Best dolls for 2025: Baby dolls, Barbies and styling dolls to buy your child
From baby dolls that cry to Barbies with silky hair or fierce outfits, these are the top dolls for babies, toddler and older children to cuddle and care for.
Dolls are a key part of your child's toy box. Whether that's baby dolls that cry and use a potty, Barbie dolls with grand sparkly dresses, or styling dolls with fierce outfits and accessories.
Whatever your child's taste, dolls can help improve everything from your child's dexterity and movement, to their imaginative play and storytelling – who doesn't remember taking their Barbies on secret spy missions or magical adventures?
With that in mind, you'll want to pick the right doll to suit their taste. Below, we've put together a list of our top 20 dolls currently available to buy.
Our picks range from soft dolls suitable from birth, to the more complicated sets for older children. Plus, they come in a range of prices, so you can pick the toy that fits your needs too.
Best dolls at a glance:
Best dolls for babies and toddlers:
- iFrodoll Personalised Deep Skin Tone Plush Doll Nevaeh, £16.99
- Baby Annabell Little doll, £23
- Baby Annabell Sweetie Mauve Soft Doll, £14
- Manhattan Toy Wee Baby Stella, £30
- Little Dutch Cuddle Doll Sophia, £20.95
- CoComelon Peek-A-Boo JJ Plush Toy, £30
Best dolls for 2,3 and 4-year-olds
- True and the Rainbow Kingdom Deluxe Doll, £34.99
- Miraculous Magic Heroes Colour Reveal Doll, £19
- L.O.L Surprise Magic Flyers Doll, £37.99
- Meagan by Our Generation, £41.99
- Be My Baby Doll and Bath Bathtime Playset, £22.49
- Barbie Pop Reveal Fruit Series Doll, £26.99
- DesignaFriend Tilly Bumper Set Doll, £50
- Monster High Skulltimate Secrets Draculaura Doll, £31
- Lottie Muddy Puddles, £19.99
Best dolls for children aged 5+
- Rainbow High Core Fashion Doll Series 4, £32
- Disney Frozen Elsa Snow Queen, £24.99
- Disney Moana 2 Moana & Simea Sister Set, £20.99
- Wicked Deluxe Glinda Doll, £49.90
- Bratz Alwayz Bratz Jade Fashion Doll, £24.99
- Barbie Footballer doll, £13.99
- Barbie Malibu Colour Change Mermaid Doll and Accessories, £22.99
Best dolls to buy children of all ages in 2025
1. iFrodoll Personalised Deep Skin Tone Plush Doll Nevaeh, £16.99
Available at: iFrodoll
Age suitability: 0+ | Best for age: 1+ | Batteries: None
The Nevaeh deep skin tone plush doll is one of a range of soft toys representative of dark-skinned girls from iFrodoll. Each of the dolls has a different outfit and hairstyle and every one can be personalised – for free – with a name or birthday on the front of the doll’s outfit, which is firmly attached to her body. With no small parts to worry about, the doll is safe for even the youngest children, and her super softness and size – just right for a toddler to wrap her arms around – means it's perfect to snuggle at bedtime.
This toy really resonates with me as a black parent to two black daughters because representation is so important, and the lack of black dolls in the market can be frustrating. This doll is attractive, appealing and very well-made.
2. Baby Annabell Little doll, £23
Available at: The Toy Shop and ASDA George
Age suitability: 1+ | Best for age: 1+ | Batteries: None
Baby Annabell is a much-loved brand of baby doll, and this little sister version is the perfect introduction for your child. Her soft body means she is ideal for lots of cuddles and soothing, and at 36cm in size, she's the perfect height and weight for toddlers to carry around and care for. She also comes with a romper, hat and bottle.
3. Baby Annabell Sweetie Mauve Soft Doll, £14
Available at: The Toy Shop
Age suitability: From birth | Batteries: None
This version of Baby Annabell is just 30cm long and is completely made of a super-soft machine-washable fabric. That means she can be safely part of your baby's life from day one, and will be immune to any dribbles or spillages. Plus, if you give her a gentle shake, you'll hear the rattle hidden inside her tummy.
4. Manhattan Toy Wee Baby Stella, £30
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 1+ | Best for age: 1+ | Batteries: None
Wee Baby Stella dolls come in a variety of fabric skin tones and hair styles, plus a whole host of accessories. This one includes a bottle that attaches magnetically, a bedtime storybook, and a plush teddy bear. Best of all, it features a microencapsulated lavender scent so if you gently hug Wee Baby Stella, the soothing scent will be released.
5. Little Dutch Cuddle Doll Sophia, £20.95
Available at: Scandiborn
Age suitability: 1+ | Best for age: 1+ | Batteries: None
The Little Dutch Cuddle Doll Sophia is ready for all sorts of adventures armed with her toy monkey friend. At just 35cm long, she's soft and easy to hold, plus she comes with a beautifully made yellow dress and slippers.
6. CoComelon Peek-A-Boo JJ Plush Toy, £30
Available at: ASDA George
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 2+ | Batteries: 3x AA (included)
This plush doll, based on the popular YouTube show CoComelon, features lights, phrases and sounds to help your child play an interactive game of Peek-A-Boo. The doll combines motorised movements with 17 sounds and phrases to keep your little one entertained and engaged for hours at a time.
7. True and the Rainbow Kingdom Deluxe Doll, £34.99
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Batteries: Included
For True and the Kingdom lovers, this doll is a must. Simply press True's chest and she sings and talks to you, saying phrases from her beloved TV show.
This doll has been mesmerising for my daughter since the minute she opened it. She has sung and danced along to the songs and repeated the catchphrases while also watching the TV show and telling her True doll that she’s there on the TV.
8. Miraculous Magic Heroes Colour Reveal Doll, £19
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: None
This doll is a must for any Miraculous fan and it features Marinette, one of the Miraculous Magic Heroes. The doll comes covered in shimmer coating inside a blind bag. Then you add water in the provided container, swirl it around and reveal one of Marinette's randomly selected superhero costumes. You can collect all 3 dolls if your child is a superfan, with costumes that range from Ladybug, BunnyX and Rena Rouge. Along with the doll there are accessories, which are also concealed in a blind bag.
I love my doll. I love her earrings and her hair and spotty outfit. I wanted this one. The Kwami is so cute, and she has a real yo-yo. I want another one. I like putting the doll in the water to see the outfit, I want to put her in the bath with me.
8. L.O.L Surprise Magic Flyers Doll, £37.99
Available at: Amazon and Hamleys
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: USB
This is definitely a doll with a wow factor – it flies! These dolls come packaged in a bottle called the Magic Wishies and when you rub or tap it twice, the bottle shakes, lights up and unlocks ready to be pulled open for the doll to fly right out. To replay the fun all over again, simply put the tot back into the shell and you can relive the exciting unboxing experience again. Plus, you can use your hand to guide the toy whilst in the air and prevent it from hitting the ground.
I really like the way it flies because it flies really high and when you hold the button and jump high into the air with it it flies so high and it’s really cool to watch!
9. Meagan by Our Generation, £41.99
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+| Batteries: None
This lovely big doll has realistic and soft body and great accessories – including a dog! Meagan wears a stylish grey dress, but you can also dress her up in blue wellies, a rain mac and have her walk around with a pink suitcase. Plus, her dog has a range of treats and toys, including a carrier.
I love that she has a dog and can come on dog walks with me. I like giving the dog treats and playing fetch. She has beautiful hair like me and we can have the same hairstyles.
10. Barbie Pop Reveal Fruit Series Doll, £26.99
Available at: Amazon and Argos
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 5+ | Batteries: None
Here's another reveal-doll that offers an element of surprise for children unboxing them. These Fruit Series dolls engage all senses during the unboxing experience, with slime to touch and fruity scents to smell. There are 4 dolls in this range and each comes with different scents including Grape Fizz (above), Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon Crush and Fruit Punch and each of them have colour-changing hear that adapts to colour. Along with the doll are some fun accessories to unwrap such as a pet and fashion items.
I LOVE slime it feels so gooey and slimy and it sticks to my hand but I like the feel of it and like to play with it.
11. DesignaFriend Tilly Bumper Set, £50
Available at: Argos
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 5+ | Batteries: None
This doll is such a trendy toy. She comes with fashionable outfits to change into including a biker jacket, tutu skirt, long-sleeved tops with shiny rainbow graphic, glittery pink trousers, a cosy onesie and a metallic pink tulle dress. Tilly also comes with fabric trainers that you can tie and she has her ears pierced which means your little one can put her rainbow earrings on for her. Other accessories she comes with are sunglasses, a hairbrush, pink metallic heart & star hair clips and a pink heart-shaped cross-body bag. In short, you can change her look whenever you like.
She’s definitely a 10/10 mummy. Her clothes are so trendy, and her hair is really pretty.
12. Monster High Skulltimate Secrets Draculaura Doll, £31
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: None
A spooktacular doll that comes with over 19 surprises including berets, bat earrings, eyeball boba tea and more accessories and themed pieces. Her vibrant coffin container packaging can be reused for storing Draculaura and the accessories inside. There are 4 other dolls in the range: Clawdeen Wolf Doll, Frankie Stein Doll, Cleo De Nile Doll and Lagoona Blue Doll.
I like that she has more clothes and she comes with her snacks!
13. Lottie Muddy Puddles, £19.99
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 5+ | Batteries: None
A 18cm-tall, ball-jointed plastic doll with long blonde hair, dressed in a long-sleeved T-shirt, striped leggings, corduroy shorts, yellow hooded raincoat and yellow welly boots. Easy to move and bend into different poses, as well as being able to stand up independently, Lottie is a great play companion. We love the authentic wet weather gear – she really does look ready for some serious puddle jumping!
14. Rainbow High Spring Fashion Doll Series, from £19
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: None
The idea of the Rainbow High dolls is to push diversity and inclusion. Every year a new series comes out with a range of dolls, each with their own accessories and a stand. They have long, thick hair perfect for styling (although some of the characters already have short hair also) and articulated bodies that allow for a good degree of movement and help make changing clothes fairly easy.
Matilda adores her new doll and has now requested I buy her the other dolls in the Rainbow High series, which I am more than happy to do after seeing the quality of the one we received. Another one added to Matilda's Christmas list!
15. Disney Frozen Elsa Snow Queen, £24.99
Available at: Very
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 5+ | Batteries: None
Cuddle up to your favourite ice queen Elsa with this beautiful feature doll. Complete with long, thick hair and mini hairbrush, this doll is perfect for styling and comes in a perfect replica of Elsa's dress from Frozen 2. It also comes with extra accessories and a chameleon friend.
16. Disney Moana 2 Moana & Simea Sister Set, £20.99
Available at: Very
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 5+ | Batteries: None
Moana fans will love this doll set, featuring the adventurous princess and her little sister Simea. They both come with thick brush-able hair and extra props.
17. Wicked Deluxe Glinda Doll, £49.90
Available at: Very
Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: None
If you loved Wicked, this Glinda doll is a must. Featuring a movie-accurate pink ballgown, plus wand and crown, this doll is simply magical.
18. Bratz Alwayz Bratz Jade Fashion Doll, £24.99
Available at: Very
Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: None
This Bratz doll has a whole lot of attitude and a whole lot of style. For the fashion fanatics, this doll has a chic red coat, a red handbag and black and red boots, plus the classic Bratz style-able hair.
19. Barbie Footballer doll, £13.99
Available at: Hamleys
Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: None
Foster your child's passion for football early with this sporty Barbie. She comes in full kit and has a ball to kick around too.
20. Barbie Malibu Colour Change Mermaid Doll and Accessories, £22.99
Available at: Very
Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: None
This magical mermaid Barbie has a colour-changing tail and hair and comes with several styling accessories, including a brush and necklace.
What to look for when buying a doll
It's important to choose a doll that's appropriate to your child's age. Different age groups play with dolls differently, so a doll that might be perfect for a toddler probably won't hold the interest of a 6-year-old. Here are some things to consider when buying a doll:
- For babies and toddlers: Softness and size are key here, so look for a big doll with a squeezable body for plenty of cuddles. Young babies will enjoy looking at bold, high-contrast facial features, while toddlers will want a doll they can easily carry around. In an ideal world, when your child's this little, you want a doll that's machine-washable, too.
- For 2 to 3-year-olds: At this age, your child's social skills are developing rapidly and they will like dolls they can actively nurture and care for. Dolls that can be fed with a bottle or have their nappy changed are great choices, as are dolls that can be dressed and undressed easily. Interactive features – like crying or wetting nappies – are always a hit, too. Children this age are keen to flex their new independence, so pick a doll that's the right size for carrying around and pushing along in a toy pushchair.
- For 4 to 6-year-olds: Dolls are a fantastic way to help your child explore the world around them and provide inspiration. Of course, princess dolls are great fun and eternally popular but you can also mix things up a bit at this age. Imaginative play with dolls as doctors, teachers, vets and firefighters, for example, give your child the opportunity to try out different roles. Look for dolls with lots of accessories to aid pretend play and keep those imaginations fired up.
- For 7+ years: Older children are often drawn to fashion dolls, rather than baby dolls. They can have hours of fun dressing up dolls in different outfits and playing with their hair, as well as creating wonderful, and often quite complicated, pretend-play scenarios. As we all come in different shapes and sizes, you could think about reflecting this in your child's doll collection: a mix of body types, as well as a diverse range of skin colours, helps to portray a more realistic reflection of the world.
How can I make sure a doll is safe to play with?
- Look for the CE symbol. This means that a toy meets regulatory requirements. Dolls without this symbol may not be intended to be used as toys and could potentially be unsafe to play with.
- Check for the British Toy and Hobby Association's (BTHA) 'Lion Mark'. It's a voluntary scheme brands can sign up to that requires them to meet key safety requirements.
- Buy dolls from a reputable outlet. If you are buying from a car boot sale or jumble sale, be extra careful that what you're buying meets safety regulations and is suitable for your child to play with.
- Checking the age range the doll is aimed at. You need to be particularly careful with dolls for children under 3: if they're not marked as suitable for this age range, they may have, or come with, small pieces that could pose a choking hazard.
We've more top-rated toys here:
Authors
Helen is author of the classic advice book Parenting for Dummies and a mum of 3. Before joining MadeForMums, she was Head of Community at Mumsnet and also the Consumer Editor of Mother & Baby.
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