A friend just asked me if I had any recommendations for fashion dolls that could provide an alternative to Barbie, and this was the list I came up with. All of these dolls still include a dose of fashion, dress-up, and role play. But each brand is trying in its own way to add more meat to the message. Whether it's giving the dolls well-rounded individual stories, or focusing on less fashion-oriented clothing and activities, or even looking to world travel and cultures, all of them are making a sincere effort.
But what about you, What do you do in your household? Barbie, or other dolls?
Shown Above:
1. Little Miss Matched Dolls
2. Karito Kids, Yuko
3. Liv Dolls
4. Only Hearts Club Dolls
5. Corolle Les Cheries dolls
6. Moxie Girls
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Thanks! This is really timely as my almost 3 year old (lead by her older cousins) is starting to show interest in Barbies but I'm not sure if I want to go that route. I had tons of Barbies as a girl and loved them--mostly because they were "realistic", that is, not baby dolls, and I could role-play, play-act, etc with them. I had, and still have, a great self image even though I look nothing like a Barbie. I've always been of the view that the human women in our daughters lives shape their self-image, not their toys. That said, there is something kind of vulgar about them and the image of my toddler clutching a hugely stacked fashion doll in heels. I'll probably try to hold off a couple more years but I'm glad to see some understated dolls out there.
Thanks for this! Despite my efforts to shield her from it, my 4 year old daughter is starting to get into the Disney princess thing, and she also seems viscerally attracted to obnoxious things like Bratz dolls or shows as I quickly stroll/scroll past them in stores/on Netflix. Barbie isn't a thing yet--I don't know if she's even ever seen one--but I'd like to be able to preempt Barbie/Bratz/etc. with toys that satisfy her interest in dressing up and looking fashionable (at 4! I don't know where she gets it, and it breaks my heart a bit to see her so focused on clothes and looking "pretty" at her age, but I'm not going to quash something she's genuinely interested in, just try to gently direct it a little), but are not "vulgar" as nellymom aptly put it. I don't think my kid needs to be playing with toys that look like they came straight off a trucker's mudflaps, or toys that explicitly brand themselves as being obnoxious (i.e. Bratz).
Groovy Girls are an option for the slightly-younger set, although my daughter is 4 and still loves them. There is a range of skin tone and hair color, clothes are removable and you can buy additional outfits/accessories, everything in the $10-15 range. They even have boy dolls.
+1 for Groovy Girls. My daughter played with them from about age4-10, which I thought was a pretty good run -- even now at 12 she doesn't play with them but can't quite let go entirely either. They lasted well except the one whose face got treated to makeup -- never could get the oily smudge of lip gloss from around her mouth!
My 11 year old loves Karito Kids. She has Ling from Shanghai and Lulu fro Nairobi.
We LOVE the American Girl doll Mini's. They don't advertise them, but all of their historical dolls have mini versions. At $25 a pop they are not cheap. But they are adorable, they have little girl bodies, and as characters and stories, they are really delightful. My 6 year old has really learned a lot about history by reading the stories. The characters really bring it alive. They are fascinating group of little friends to play with. Plus the clothes are all interchangeable and well made. Yup. They are my favorite.
After making it through two daughters Barbie-free, my in-laws bought Disney Princess Barbies for my third.
Before that, we were perfectly satisfied with Only Hearts Club Dolls. Living in a small house, I really didn't need another set of toys to find room for.
I'm not pro or anti Barbie. I grew up with my sisters who loved them, and kept some of them for their own kids who love them now. I don't see that these dolls are any better.
My 7-year-old daughter got a Karito Kid (Pita from Mexico) last year and still adores it. She also received a Hearts 4 Hearts doll (the one that represents Ethiopia).
Though I expected her to gloss over this feature, she actually really keyed in to the fact that both dolls teach about the ups and downs of lives of actual girls in other countries (through the accompanying literature + websites). Both donate proceeds to global charities, as well. With the Karito Kid, she got to go online and pick which charity she wanted to support (I think, she chose malaria nets for kids in Africa).
Each one is well made and their clothes have held up over the past year, too. Also, Karito Kid can fit in Target's PlayWonder-brand doll clothes (which are constantly on the clearance shelf...and often cute enough to be real clothes).
As for the Little Miss Matched Dolls, we bought one online last Christmas and returned it immediately. They look extremely odd up close.
Thanks for this post, I needed it. My 6 year old has just started asking for a Barbie and I didn't know of any good alternatives.
The charity/literature extras for Karito dolls has me interested. And thanks @L-A for the Target clothes tip!
Am I the only one who thinks the Only Hearts club dolls look off in the face? They make me think of movies where aliens try to approximate the look of human beings.
I don't believe Barbie herself is bad, she's just representative of the unfortunate messages that society teaches our girls. Plus, I just find most of her outfits to be gaudy. Girl has no color sense!
Has anyone checked out Dedalos on etsy? The dolls are pricey, and too fragile for very young girls, but the dolls are precious; beautiful and mature without being heavily sexualized.