Moulin Roty – Ninon
Ninon is a soft bodied doll with vinyl limbs and head. She is like the dolls I had when I was little but with a serious injection of Parisian style. She comes in her own sturdy carry case and you can buy extra outfits for her.
Height: 26 cm, no age limit stated.
£42.20 Moi Moi Moi.
Audrey Visits Grandma and Grandpa
If you want a truly original doll then why not buy handmade? Audrey is the work of Etsy seller Terra. I think Audrey embodies the very essence of what a doll should be. She is completely soft and her skirt and scarf are removable so you can make alternative outfits for her. As she is handmade you can find lots of different versions in the Little BIG Pantsshop and you can check the sold items for inspiration. We loved her so much one of the Bambino Team is getting one for Christmas…
Height: 40 cm, suitable from birth.
$55 (around £36) from Little BIG Pants.
Ugly Dolls – Peaco
Ugly Dolls are crazy creatures who are loved by both kids and adults alike. Peaco’s big hobby is dancing in water where no one can see his far out moves. Bring him along on your adventures but remember – don’t step on his ears! A great alternative to traditional dolls.
Height 35 cm, no age limit stated.
£14.90 from Fabulous Kids.
Kathe Kruse Knitted Girl(pictured on right)
A simple knitted doll has definite cute appeal. This one from Kathe Kruse has great detail. She is knitted from and stuffed with wool and is machine washable.
Height: 30 cm, no age limit stated.
£26.95 Children Salon.
Revived from obscurity, Clothkits is once again leading the sew your own revolution. You can choose from a whole host of Clothkitty dolls kits including, Kiki (left), Nanuk (centre), Freddie (right) and the original Clothkitty (not pictured). In the kit, you get everything you need to make a doll for your darling. You can even buy extra clothes kits in funky colours and prints.
Height: 48 cm (Eskimo 55 cm), no age limit stated.
Starting at £15 Clothkits.
Small Traditional Rag Doll
If you are looking for a first toddler doll then this one is ideal. She has an open friendly face and unfussy clothing. She is our best bargain buy and was spotted by eagle eyed reader, Kirstin – we’ve updated this from last year to reflect the latest model. £6 from Marks & Spencer
L’oiseau Bateau – Elves
Elves are magical creatures and make mischievous companions. Their long limbs add to the play fun and their feet can be used as hooks to hang from.They come in glorious shades of green, blue, pink, red and purple to name a few. Can’t you just imagine one peeking over the top of a stocking?
Height: approx 60 cm, age 1+.
£26.99 from The Beanstalk, Winchester. Until website up and running please email sales [at] thebeanstalkonline .co .uk or call Chloe on: 01962 868323 for details.
Haba Doll – Phil
It’s not easy finding a good boys doll. Phil is a soft doll which is slightly weighted to add to his appeal. His face is embroidered and he has slightly mad red hair. His clothes are removable and his bag has a zipper.
Height: 35 cm, age 18 months.
£30 The Natural Baby Resource.
Check out all of the other toys that we’ve featured in our Hot Christmas Toy List 2008 and also the gift features for Christmas 2009
Great dolls thankyoi