If you’re on the hunt for the best dolls for toddlers that love pretend-play and have a caring nature, you’ve come to the right place.
All children can benefit greatly from imaginative and pretend play. Allowing them to put themselves into imaginary scenarios, support their social and emotional development, plus makes for hours of entertainment.
Dolls are a great way to get both girls and boys to learn about empathy and care, all while boosting their communicative and language skills. Great for role-playing and making little ones feel all grown up, the addition of a doll to their playroom is a must for all toddlers.
The benefits of pretend play
Language skills – pretend play is great for encouraging your toddler to use their words and work on their storytelling
Social and emotional skills – engaging in pretend play, especially with dolls is amazing for moral and empathy development. The caring nature helps your little one to understand feelings as well as responsibility.
Creativity – imaginative and pretend play is greatly beneficial to get your toddler to develop their creative side. Storytelling allows children to replicate real-life situations they have witnessed and gives them the freedom to express their thoughts and emotions creatively.
Dolls for toddlers used to be all very pink and non-inclusive, but recent years have seen a rapid rise in inclusivity with baby dolls. From hearing aids to dolls of all ethnic backgrounds, we’re seeing a wide range of more diverse dolls for toddlers to pick.
With so many dolls to choose from for your toddler, we’ve scoured the internet to find you the very best our favourite retailers have to offer.
There’s a doll for every budget and every toddler no matter their likes and interests, we’ve got all grounds covered. Check out our top pick of the best dolls for toddlers right here.
The best dolls for toddlers
1 of 14Kindi Kids Scented Big Sister, Flora Flutters Doll
The hugely popular Kindi Kids family are a range of pre-schooler dolls that aim to inspire children through fun, friendship, imagination and play, with characters that encourage children to celebrate their ‘you-nique’ features. Flora Flutters has so many unique features to celebrate, her delicious butterfly flower scent, beautiful glittery eyes and stylish clothes and shoes. She is an inspiring Kindi Kids doll who has a truly unique quality, being hard of hearing, she wears her butterfly hearing aid with pride.
Suitable for: three years +
£37.95
2 of 14CoComelon Interactive Deluxe JJ Dolll
Bring CoComelon nursery rhymes to life with the Interactive Deluxe JJ Dolll! This adorable 32cm doll is inspired by JJ, a popular character from the educational CoComelon YouTube series. This 32cm friend even comes with sounds and phrases!
Suitable for: two years +
3 of 14VTech My 1st Doll – Mia
My 1st Doll - Mia by VTech® is the perfect playtime and sleepy time companion. This soft little baby doll easily changes between Day and Night modes to provide the perfect friend for your little one. In Day mode the two soft buttons trigger nurturing play, fun melodies and sing-along songs and in Night mode trigger soothing lullabies and nature sounds to give your little one comfort when it’s time to go to sleep.
Suitable for: three months +
4 of 14BABY born Magic Girl 43 cm Doll
BABY born Magic Girl comes with 10 life-like functions including new Magic Eyes! Children can be in control of waking BABY born and putting her to sleep, simply put the dummy in her mouth and twist one way to open her eyes and the other way to close! She can drink water, cry tears, wet her nappy, eat food and go in the bath.
Suitable for: three years +
5 of 14BABY born Magic Boy 43 cm Doll
The BABY born Magic Boy is just like his female counterpart and comes with 10 amazing life-like functions including drinking water and crying tears as well as controlling his wee and poop. Magic Boy also comes with lots of accessories for imaginative play including a nappy, a bottle, potty, plate and spoon.
Suitable for: three years +
6 of 14John Lewis & Partners My First Baby Twin Dolls
Ever-so soft and squeezable, this adorable set of twins are perfect for little ones to experience the joys of parenthood! They’ll have their hands full for sure with these two, the onesie and hat combo also means that wherever they go, they'll look cute as a button.
Suitable for: 18 months +
7 of 14Florence Fairy Ragdoll
Treat little ones to a sweet new companion who they can take along on all their magical adventures! Florence Fairy Ragdoll comes dressed in an adorable white and pink tulle dress complete with gold belt, tiara and wings.
Suitable for: 12 months +
8 of 14LOL Surprise Tweens HOOPS CUTIE Fashion Doll
Full of surprises and fierce style, this LOL Surprise doll is the perfect doll for toddlers that are already into their fashion. These fierce be-tweens come with 15 surprises and reusable packaging that turns into a bedroom playset.
Suitable for: three years +
9 of 14Baby Alive Super Snacks Snackin’ Lily Baby Doll
Baby Alive invites kids to celebrate “love at first hug,” while inspiring the joy of kindness through all the ways they can love and care for their dolls. This Super Snacks Snackin’ doll eats and poops so little parents can have fun feeding their baby and caring for her like a real adult.
Suitable for: three years +
10 of 14Little Dutch Baby Doll Jim
The sweetest new addition from Little Dutch, is little baby Jim. This cute doll set includes a carry basket, bonnet, blanket, bottle and dummy and Jim himself of course. A Little Dutch Baby Doll Rosa is also available.
Suitable for: 12 months +
11 of 14Disney Store Doc McStuffins Get Better Baby Cece Doll Set
It's time for little life savers to help Doc McStuffins get baby Cece all better! With plenty of tools to take her temperature, do a check-up or use the stethoscope with light and sounds, your little one can take care of Cece just like Doc McStuffins.
Suitable for: three years +
12 of 14Disney Store Elsa Animator Doll, Frozen
Elsa, the Frozen sister with icy powers, is re-imagined as a bright-eyed little girl. Inspired by character designer Bill Schwab's sketches, this charming doll in satin dress is accompanied by sun-loving snowman Olaf.
Suitable for: three years +
13 of 14Cry Babies Dressy Coney
Meet the new Cry Babies Coney, now wearing cute clothes for the first time. She has real hair, crystal eyes, softer features and is lighter weight. Of course, like all the Cry Babies, she cries real water tears and makes baby sounds without her dummy. Put her dummy back in again and she will stop crying.
Suitable for: 12 months +
14 of 14Bloopies Mermaids Sweety Bath Doll
Make bath time fun with the best doll for toddlers that love to make a splash. Sweety can blow bubbles and squirt water from her mouth for endless fun in the tub, she also comes with a cute pet that can squirt water too.
Suitable for: 18 months +