Doll for a boy

[Jaimee]

I'm in search of a doll for my nephew's first birthday.  My BIL is not keen on dolls for boys, but my SIL would love him to have one.  I think dolls are excellent toys to help learn nurturing skills, to act out emotions with, and later for pretend play.  So to aid my SIL and attempt to not tick off my BIL, I'm looking for a boy's doll and I would prefer it to be all or mostly cloth.  I would also prefer not to pay an arm and a leg for it just in case it gets vetoed!    Any suggestions? 

[Knitting Mama]

How about a Waldorf doll? Mine is green. I think the sort of stylized look of them tends to be a little easier for people like your BIL to handle. The one I linked is small, only about 7" long.

[Jaimee]

Thanks for the idea, Aimee.  Certainly gender neutral and inexpensive!  But, I was thinking a little larger and with a body and legs so that it can be dressed, diapered, and worn in a baby carrier (some of my dd's favorite doll related activities). 

[CookAMH]

I got one from Target for my neice and ended up keeping it for my 18mo DS. I took the girl clothes off and happened to find a boy outfit at the dollar store. He likes it and calls it baby. It was about $3.

Link: http://www.target.com/Circo-Mini-Baby-Doll-8/dp/B00298VOWO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=baby%20doll&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-1&qid=1289776002&rh=subjectbin%3A1038620%7Cprice%3A0-1499&searchRank=price&id=Circo%20Mini%20Baby%20Doll%208&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0

[MovnMama]

I considered this one for our son, then decided to go a different route (with little people sets, instead) as he already has lots of stuffed dolls and animals he sleeps with ... I was afraid I'd buy it and it would become a lovey, instead of a role-playing toy, which is what I wanted. That's just the dynamics of our kid though, and I really liked this doll. There are a few others from this maker (blabla), and also this one from Haba and this one from Plan Toys.

These are all pretty pricey, as far as dolls go, but are also from brands with good business practices.

[octobermom]

 Just a small warning about the above Blabla dolls. My DD was given one at birth a doogy one and she managed to chew clear through it by 4 months no teeth... I latter leared the price. 

Deanna

[Jaimee]

The Haba dolls are closest to what I'm looking for, but SO expensive!!  Argh.  I actually have that Circo doll from Target- it's too small for what I'm thinking, but dd does love it!

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

Thanks for the idea, Aimee.  Certainly gender neutral and inexpensive!  But, I was thinking a little larger and with a body and legs so that it can be dressed, diapered, and worn in a baby carrier (some of my dd's favorite doll related activities). 

This one is 12"-- is that still too small?

[Jaimee]

Oh, that one is pretty good, Aimee!  I had searched for Waldorf dolls prior to posting this and only found like the Kathe Kruse dolls for over $100, so I sort of gave up.  But after searching for more like the one you posted, I found some others that might work out, too!

Here's a dress up Jack doll and some small, but complete body, all cloth dolls

Here's some interesting no-face, 100% natural, organic dolls

Haba's Lukas isn't TOO outrageously priced on Amazon

More suggestions totally appreciated!

Thanks!

Jaimee

[beebalmmama]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama 

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

Thanks for the idea, Aimee.  Certainly gender neutral and inexpensive!  But, I was thinking a little larger and with a body and legs so that it can be dressed, diapered, and worn in a baby carrier (some of my dd's favorite doll related activities). 

This one is 12"-- is that still too small?

This is what I was going to suggest too and was thinking of getting ds 2 (11 months) since the dog ate half of his other German made waldorf type doll, a Silkie. They also have them at Nova Naturals, but I'm not sure for how much.
 

[lach]

It is expensive, but DS has this doll and loves him dearly.  He has a huggable body, and I figured the blue pajamas made it a boy!  

http://www.amazon.com/Corolle-Classic-Baby-Doll-Pounce/dp/B0014LU4UU

[Jaimee]

German made waldorf type doll, a Silkie. They also have them at Nova Naturals, but I'm not sure for how much.
 

Nova Naturals has a 13" Waldorf doll for $105.  Ugh.

[LeaPea]

I would check out Etsy. I'm sure you could find a boy doll you like on there, and probably have it customized!

[wombatclay]

If price/availability is an issue... Cabbage Patch makes a "boy baby" doll.  I never thought I'd get a Cabbage Patch doll for my children (though I remember desperately wanting one myself ages ago LOL) but my son is obsessed with belly buttons and the Cabbage Patch doll was a boy AND it has a belly button.  The head is plastic, but the body is soft and DS loves to cuddle it.  He picked it out at Target and I think it was about 15 dollars.

We also have a waldorf style boy doll made by a local crafter, but it doesn't attract the same amount of love/attention and in retrospect I think that dollis more for "me" and what I want my kiddos to like and less about what my DS actually wants in a doll.  Ah well, it's a wonderful doll and I'm sure some day it'll get the love it deserves!  If you do look into getting this sort of doll, maybe see if this little guy enjoys that style of doll?  My girls never warmed up to the waldorf dolls I made for them and again... I don't regret the experience of making the dolls, but in retrospect those dolls aren't a good match for dd1 or dd2.  Anyway, there is a nice natural toy store here where they let the kiddos play with many of the items that are also for sale.  Perhaps there is something similar near you/your nephew just so you don't spend a huge chunk of change on a toy that the adults love more than he does?

Oh, the Groovy Girl dolls (Manhattan Toy Company) have several boys though these are more tween/teen style dolls... they do have clothing and accessories, and the dolls are not buttonholed (their clothing isn't as gendered as with some dolls, their skin color/eye color/hair color varies a lot, the accessories reflect activities like camping and skating more than fashion/beauty), but they require a fair amount of manual dexterity to dress.  They do wash up nicely in the laundry though (I throw them in a pillow case) if you don't mind having to do the long hair styles over again.  The plain old boy dolls are around 15-20 dollars, the fancier knight/prince dolls are more like 20-30 I think.

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by wombatclay 

We also have a waldorf style boy doll made by a local crafter, but it doesn't attract the same amount of love/attention and in retrospect I think that dollis more for "me" and what I want my kiddos to like and less about what my DS actually wants in a doll. 

This is just the thing.  My dd has a few "nicer" plush dolls, but her favorite is a cheap doll that someone gave her from Walmart that has a hole for a mouth for a pacifier and sort of wide crazy looking eyes.  I called it creepy baby for a while, but she adopted it and calls it squishy baby.  You just never know.  As it turns out, after all my research into dolls, my SIL convinced my BIL to get the HABA Yannik doll.  So now he has one!  LOL!  Thanks for all the ideas everyone!
 

[Twinklefae]

I was going to suggest a Cabbage Patch as well.  When DS was born, DH was adamantly against him having a 'doll'.  But having a Cabbage Patch boy is apparently a whole different thing, not connected to dolls in anyway.  (Where's the eyeroll smilie?)

I also got DS a doll that came in a backpack - DS called it Diego's rescue pack and ran around with it a lot.  DH thought is was very cute.  It's a lot harder to say no when the kid is old enough to argue back.

[Eresh]

I bought the Haba Phil doll for DS1. It wasn't quite what I wanted but the options sure are limited for a boy doll. Ds1 does like the doll and has use it for pretend play -- lately potty learning-- but he's not in love with it. That would be the large pink carebear with the rainbow on it's tummy *blush*. My dad sent me a box of my old toys and DS1 latched onto it as soon as he saw it. He also latched onto the little blue carebear with the diaper and roleplays mommy and baby with the two bears. It's too cute