Waldorf Dolls - do they last?

[boatbaby]

I have a question about how these dolls hold up...

How do you clean them? How do they hold up to multiple cleanings? Can they tolerate being outdoors in all weather, rained on, in the dirt, sand, salt air? Or are they indoor only toys?

It seems like a big investment to get one... and they are beautifully crafted... but if a little one gets attached and wants to bring the doll everywhere --- and you lead an outdoor oriented life (like we do), I would be worried about a $100++ doll getting dragged through the great outdoors and then becoming rags.

Thoughts?

[Past_VNE]

Hiya! I just came on here to post to the homeschool forum (*sigh*)and then thought I'd dredge up your posts to see if I can learn anything from you.

Well, we couldn't justify the cost of most of the dolls. As beautiful and wonderful as they are, I just don't have that kind of money to spend on them. So, I bought a Camden Rose doll from Palumba. (Okay, I bought two and then meant to send one back, but forgot. now, the second doll is living in the closet still. Ugh.) http://tinyurl.com/32uhwak is the one DS plays with every day. She got some iced tea dumped on her legs. I cleaned her off with a very wet rag and she looks as good as new. Her hair lays funny sometimes, depending on her hairband, but she's a very nice doll and is well loved.

For DD, I bought a less detailed baby from etsy. The lady very kindly threw in a used but awesome gnome doll. He spends weeks sitting in the corner of DS's room, then goes on many, many outdoorsy jaunts and along with us for every errand. Then, he's forgotten, too. His beard comes apart easily, but he's a great fellow. You can see him in my geocaching folder on FB, boatbaby. This link may work for the baby: http://www.etsy.com/transaction/23291885 The baby doll is very sweet, cute and durable. She gets dragged around our dirty farmhouse and flung hither and yon. She looks like new, save her flannel body is a little pilly like flannel gets. But, that's no complaint. I love her.

If it needed repeated cleanings and got dragged around a LOT in the dirt, funk of the outside world, I suspect they would look a little harried. But, not so bad that they would be relegated to the rag bin.

[teamsalem]

Originally Posted by boatbaby

I have a question about how these dolls hold up...

How do you clean them? How do they hold up to multiple cleanings? Can they tolerate being outdoors in all weather, rained on, in the dirt, sand, salt air? Or are they indoor only toys?

It seems like a big investment to get one... and they are beautifully crafted... but if a little one gets attached and wants to bring the doll everywhere --- and you lead an outdoor oriented life (like we do), I would be worried about a $100++ doll getting dragged through the great outdoors and then becoming rags.

Thoughts?

I think they hold up great, personally. My kids' dolls have not had any major mishaps yet, so I don't know about cleaning them (altho I've heard that you can actually soak them in some Eucalan if need be -- correct me if I'm wrong on this) But, my daughter drags her doll around with her a lot and it has held up well. It also depends on the child, I think, though. My daughter is very careful with her stuff. If my son were to drag his with him everywhere, I think it would show some abuse/dirt.

[radmamma]

I don't see why they couldn't be soaked in Euclan. That sounds like a great idea, actually...

[blumom2boyz]

You could also make your own. I made my sons dolls for around $50 total and they are full size (16 inch) dolls. Just a thought!

[TulsiLeaf]

Originally Posted by blumom2boyz

You could also make your own. I made my sons dolls for around $50 total and they are full size (16 inch) dolls. Just a thought!

I would suggest this. Although my Waldorf Doll came out horrid(gah I hate button joined dolls even more now!) the fact that I made it is awesome. Plus it is half as much.

Next time I want to make a doll with my daughter.

[boatbaby]

Originally Posted by blumom2boyz

You could also make your own. I made my sons dolls for around $50 total and they are full size (16 inch) dolls. Just a thought!

Mmmmmm, if you knew me you'd know that me making my own doll is totally out of my league. I am not being cute of modest, I truly can not sew a stitch and I'm the most uncrafty person on earth. *sigh*

We're a ways off from (maybe) buying one yet. It just seems like many Waldorf/ Waldorf inspired homes have a much more indoor oriented lifestyle and so their expensive toys stay fairly pristine. We have a few things we have splurged on (like the XL stacking rainbow) but they stay inside. A doll is different though... that's the sort of thing that just begs to be carried around everywhere.

Interested to hear more opinions...

[ourdayourjourney]

we have a few evi dolls. i initially purchased a lavender doll, which is smaller and was purchased because it was less expensive. i learned that the size of the doll matters and soon after purchased a larger doll.

the dolls are well made, fabric and clothing still looks like new. the face is easy to clean but shows some age. the smaller dolls do not have embroidered features so they have duller over the years.

i droll over the dolls on etsy, beautiful craftsmanship and worth the price. i would love to make one when i feel confident in my sewing skills. the kits are highly regarded and even beginner sewers say that the dolls are easy to make.

when you talk about being dragged through the great outdoors, i think about the velveteen rabbit and how loved he was.

[TulsiLeaf]

Originally Posted by boatbaby

Mmmmmm, if you knew me you'd know that me making my own doll is totally out of my league. I am not being cute of modest, I truly can not sew a stitch and I'm the most uncrafty person on earth. *sigh*

We're a ways off from (maybe) buying one yet. It just seems like many Waldorf/ Waldorf inspired homes have a much more indoor oriented lifestyle and so their expensive toys stay fairly pristine. We have a few things we have splurged on (like the XL stacking rainbow) but they stay inside. A doll is different though... that's the sort of thing that just begs to be carried around everywhere.

Interested to hear more opinions...

I understand about the sewing skills. Can you sew a simple seam? Most of the kits you can buy you can customize it with a premade head and sewn body. All you do is stuff and sew 3 seams. I can sew, but I HATE sewing. HAte hate hate it. My doll wasn't so bad to do, but I only did the premade head.

Honestly, if the price is to much for a made one (it totally is for me) and you don't mind it not being all organic, wool stuffed, check out places like Tuesday Morning, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross and places like that. Lots of times I have found beautiful dolls there for under 20. Well made dolls, boutique like for much much less. You can find great wooden toys there to. I find a lot of Melissa and Doug toys, but I also find a lot of organic toys, more expensive toys (for much less) and all that.

[Zuzu822]

My boys each have a Waldorf doll. We have a custom-made doll from Joy's Waldorf Dolls (two years old) and one of the Camden Rose boy dolls (less than a year old). Neither have gone outside or seen vey heavy play, and both have damage to one of their arms. The Joy doll's arm is coming apart at the shoulder and the Camden doll's arm has a ripped seam along the top. I know I can fix both issues (just need to DO it, lol), but I'm disappointed in the wear and tear after so little time and fairly gentle play. :-/
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[tallulahma]

Honestly, i can handsew ok, but not fast, or very neat. Ive never been able to even figure out how to thread a machine..... I made ours and it took some tears and it's lopsided in some places, but it's held up amazingly well and cost nothing in comparison.

I went onto make the teether dolls and such for dd2 and a few friends that had babies and for the price difference i truly believe its worth the hours spent.

Plus 2.5 years later they are still around....

[dogretro]

Not strictly Waldorf, but we have the Haba Lukas doll and a little friend has the Haba Lilli doll. They are canvas-type body fabric & polyester puff filling. Their skin is v sturdy & strong, as is the stitching. You can machine-wash these dolls! Between the two of them, Lukas and Lilli have seen their share of traveling and both still look great. They are the younger siblings & Haba makes bigger boy and girl dolls, too. They have several of these dolls out at our local play place where the get a lot of love &, except for looking a bit dingy (don't know if they ever get washed), they are in great shape. Lukas does have some slight staining on his face, but oh well, that is love! I ended up getting him off of Amazon for $26 including shipping. One of the stores was having a big sale on him, woo hoo!

[KJoslyn78]

All 3 of my children have Waldorf dolls that i made. The youngest 2 have had theirs for almost 3 years now... the 1 needs a new mouth, and the other needs a popped seam stitched (these were my first dolls and I've since improved in sewing them), but considering they have lasted this long with only needing those minor repairs (and regular cleanings, i do a nice clean about ever 6 months, which for them works out to be at christmas and for their birthdays which the youngest 2 have in June). My son was 18 months when he recieved his first doll, and my youngest daughter was 4 1/2... they are now 4 and 7 and STILL love their babies (dolls) very much. My son just named his in fact!
My 11 1/2 yr old is also very attatched to hers (she only got hers 1 1/2 yrs ago), and since she is 1) older and 2)has a different style and 3)i was a more proficient seamstresses at that point, we've had no problems (and only now needs her first cleaning).

Even if you can not make them yourself, i think they are a worth wild investment for a child. I know that if i didn't have the ability to sew them, i would have bought them.

[mlh]

Both my girls have Waldorf Dolls and we paid about $50.00 for each...found a woman on Etsy who makes them so we were able to spend less than the $100.00 I was expecting...so I would try to find them at a lower price.
That being said, my girls drag their dolls around and they have gotten dirty, but are holding up great!

[mommabeehilly]

Yes they hold up...even the one that I made had held up (although I did have to reattach a leg...but that was mostly because I did not know what I was doing to start with).

Our dolls have had accidental baths (followed by sunbathing and time in the dehydrator).

The best advice I have gotten on cleaning the dolls included regular vacuuming (but works) and sunbathing, with an occasional spot cleaning.

HTH. You are going to love your first Waldorf baby!

[noahs_wings]

we have a joy's waldorf doll that is meant to be a first doll and says on the site that they will hold up to rough play... my daughter is very gentle and really just in the past few months started playing with this doll. it was a gift for her first b day and went on a special trip with us.. both her shoulder seems have come apart and needed to be sewn back up already. She has not seen much outside play but has been dragged around a lot.

I would say its worth the money to get a really nice doll that you knwo you will sew back up and teach your child to take very good care of. that way the doll will stay with them for life and be sentimental. Maybe one they nurse with, sleep with etc. and then get a cheaper one for rougher play that can be washed and get dragged around and taken outside.

The things I make i notice i work so hard on and im so attached to that it is really hard to see dd play rough or dirty those things haha I would much rather see her drag a doll I paid 50$ for through the mud than one i spent weeks making! but thats just me im controlling haha im working on it.

[counterGOPI]

Originally Posted by noahs_wings

we have a joy's waldorf doll that is meant to be a first doll and says on the site that they will hold up to rough play... my daughter is very gentle and really just in the past few months started playing with this doll. it was a gift for her first b day and went on a special trip with us.. both her shoulder seems have come apart and needed to be sewn back up already. She has not seen much outside play but has been dragged around a lot.

I would say its worth the money to get a really nice doll that you knwo you will sew back up and teach your child to take very good care of. that way the doll will stay with them for life and be sentimental. Maybe one they nurse with, sleep with etc. and then get a cheaper one for rougher play that can be washed and get dragged around and taken outside.

The things I make i notice i work so hard on and im so attached to that it is really hard to see dd play rough or dirty those things haha I would much rather see her drag a doll I paid 50$ for through the mud than one i spent weeks making! but thats just me im controlling haha im working on it.

Me too! My oldest daughters specialbaby isa Joys and I have had to repair the seams, etc so many times I have lost count Now she's getting holesin her hands and I am not sure how I'll fix that just yet. Joy is no longer making dolls, either so it'snot like I can order replacement parts.
But the dolls I made are holding up great as is my youngest special baby from gopita's dolls on etsy