According to Marni Brand, LCSW, dolls provide an opportunity for all kids to develop important nurturing skills. “Don’t leave out the boys! They will benefit just as much from fostering empathy and nurturing through role-playing and social skill-building with dolls,” she says. The nice thing about dolls is there is such a wide range on the market. That means you can surely find the right doll for your budget, child’s age, and interest. In addition to your personal preferences, be sure to consider the doll’s size, weight, accessories, and special features. And when looking at age recommendations, keep in mind that younger siblings may want to play with the doll, too, so you’ll want to avoid or properly store small accessories. There’s a wide range of prices for dolls, so expect to pay anywhere from $12 to more than $100 depending on the type of doll.   You know your kid best—if they are a rough and tumble kiddo, it may not be worth investing in an expensive, precious doll. On the flip side, other kids will feel honored knowing their doll is a special investment and look forward to the care required of a special doll. In addition to the realistic noises, this Baby Alive recognizes her pacifier. When your kiddo takes the pacifier out, the doll may make some whining sounds, giggle, or even hiccup. When the pacifier is back in, she’ll happily make sucking noises. Caregivers will appreciate that all of these interactive movements are powered by just one AA battery, which is included. Perfect for ages 3 years old and up, the 12-inch doll is made of softer plastic. While she’s not super soft and cuddly, the plastic does have some give and the surface can easily be wiped clean with a wet cloth should your baby doll get dirty.  We like that this doll is well sized and affordable, and with the removable pacifier and dress, your kiddo can give this doll lots of attention and caregiving while using and developing their fine motor skills. Unfortunately, this Baby Alive doll only comes in a girl version, but it is available in a couple of different skin tones.  Price at time of publication: $17 We love that this big doll is not a budget-buster, but if your child wants Mirabel to play with her other Encanto friends, you’ll need to purchase other dolls separately. Additionally, the movie tie-in could date this doll. If your child is “over” Encanto, the sweet Mirabel may lose her appeal. The doll is 15 inches tall and is recommended for kids 3 years old and up; younger kids may need help if they choose to dress and undress the doll.  Price at time of publication: $20 Along with a cute face, the doll has eyes that open and close—when it’s laying down the eyes close, and when it’s picked up, the eyes open. Kids can practice their fine motor skills with all of the doll’s accessories—it comes with a removable pacifier, hat, and romper. We also like that this Melissa & Doug doll comes in a few inclusive skin tones, like a Latinx baby doll named Mariana and a Black baby doll named Gabrielle.  Price at time of publication: $33 There’s a cool bag charm and dress that kids can etch beautiful designs on. The three included markers can also be used to color Nene’s clothing and accessories. We love that this isn’t a one-time project—the paint and sponge brush can be used to paint over the designs and etch again! The ability to create personalized looks again and again makes this our top fashion pick. Relatively inexpensive, this doll is part of the Art Squad series, which also includes Vana, Andi, and Lady T.  Price at time of publication: $25 With his signature “Learn with Me” shirt and holding a light-up learning block and radio in his hands, JJ comes ready to play. The battery-powered doll has four interactive buttons and over 50 phrases and songs. Kids can learn and follow along with ABCs, 123s, and colors. Parents will appreciate the included two AAA batteries and the on/off switch located on the back of the doll. You won’t risk any middle-of-the-night singing from JJ!  Price at time of publication: $28 The baby doll comes with a removable swaddle, so youngsters can have fun wrapping up their baby for a nap or taking it on the go. Like other Cabbage Patch dolls, this new version comes with a one-of-a-kind adoption birth announcement. While it’s not poseable, the plastic hands are molded and the thumb can fit into the baby’s mouth for sucking. Although there aren’t many skin tone options, a Black baby doll is available.  Price at time of publication: $15 While certainly a higher price point than some of the other options on our list, these well-made dolls come with a beautiful (and removable) dress and hair accessory. Your child will also love the kid-sized matching hair accessory that’s included. Easy to spot clean, the non-toxic vinyl has some give, so the dolls aren’t super hard or rigid.  Price at time of publication: $55 The closet has a fold-out rack and a spinning hanger rack, so it’s easy to look at and store the clothes. There’s also plenty of space for any Barbie accessories your kiddo may already have. When playtime is over, the closet doors fully close, so all the accessories can be neatly stored away. A handle at the top makes it simple to tote this closet to wherever your kiddo is playing. While the age recommendation is for 3 years old and up, the abundance of small parts may be better for older kids.  Price at time of publication: $37 The 10-inch flying doll has delicate glittery wings. While it is a fun and interactive novelty, kids will need to take care of the delicate wings. If they get damaged, the pixie won’t fly very well.  Price at time of publication: $40 The plush doll comes with removable clothes and a diaper, so older children will have fun caring for and changing the baby’s clothes. A magnetic pacifier is helpful to soothe Stella or can easily come off her mouth. The only drawback to this plush doll is it’s a bit juvenile. While it’s perfect for younger kids, older kids may feel this plush cutie is too babyish to play with.  Price at time of publication: $25 The doll comes dressed in just a camisole and underwear. Clothes are sold separately, but since it’s a common size, other doll clothes will fit this cutie. Easy to care for, the vinyl can be wiped clean with a wet cloth. It does come with a vanilla scent that is pretty strong, so be prepared prior to purchase and avoid it if anyone in your family is especially sensitive to scents.  Price at time of publication: $47 This LOL Surprise doll comes in a capsule that doubles as a vending machine. Press a button on the machine and each surprise pops down the chute and is ready to be unwrapped. Along with the doll and vending machine, the set comes with shoes, a bottle, three accessories, and one sticker. As an added bonus, the vending machine serves as storage for the doll and her gear.  Price at time of publication: $15 We appreciate that this doll comes fully dressed with a lot of accessories, including a belt, purse, snack, boots, and cute animal pet. Since the Monster High dolls are 12 inches tall, the clothes and gear are interchangeable with other popular dolls of the same size.  Price at time of publication: $25 This doll is recommended for kids 4 years old and up, but there are a lot of small parts and clothing. With a goal of constantly changing clothes, this may prove a bit challenging for little kids and their small hands. One odd piece of advice—in the description it’s recommended that buyers wash the doll’s hair to remove styling gel and get her hair ready to brush. It’s a bit strange that she comes coated in hair gel, but at least washing her hair is an easy remedy.  Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $60 While lots of fun, this isn’t a full doll, so the focus is really on Barbie’s hair. We wish that there was storage for the accessories in the base, but there’s not, so the brush and hair doodads will need to be stored separately.  Price at time of publication: $28 The age recommendation is for kids 4 years old and up, but it may be best for older kiddos. While we like that the tiny accessories are portable and pack up into the gumball machine, they could be easily lost. Take extra care if there are young siblings around or your kiddo is prone to putting toys in their mouth.  Price at time of publication: $34 American Girls dolls are expensive and definitely an investment, so they’re recommended for kids 6 years old and up. With a vast array of accessories and add-ons available, it’s also possible to outfit your doll with options from other retailers that will fit the doll’s 18-inch dimensions. Along with the doll, each purchase comes with a kid-friendly book or journal.  Price at time of publication: $115 Unlike some other dolls, this one is machine washable, which is a huge advantage if your little one carries their doll everywhere they go. There are no user reviews, but the Gotz brand has been around for 60+ years.  Price at time of publication: $79 Her long colorful hair is brushable and fun to play with in the water—both her arms can move and her head can spin around. Barbie’s mermaid tail and glittery tiara are not removable, so she can’t change clothes or wear any other clothes (since she has no legs). Besides the bath, this doll is fun to play in a kiddie pool. Her lights are battery-powered (included), but the battery can’t be replaced when it dies.  Price at time of publication: $23

What to Look for in Dolls for Kids

Use the guidelines on any doll’s packaging to find the recommended age range. Even young babies may love snuggling a soft and safe baby doll. As your child ages, take care with any small parts or accessories. Even if your child is old enough to play with them, if you have younger kiddos at home, these small pieces could be a safety hazard, so they should always be stored safely.

Quality 

When shopping for a child’s doll, the quality of the materials can often dictate the longevity of the doll. Sure, not all dolls need to be keepsakes, but it’s worth investing in a higher quality doll if you know your child will play with it often or even be sleeping or snuggling with it. For plush dolls, check the cleaning instructions. Plastic or rubber dolls can usually be wiped down with a baby wipe or wet cloth, but always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. If your kiddo likes to take their doll everywhere they go, machine-washable dolls, like the Gotz Babies, are a great option.

Features

Look for dolls that are safe, fun, and provide more realistic or inclusive features. Dolls have evolved so much in recent years that there are many options with skin tones, shapes, sizes, and genders. “I’d recommend looking for dolls that depict a realistic body shape and provide a variety of dolls reflecting both your child’s image and interests as well as other cultures, ethnicities, genders, and interests,” says Mary McGaughan, Psy.D. 

Inclusivity and Customization

Dolls are a wonderful way for kids to practice empathy and create scenarios that reflect the world and people around them. According to Mary McGaughan, Psy.D., “body image and self-image develop throughout early childhood, and the dolls and toys that children are introduced to can impact their perceptions of who they ‘should’ be and what they ‘should’ look like.” She reminds us, “The world is full of lots of different people and there is no way any of us ‘should look’ so providing dolls with realistic body proportions and those that resemble BOTH your child and other children’s ethnicities, genders, body types, cultures, and interests can facilitate self and other acceptance.”

Why Trust Verywell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 12-year-old son, a 9-year-old son, and a 5-year-old daughter. Maya was a huge American Girl doll fan growing up and loved the historical books that went along with the dolls. Her older kids have no interest in them, but her daughter loves these special dolls and may be nearing an age where she will finally get her own. For now, she’s too focused on LOL Surprise dolls.