illustrated brackets and latticework that beautiful and will look great in any room.
This will be a toy you can pass down from sibling to sibling and maybe even generation to generation.
#4 Melissa & Dough Brianna Doll (9 months – 6 years)
There’s a lot to like about this basic yet very highly rated doll. At 12″, she’s a good size for hauling around. Her soft body allows for laying or sitting and her hard arms and legs easily wipe clean.
She has lots of shiny hair to play with and her eyes open and close. Plus, her open mouth allows her to suck on either her thumb or pacifier.
Last but not least, her price can’t be beat!
#5 Mommy & Me My First Doll Stroller (12 months – 5 years)
Around the time they start walking, all kids (girls and boys) ABSOLUTELY LOVE pushing around toy strollers. When my daughter was a toddler, she liked her dolls, but wasn’t obsessed like some little girls we knew. Yet she always adored piling them into her stroller and taking them for a stroll around the house over, and over, and over again.
Eventually, her stroller was straight-up commandeered by her 18-month-old brother who also couldn’t get enough of pushing it around all day.
I promise you, if you a buy a toy stroller for your child, it will be one of the most-used toys you’ve ever purchased.
Oh, and if you have a child that does happen to be doll-obsessed, this 3-in-1 pram is a really fun and versatile option too!
#6 ERGObaby Original Doll Carrier (2 – 5 years)
With baby wearing being so popular these days, this is the perfect gift for any big sister or brother who’s witnessed mommy wearing their own younger sibling. There are tons of options, including miniature Moby Wraps and Becos.
#7 Doll Bicycle Seat (2-6)
Being able to strap her baby in and take her for a bike ride will make your daughter the envy of the neighborhood. Such fun.
#8 Barbie Careers Line of Dolls (5 – 10 years)
I’ll admit it, I’m not a huge Barbie fan… but that doesn’t mean my daughter doesn’t love her. So when looking for Barbie dolls for her, I try to compromise by at least going for the lines that I see as having the most play value and setting the best example.
The careers line is one that fits the bill. Instead of putting the emphasis on clothes, it focuses on various occupations and sets up girls to focus on those things in their play.
Also, the props that come with some of the sets are pretty cool and you really can’t beat the price – perfect as a birthday party gift or for a deluxe stocking stuffer!
Especially notable options include:
#9 DC Super Hero Girls Collection (5 – 10 years)
Speaking of dolls that send the right message, I’m loving the new line of DC Super Hero Girls. Not only do they have a very fun look, they also send a great message of empowerment.
I also really appreciate the articulating limbs so kids can use them for acting out all sorts of super hero moves.
#10 Lottie Dolls (4 – 9 years)
With the growing popularity of these gift guides every year, I get a lot of toy companies contacting me to ask if they can send a toy to review. 99% of the time I decline.
First of all, my toy philosophy for our house has always been high quality, low numbers. Secondly, these guides are meant to be toys that are proven winners – the stuff I’ve seen kids return to again and again. These Lottie Dolls were the exception- as soon as I received the email about them, I knew I wanted them in our home.
So I requested one to gift to my daughter for her 5th birthday. Here’s what’s so great about these dolls?
- They look like real girls – not way-too mature and beauty obsessed miniature women.
- They have some truly kick-ass characters that go way beyond the boring fashionista limits of typical dolls. (I’m eyeing the premiere league soccer uniform as a stocking stuffer this year.)
- They rate really high on my “playability” scale. The dolls are very portable, plus they stand up on their own (unlike some other dolls that rhyme with “Tarbie”), and they have lots of great interchangeable props and outfits.
- Since her launch, Lottie has won 19 international awards, including 5 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Awards… And just in case you’re wondering, my daughter loves her Lottie doll as much as I do.
#11 Lots to Cuddle Baby Twins (1 – 9 years)
Logic follows that if one baby to take care of is good, then twins is even better. And the facial expressions on these two are my favorite, so realistic! Very similar to the Melissa & Dough Brianna Doll, these twins have soft bodies that allow for laying or sitting and hard arms and legs that easily wipe clean.
Plus, there’s two of them! (Basically for the price of one.) These two are now on the top of my birthday gift list for the 1-year-old to 3-year-olds in my life.
4 of our Favorite Stuffed Animals
#1 Cuddle + Kind Dolls (all ages)
These hand-knit, heirloom quality, 100% cotton dolls are on the expensive side so we don’t collect them, but they are perfect to splurge on during the holidays for babies and young toddlers who don’t really need anything; aka our second child who already had all her brother’s old toys.
We still wanted to get her something special though.
We considered getting an American Girl Doll but thought she was too young, so we got her a knit doll like this instead. She quickly became one of best friends and I have no doubt she’ll end up being a family heirloom.
Best of all – every purchase provides 10 meals to children in need!
#2 Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Puppy (9 months – 4 years)
In our house each child had a special doll at some point- and most of them were animals. We got this dog as a hand-me down from friends whose kids had outgrown him. The puppy’s a cuddly and engaging first friend and our 1 1/2 year old was quite taken with him.
He has two modes, learning and musical, and identifies body parts, colors and sings lots of fun songs when various body parts are pushed.
All three of our kids have loved him and we whole-heartedly agree with one reviewer who wrote, “For $20, he is very interactive and elaborate…. he counts, names body parts and colors, has funny sayings, and sings many songs (ENTIRE songs). He’s funnier, more educational (and cuter) than “Tickle-Me-Elmo”–minus the annoying voice.”
#3 Hatchimals (5 – 9 years)
These interactive, magical creatures that come (and eventually hatch out of) their own egg have been one of the “It” Toys every Christmas for a while now. Every elementary aged girl I know, including my daughter, has had one at the very top of her list.
The magic in this toy is how kids are encouraged to nurture it both to come out of it’s egg (tap and it will tap back) and once it’s in the world (Give your Hatchimal a name and raise it through 3 stages: from baby, to toddler, to kid).
Once it hatches, it still has plenty of tricks up it’s sleeve (walking, talking, dancing, playing games, and more) and though you can’t put it back in the egg, you can start it over as a baby whenever you want.
#4 Ty Beanie Boos (6 months – 10 years)
All three kids in my house (my 7 year old son, 5 year old girl, 18 month old son) COMPLETELY ADORE Beanie Boos. It started with my daughter getting her pink leopard on a trip and proceeding to sleep with her every night of her life thereafter.
Then my baby boy kept trying to steal the leopard so I decided to see if he’d actually sleep with one of his own (all previous attempts to get him to keep a “lovie” with him in the crib had utterly failed).
Now has to have “Woof Woof” in the crib with him every night. Not to be left out, my oldest son has been asking for his very own beanie boo for his upcoming birthday for months. I really can’t think of a better endorsement for a toy than every kid in the house wanting one. The size and price make them ideal stocking stuffers too.
6 Top Accessories for Playing House
Once you’ve found a doll your child will love, it’s time to explore the vast array of incredibly realistic accessories available.
#1 Doll House Family Pets by Hape (non-mouthing – 9 years)
One of the things I noticed in my kids’ dramatic play with dolls (my daughter’s and her friends’ especially), was that she loved adding in animals.
So I just knew she was going to LOVE this simple set that not only comes with three pets for her doll house figurines, but also houses, food dishes and food for each.
#2 Little Tikes Cozy Shopping Cart (2 – 5 years)
Another option, I absolutely love because it’s like 3 toys in 1, is this shopping cart/cozi coupe. Kids not only get to push their dolls around, but also fill up a shopping cart and get in and drive away. So many awesome play possibilities at such a great price!
#3 Melissa & Doug Doll Play Sets (2 – 5 years)
Longtime parent favorite, Melissa & Doug, offers a very nice feeding set or changing set (that even includes a diaper bag) at really great price points.
#4 Doll Cradle (2 – 5 years)
This is another basic staple that any doll lover will enjoy. Getting to put baby down for a rest is a nice way to extend the dramatic play (and we found the cradle workds well for storing S’s doll collection when not in use).
#5 Joovy Doll Car Seat (2 – 5 years)
This is pretty darn cool. This doll carseat carrier works just like the real thing. The base stays in the car and the carseat latches in and out of it. If you want to get really fancy, there’s even a tandem stroller for it to snap into as well.
#6 Green Toys Tea Set (2 – 9 years)
Whether playing with mommy or a favorite doll, tea time is always a fun way to pass some time.
We’ve had this set for over a year and it still looks like new (despite lots of use in the playroom, bathtub and even sand box).
Plus I love that Green Toys are 100% recycled, made from milk jugs, are FDA approved to eat and drink from, and do not contain BPA, phthalates, or lead paint.
5 Sure Fire Hits for Princess Lovers
#1 Disney Princess Toddler Dolls (18 months – 6 years)
These super popular and cozy dolls are the perfect size for a child to drag around all day long. And the price is really good!
If you’ve got a little one that just wants an Elsa, Anna, Mulan, Belle, ect. to call her own and cuddle with at night – this is a great choice!
$2 Disney Princess Royal Collection, 12 Fashion Dolls (3 – 10 years)
This collection of twelve, Barbie-sized, Disney princess dolls with interchangeable clothing and shoes are sure to delight as the big gift under the tree this year.
One reviewer wrote, “These were a huge hit Christmas morning. Unlike many toys that fall to the side after that initial excitement, my daughter continues to play with these every single day. They’re good quality and I love the accuracy and detail of each doll.”
#3 Disney Princess Little Kingdom Magiclip 7-Doll Gift Set
When my daughter decided she wanted some princesses to play with, I wanted to get her a group of them without spending a ton of money.
What I really liked about this set was that she can put them all into a play bag or purse and easily tote them around, plus – bonus – the plastic dresses are interchangeable and easily removed with a pinching motion.
My daughter REALLY liked this set and it worked perfectly with the small scale castle we got her to go along with it.
#4 LEGO Disney Princess 41055 Cinderella’s Romantic Castle (6 – 12 years)
As is attested to by the LEGO section of our “Best Building & Construction Toys” gift guide, we are a LEGO loving family (we even have an entire LEGO station in our house). So it’s no surprise that one of the few princess castles I recommend would be a LEGO castle.
When fully assembled, this is a thing of beauty and it comes with a lot of nice accessories. Plus, it’s a castle that promotes both imaginative open-ended play and spatial reasoning skill through building – win, win!
#5 Melissa & Doug Folding Princess Castle (3 – 10 years)
Had my daughter been a die-hard princess fan instead of a brand new one and I knew she’d spend a lot of time playing with a princess castle, then this is undoubtedly the one I would have picked.
I’m a fan of Melissa & Doug toys in general and I love that this play castle has lots of accessible reach-in play space thanks to multiple play levels and an open courtyard.
The impressive palace playscape also includes removable turrets, bedrooms, a working drawbridge, a stable, and more. Plus the wooden construction and hand-painted accents are wonderful and I like the fact that it expands large enough for several kids to play on at once but also folds into a smaller size when not in use.
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Still want more ideas? Don’t forget to check out all 15 of the MPMK Gift Guides including the following, organized by your child’s age:
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The Best Toys for Babies
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The Very Best Toys for Two-Year-Olds
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Go-To Gifts for Preschoolers
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The Most Exciting Gifts You Can Give a Kindergartner
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Go-To Gifts for Elementary Aged Kids
And don’t miss the best bang for your buck:
Plus, the rest of our guides organized by interest:
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Best Toys for Fostering S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineerin, and Math) Skills
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Best Toys for Staying Active Inside and for Getting Outdoors
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Best Toys for Art & Craft Lovers
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Best Kid Games for Family Game Night, Playing with Siblings, or Playing Alone
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Best Learning Toys for Quiet Time & Independent Play
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Best Building & Construction Toys (Including Best LEGOs)
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Best Dramatic Play Toys
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Best Toys for Vehicle Lovers
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Best Toys for Doll & Princess Lovers
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Best Toys for Baby
Tens of thousands of parents use these lists every Christmas to find the perfect gift!
If you like these recommendations, I encourage you to pin or bookmark them for later when you’re ready to start shopping.
I would also love it if you forwarded the list to your parenting friends or shared it on facebook – trust me, your friends will thank you for the help and you get to be the cool mom (or dad) with all the best resources. It’s a win-win.
Also, don’t forget for even more recommendations and alerts when we spot our gift guide items on sale:
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