Polly pockets

[Just1More]

I'm not sure where to post this...

DD played with a bunch of polly pockets at someone's house and really wants a polly pocket doll house and doll set. She says what she liked was dressing them and then putting them around the house. I think she liked that she could do it by herself, yet the figures weren't big/chunky. She's almost 5.

Dh, especially, but me, too, don't like the "buy-me-now-must-have-the-whole-set" feeling of them, AND the plastic, AND the slinky clothes, AND the well-rounded bodies, AND..., AND..., AND...

Anybody know of something similar, but a little more conservative?

[Cascadian]

IMO Polly pockets aren't as 'bad' as some of the other dolls re body image, and they are pretty tiny, so just lots of fine motor skill development. Your vacuum cleaner will have a field day though - some of that stuff is microscopic.

[laila2]

I do not like them

At our house dd played with it seldom, albeit she does not like girly stuff much, and pieces got all over and lost. We just do not have the organization skills to keep sets together well at our house. Too little for me. I almost wish she had barbies.

Thanks for Vacuum cleaners: "Your vacuum cleaner will have a field day though - some of that stuff is microscopic"

[Maluhia]

I find Polly to be one of the "nicer" ones although a Plan Dollhouse might be more non-sexual if that is even an issue with Polly. The thing is Polly is cute because of those little pieces they can do themselves, maybe get Polly and her stuff but build a wooden dollhouse, etc. to get less plastic?

[SunshineJ]

Eh, I'd steer clear of them. DS begged for a Polly Pocket Airplane thing that came out a couple of years ago. My mom got it for him (and it wasn't inexpensive!) and I have to tell you that was the flimsiest piece of junk we ever brought into the house. Part of it was that at age 4-5 he didn't have the skill to keep from knocking into it - which in turn sent everything else crashing about. Part of it was that I felt it was just poorly made, and that's enough to make me hesitant on anything else in that line. The doll were fine though, and a lot better than say Bratz!

[GuildJenn]

My son loves them 'cause they're tiny. Playmobil has some of the same qualities but the dressing/undressing is not as fun.

[TEAK's Mom]

I don't particularly mind Polly Pockets. They are little and kind of annoying, but they are soft and don't hurt when you step on them, are good for working on fine motor skills, and they seem to be a good social lubricant for little girls. We actually haven't lost very many pieces because the girls always spread out a blanket on the floor to contain them. Works wonders.

I will agree with the pps that the houses, cars, and other "big" things are just not very well made. I would get her (or help her save up for) some of the dolls and outfits, but skip the items that fall apart the second time they are used.

[TiredX2]

Moved to The Childhood Years

[lilyka]

we totally dig polly pockets. have bought probably 50 or so over the years (three girls over the course of 10 years) and they are still a standard birthday present. we also have playmobile and a nice wodden doll house. the doll hours dolls have been evicted and the pollys have moved in. I wouldn't worry about their clothes. they are usually in their "swimsuits" here as they are usually floating in the pool (tub). they are handy (dd can fit 3 or 4 in her pocket) and they are cheap (she can buy a small set with her allowance). things like the houses and cars and stuff.. meh. I think one girl bought a car, and then we got a handme down bag full of polly stuff including a house and another car. these have been going strong for so long that you could probably find house and cars at a second hand store. add a few dolls and your good to go. I would not be inclined to buy my kid a whole huge set up just because she asked for it. but the dolls have always been the attraction for my kids and are still my 6 year olds first choice when it comes to blowing her allowance on something. She really likes the princess ones (and they are more modestly clad).

[Just1More]

So...beyond the discussion of "to polly pocket or not to polly pocket"...anyone have any suggestions for something similar but NOT polly?

I actually just bought her a doll house today, with the wooden dolls. And also a paper doll book. I think the kinds I picked will still make her pretty happy because the furniture, etc, all were things we do, so she can identify. Like, the grill on the porch. I'm sure the "daddy" will be grilling right away.

Thanks.

[amma_mama]

We only buy the dolls and clothes as the bigger pieces are just too expensive for what they are, like most of the plastic toys out there. But I understand the attraction of the Polly dolls - DD can spend a nice length of time dressing and undressing them. Yes, some of the clothes are a bit skimpy but there are others that are more modest (long dresses, pants & sweaters). The "props" are annoying, though. DD is, fortunately, pretty good about keeping them together and puts them away so we have only lost one small shoe (to the vacuum, of course). I also like the fact that we can buy a doll and clothes for a few bucks here and there.

[madskye]

What about The Littlest Pet Shop?

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=2635886

They are all miniature animal worlds, similar to Polly but they're not people.

They're also the same size as Polly, so if her friends are playing PP, and she wants something to share, they blend in nicely.

[hakeber]

What about the Cabbage patch mini dolls? I have only seen commercials, but those might work? Anybody know?

[SeekingSerenity]

I invested in a Melissa & Doug Victorian Dollhouse for DD for Christmas, with the idea of transitioning her away from Polly Pockets toward the more natural-type toys. Didn't work. Polly has moved into the dollhouse with all 427 of her sisters . That being said, it could be worse. DS is totally in love with Bratz, and I prefer Pollies because they aren't as slinky or creepy (Bratz look like they're the product of Barbie and a Roswell alien).

They're expensive, tiny and my cats love to chew on their rubbery clothing. But they're better than the Disney Princess collection that are the same size. The princesses are more curvy I think, and definitely more expensive.

No suggestions for replacements, here. I tried to interest DD in "Baby in my Pocket" instead, since it's babies (with bottles, unfortunately) as opposed to tiny women, but after a few of those DD decided she wanted more Pollies. At least with the M&D dollhouse, it's wooden and well-constructed, and won't fall apart as quickly as a plastic Polly house.

[BethSLP]

probably not what you want to hear, but I really don't think there is anything similar to polly pocket. they are quite unique with the stretchy clothes and myriad of fashion choices and tiny size. As much as I love wooden doll houses and dolls, they are not going to be anything like polly pocket.

my sister in law in santa cruz was very choosy about what she would allow her DD to play with (no barbies, bratz, etc.) she bought Groovy girls instead. But Polly Pocket was totally allowed and my niece had a ton of it. She kept them for when younger kids visit and my 3 yr old DD was in HEAVEN. they really are quite fun to dress and put together different fashions, etc. my niece is quite into fashion now and really loved playing with Polly Pockets. I really don't consider them to be trashy or offensive. My issue with Polly Pocket is its a choking hazard for my baby. When he's older, we'll rock the Pollys for sure

XOXO
B

[Shannie77]

I bought my 2.5 year old a Polly Pocket for Christmas. Usually we only buy natural, wood, non-commercial type toys. However DD LOVES anything super tiny and I figured it was good for her fine motor skills. She has 2 Pollys and a modest amount of clothes. I don't plan on getting any of the other accessories. If Polly needs a house DD can make her one or use her wooden barn. This is working for us. DD and DH love playing with the Polly's together.

[One_Girl]

There are some wooden Melissa and Doug dolls that also come with a house, but they are very difficult to dress and the feel come off easily. Strawberry Shortcake dolls are also less booby and sturdier than the Polly Pocket dolls. I realize you hate plastic things, but I have found that the plastic things are easiest to dress and the least breakable. Even if you get wood things, there is still a whole endless line of accessories and friends that they sell with them and they are often made in third world countries. Wood things just don't market as well because not a lot of people are into wood toys in our society so we don't often view the companies that make them in the same way we view companies that make popular toys.

[rere]

We have a bunch of these.They're still all plastic but they are not all curvy and wearing high heels.They are suppose to be in the Barbie family but there are a ton of accessories for them that are their size(including a car?which doesn't really make sense but...).

[greeny]

No ideas for replacements.

Just wanted to say that we love Pollies! Dd1 has been playing with them since she was 4. She's almost 7. They're one of her most-played-with toys.

[Tjej]

My DD played with some at another house and really liked the Polly Pockets too. So we got her two girls for Christmas. She has fun with them, and they play in her other dollhouse and with her other toys. My mom just got her another one, so now there are 3 of them, but anyway, for us having a couple satisfies the desire to have little girly dolls to dress up with tiny things but hasn't turned into an obsession and we have no drive or desire to fill our toybox with them.

And most of their clothes are decent. They have chests, but most women do, so I guess that doesn't offend me.

Tjej