’baby’ for toddler - what to get??

We got DD one from Kmart that can be bathed. It was dressed in a duck towel and comes with a bath toy. Its super easy to clean and if its got water in it you just shake it out ( out of view of her)

Was about $40 though

DS1 requisitioned one of his little brothers gifts - a knitted Mr Plod policeman toy/doll. I am glad I didn't worry about buying a special one for him lol.
Mr Plod gets wrapped, breastfed, sung too, nappies changed - he just needs pretend baths not real ones.

I planned to do this and never go around to it (couldnt find the right one)... I wonder if I should still bother???

Sorry for the stupid question, but why would you get a doll for a boy? (sorry, I feel like Im asking a really dumb question )

Fair enough! I've never really thought about going out and buying one specifically for Jackson to play with but if he wanted one then I'd get one. Or if he was playing with someone elses it wouldnt bother me either. Just seems odd to me, not because I dont agree with it, but more cos I guess I think of it as a 'girls thing' IYGWIM.

Both my boys have dolls and they're great. They're probably gonna be daddies one day, so why not pretend at being daddies now! We don't call them dolls, we call them their 'babies'. Girls play with cars, why shouldn't boys play with babies?

At first I thought one he could bath would be good, but my sister got them a lovely soft cuddly one which is better I think - feels more like a real baby. And it doesn't matter at all that it can't be bathed.

We have the 'love to cuddle' brand from K-mart. They're only about $20. They have the cutest little faces and look nice and boyish. They come in ugly nasty polyester jumpsuits, but my sister got them styley Pumpkin Patch teddy clothes - pants/boardies, long-sleeved tshirts and hoodies. If you go down this route, just make sure you get long-sleeved tshirts cos with normal t-shirts you can see the soft part of the arm (hard to explain but the face, lower arms and lower feet are hard plastic iykwim).

WestiesGirl wrote: Fair enough! I've never really thought about going out and buying one specifically for Jackson to play with but if he wanted one then I'd get one. Or if he was playing with someone elses it wouldnt bother me either. Just seems odd to me, not because I dont agree with it, but more cos I guess I think of it as a 'girls thing' IYGWIM.

I think sometimes it's more to prepare them for a new baby brother or sister and so when you're busy feeding or changing the baby they can do the same with their one or some of them cry and you can encourage them to cuddle the baby wnen they cry etc...   

I'd consider getting one for that reason rather than getting one to give toys for both boys and girls. If he showed interest in one at a friend's place or playcentre I might though.

If my DS1 can breastfeed, then anything could happen!

It is all about modelling and playing at doing what you see happening every day.

This is a good reason to join a toy library, as you can try out all sorts of 'non-traditional' toys and see what fun is thought up. DS1 loves the toy kitchen - he helps me bake and cook in real life, so he plays a pretend version too. Some way that he has his own garden tool set, and toolbox.

Why limit your child's imagination?

Now that DS1 has a new baby brother, then he thought up the game of having a baby to care for all by himself. Hence Mr Plod being requisitioned.

Jack has a baby but it is getting a bit ratty now. When I was pg with Jack we had Secret Santa at work and I got given a doll, limit was $5. It must be about 20-25cm, soft body and plastic head, arms and legs. He found it one day while I was pg with Ben and adopted it. He used to cuddle his baby and bf it as well. I think it was good for him. He never wanted to bath it so wasn't an issue. Even now he puts dolls or teddies to bed, often singing to them and then telling me to be quiet as his baby is asleep!!

IMO the doll doesn't have to do anything special, just be the right size to cuddle.

Oh Liz your boys dolls are so cute (and boyish ). I wonder whether cuddly is better than able to have a bath? Hmmm, got a while to think about it. Thanks for the replies