Babies & Kids Blog

For many years, playing with dolls was considered a girl’s pastime.  From the 1940s to the 1960s, when dolls were extremely popular, girls did all of role-playing as the Mommy while boys played with cars and airplanes.  Today, more and more people are starting to embrace the concept of boys playing with dolls.

Most parents and educators agree that activities should not be split by gender.  Boys should have as much of an opportunity as girls to play house, care for dolls, or use toy mops and brooms.  In these modern times, many men share the parenting and household duties equally with women.  Additionally, it’s just as important for boys to learn how to be gentle and loving as it is for girls to be involved in sports and other traditionally “boy” activities.  The best thing you can do is offer an array of toys to all of your children and let them choose what they want to play with.

Here are my top 5 favorite dolls:

Paul Drink-and-Wet $38.37

Meet Paul.  He’s got cute chubby cheeks, an adorable smile, and he’s anatomically correct.  He drinks from his own bottle, and when his tummy is full you squeeze him and he goes potty!  What a great way to introduce potty training to a little boy!  Paul would also be a great addition to a girl’s doll collection and would be a great jumping off point for talking about the differences between boys and girls.

Abby and Lucy Baby Dolls $39.00

Pottery Barn’s Abby and Lucy dolls are 15 inches tall and made of super soft cotton jersey.  Hey have friendly little faces and blushing cheeks and are perfect for hugging and snuggling.  They are simple in design so little boys can play with them and not feel silly.

15” Baby Doll $24.99

The lovable doll has a huggable soft body.  She giggles and hums “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.  She would make a great lovey for any boy or girl to sleep with at night.

Corolle Babipouce Christening Doll $21.39

This was my daughter’s first doll.  At only 12”, this doll is great for babies.  The all white outfit is unisex and made of velour so it‘s super soft to the touch.  The doll’s body is totally soft, only the face and hands are plastic.  A perfect first doll!

Baby Alive Better Now Baby $19.99

Another peeing doll?  Yes!  But, that’s not all!  She also takes “medicine” and other medical supplies such as a nasal aspirator to teach young children how to care for others.  Kids will love making her “all better”.  Baby Alive also comes in several different ethnicities.  A great way to introduce children to different cultures is with dolls, and Baby Alive is a great doll to start with.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more baby dolls.

The other day I wrote a post for the Smarter Beauty Blog that turned out to be pretty controversial (see Awesome Fing’rs - Rockin’ Nails Make a Comeback). The response shocked me, as I thought I was doing no harm in admitting that my little girl, of 4-years-old, loved to play with nail stickers and press-ons and thus I allowed her to. The differing viewpoints between the more conservative based vs. the more liberal based sparked a debate that made me really think. How old is old enough to mess with beauty?

Today I heard a news story that sparked a similar question in my mind: Mattel introduces ”Totally Stylin’ Tattoos Barbie“, which comes complete with her own tattoo gun!

Now this is where I draw the line people! I may be a liberal, I may allow my child to paint her nails and play with stickers to dress up her hands, but those things are completely removable, so I see no harm in THAT. However giving a child a gun and allowing her to ink any part of the body (even if it’s only a doll) is sending a different message entirely. Little girls everywhere will now be able to learn how to make a tattoo and stick it to the skin. They will believe it to be “playing” and “fun”, thus I am not sure this will create the right frame of mind to think seriously about choosing to do something permanent as they get older…will they be able to make the distinction between marking themselves permanently versus experimenting with dolls?

Now, let me say this: I DO see how tattoos are considered artwork and, by all means, if you have one nice permanent marking as a memory installed on your outer body or are a tatted out freak (hey, my brother is full of ‘em and he’s a good person) - then more power to ya!  But can’t we let our children be children and stay young as long as possible?

Maybe I’m just biased since I have no tattoos; after having been a ballerina for most of my life I never could get a tat, otherwise it would mean I wasn’t cast in a musical or chosen for a recital so I wouldn’t know personally if most regret it or love their decision. So Let me know what you think but remember: this is not an argument over whether or not people should get tattoos, rather a discussion of whether it is appropriate for a child’s toy.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for Barbie dolls.

These are the cutest dolls ever!  Ty Inc. (who makes the oh-so adorable Beanie Babies we all know and love) has released two new dolls “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia” as part of their TyGirlz Collection.  After just seeing a picture of the dolls I thought to myself: “They captured their pretty almond eyes nicely, but I think they should have made Sasha a bit smaller than Malia.”  BUT, supposedly they aren’t supposed to be dolls created to look exactly like Barak Obama’s daughters.  Ty just used their lovely names as inspiration. I love that the Obama girls have become role models for young girls and have made an impact already!  You know these things will sell like hot cakes and most likely become collector’s items.

Check out the entire story here.

Image from AP Photo

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for Ty dolls.
Discounts on Beanie Babies.

I heard on the radio this morning that Mattel was “finally” awarded $100 million in the lawsuit against the makers of Bratz dolls.  Mattel actually asked for 1.8 billion dollars!  You may have heard about this a while ago.  Mattel believes the idea for the Bratz dolls was developed while the Bratz designer, Carter Bryant was working with their Barbie dolls - copyright infringement.  So, basically Mattel sees it like this:  Carter Bryant was busy making Barbies when he looked at one and said, “You know, if I make this doll’s head abnormally large for her body, slap on some whorish makeup, clothes & long stripperish-extentions…we might have something that little girls will DIE for!”  Mattel is just mad they didn’t think of it first (just kidding).

I went to ABCNews.com for more details: 

“A federal jury awarded toy giant Mattel the damages Tuesday in their copyright infringement lawsuit against MGA, but lawyers for the two playtime powerhouses are still wrangling over whether MGA can continue to make the saucy Bratz line. U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson must also consider whether any of the damages are duplicative before setting a final amount to be paid to Mattel.”

I know many-a-parent who would be thrilled if Bratz dolls were off the shelves.  Same with this Kennedy doll.  Why so much makeup (first of all)!?  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my daughter playing with “Video-Ho Kennedy.”

Read the full ABCNews.com article here.

Some of you might be thinking to yourself: “This doll is creepy!” It has ginormous eye balls, but I think it’s so cute!  It’s probably because I happen to have rather large peepers myself.  So, this is sort of what I looked like as a child, but imagine an “E” instead of a “J” on her cute little red jumper. :)  It totally reminds me of The Power Puff Girls.  She could be their cousin.  It makes for a perfect first doll for a baby who should only play with soft toys vs plastic dolls with “sharp” fingers.

Juno Baby Plush Doll: $19.99 Now: $16.99

Shop for more dolls here.

It amazes me how children’s love for Elmo will never die!  A new & improved Elmo toy always comes out and is sold out immediately.  I was particularly fond of the Tickle Me Elmo that falls to the floor & rolls around laughing.  Check out the video below.

                         
YouTube - Watch TMX Elmo

Tickle Me Elmo TMX 10th Anniversary Edition:  $37.97

Now, I am completely in love with the new Elmo that is coming out October 2008!  This new Elmo dances, raps, tells stories, tells jokes…and maybe more!

You have to check out the videos that are posted on Gizmodo.com:

I can’t wait for this new Elmo to come out.  According to Gizmodo.com it is supposed to sell for $59.99, so start saving now for the holiday season!

For more Elmo toys click here.

I love these dolls.  Not one culture or race is highlighted to seem “the best” or superior to another (uuhhmm…Barbie).   They kind of remind me of the next generation or modern American Girl dolls. Karito Kids by Kids Give are five 11-year-old girls from five different cultures.  Each doll is realistically proportioned to a real 11-year-old girl & is recommended for ages 6 & up.

Kids Give believes that “children around the world are fundamentally the same and that, given the chance, they want to help each other.”  Not only can your children play with these dolls and learn about their cultures, but a percentage of all purchases go to Plan USA.  All you & your child need to do is enter the code given on all Kids Give products and pick which charitable cause you would like the money to be sent.

Doll & Book Starter Package:  $99.99

                                Books Sold Separately:  $10.95

What we really need are multi-racial dolls…but that is an entirely different subject.