When our eldest grandson was a toddler, this Grandma immediately bought him a boy doll and a stroller, in blue of course. It was hard to find a boy doll back then. In 2014, this Grandma wrote a blog post about the need to buy a grandson a boy doll. Take a look at “Grandma Says Buy a Doll for Your Grandson in 2014”.
The theme then was that boys grow up to be daddies and we want them to have the experience of role playing and pretend play with a doll. Now, in 2016, it is easy to find a boy doll and the 2016 theme that has expanded to more voices is that boys need to know how to be daddies so buy boys boy dolls. Take a look at this May 19, 2016 article, “Why Every Boy Should Have a Doll,” on this Grandma’s favorite website.
The article confirms this Grandma’s long standing theme. However, why must be have girl dolls for girls and boy dolls for boys? We have always had “Ken” to “Barbie.” Now, let us explore the idea that girls too should have boy dolls, starting when they are toddlers.
We Grandmas should take this as a duty. Whether we have granddaughters or grandsons, let us consider all the choices for a boy doll and more!
Oppenheimer Toy Awards tests their toys on children and this Grandma has found that when the toy is listed, it is one to strongly consider. The article has three that are recommended, to which this Grandma has added others.
North American Bear Baby Hero Doll
This is dressed as a superhero so listed at preschool. This Grandma’s grandsons must be exceptional. Actually, they are exceptional. They were interested in superheroes as toddlers. So was our granddaughter. This doll is a 2015 platinum winner, the highest award, and is soft and plush and may become a favorite comfort doll for that toddler. And, if you want to buy twins, there is a matching girl doll superhero at Amazon:
Manhattan Toy Groovy Boy Asher
This Grandma loves Manhattan Toy toys, and Asher is one of the most popular boy names of the year. This doll is also soft and plush and appealable to both boys and girls. This doll is also a 2015 Platinum award winner. Amazon does not have Asher, but new for 2016 is the Manhattan Toy Groovy Boys Logan Doll. Maybe Asher is so 2015 and Logan is now one of the 2016 most popular names. It is not reviewed on www.toyportfolio.com but is the same 13″ doll. Buy at Amazon:
There is also Manhattan Toy Boysterous Boys Touchdown Dillon, Goalie GavinT soccer doll with toy soccer ball, Halfpipe PeteT skater doll with toy skateboard, listed as for ages 3 and up. Be forewarned that the “sports” dolls are smaller than the 13″ other dolls. Buy at Amazon:
Manhattan Toy Baby Stella Boy Doll
The first two Toy Portfolio dolls are boys, not baby boys. This doll is a boy baby and adorable. It is perfect for a toddler girl and boy, and is the only one of the three listed at 12 months and up. They suggest it as a great first birthday present and this Grandma agrees. It is the third 2015 Platinum award winner. Buy at Amazon:
Corolle Mon Premier Calin Sky Baby Doll
Newly listed on www.toyportfolio.com is a Corelle boy doll, not as highly rated as the others, but this Grandma loves the quality of Corelle dolls. An issue is that it is vanilla scented, but the Baby Stella has a lavender scent binky with it. A reason it could get a lesser rating is that it is more expensive than the others recommended by Oppenheimer Toy Awards. It lists this boy doll at 18 months and up. Buy at Amazon:
For those so inclined, as stated on the review, “Corolle also makes an anatomically correct boy doll (see: Paul Drink and Wet Bath Baby) that costs a little more for the extra feature.” He is listed on Amazon as a perfect potty training doll too. Buy here:
American Girl Itty Bitty Twins
For those whose grandchildren must have an American Girl Doll, there is a set of twins, a boy and a girl. They have different ethnic group dolls at American Girl: Amazon sells lots of expensive clothes, sailor suits, swimsuits, and pajamas for the expensive twins at Amazon.
As for baby girl doll accessories, the boy doll accessories, mostly in blue of course, include stroller, carriages, high chairs, pac-n-plays, and bouncing seats. Buy at Amazon.
Yes, and, if you must, there are packages of Barbie and Ken Dolls at Amazon:
We want our granddaughters to care for baby boys and baby girls, and, remember, there are many more choices in girl dolls for our grandsons than boy dolls for our grandsons. Please start early. The first birthday is perfect. Let’s not just get the dolls for our babies and toddlers. Let’s move up in age, at least to the preschoolers.
Joy,
Mema
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