Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The best baby dolls for 1-year-olds and above

Beyond books and stories, your toddler learns best from pretend play. Baby dolls for one-year-olds are specially designed to encourage imaginative play, develop social skills, and teach everyday objects to your child. Fortunately, we’ve gathered the best dolls here so you can decide quickly.

If you’re wondering what the best baby doll for a one-year-old is, consider material, size, and extra accessories. Baby dolls for one-year-olds are typically small, but large enough to hold comfortably. Any doll between 11 to 15 inches is an ergonomic size that your toddler can hold, hug, and carry easily. They’re made of soft materials like fleece, silicone, or cotton that won’t rip or break easily during play.

Most dolls will also come with an accessory or two like a pacifier, soft blankie, and at least one outfit. Take a look at the ones we picked out.

Manhattan Toy Baby Stella

Softest Option

The Manhattan Toy doll is a cuddly fabric fleece toy that measures 15 inches long. Its ultra-soft body is great for toddlers who are a little rough with their toys but want something snuggly when they're winding down. This doll comes with a magnetic pacifier, a removable long shirt, and a diaper. Embroidered toes and belly button make this doll more lifelike and adorable.

JC Toys La Baby Boutique Baby Doll

Most Realistic

The JC Toys doll is the most realistic model on our lineup thanks to vinyl body parts and lifelike hair. This 11-inch doll comes with a removable Velcro fastened outfit and a pacifier sewn onto the cloth to prevent misplaced accessories. It's fragrance-, phthalate-, and BPA-free, making it safe all-around for toddlers.

Melissa & Doug Jenna Doll

Most Age Appropriate

The Melissa & Doug doll is the most age-appropriate style with open-close eyes, a 12-inch length, and a removable romper. When fussy, your little one can comfort their doll by placing its pacifier or thumb into its mouth and then rocking it to sleep as its eyes close. Best for toddlers 18 months and above, this plastic and fabric doll is easy to clean with just wet wipes.

Toddlers love to play by pretending, creating, and mimicking behavior they observe. Baby dolls for one-year-olds encourage this imaginative play by giving them an opportunity to comfort, cuddle, and play with an interactive toy. Fortunately, all the dolls on our list are appropriate and safe for one-year-olds, thanks to soft materials and removable accessories.

NewFolks Contributor
NewFolks Contributor
5 Thanksgiving activities for kids beyond hand turkeys
Fun Thanksgiving crafts to gobble about
Little girl showing off her Thanksgiving turkey craft

After the Halloween buzz, there's often a letdown. Kids may wake up on November 1 feeling a bit like Charlie Brown with a bag full of rocks or Linus after the Great Pumpkin is a no show again. You don't want to leapfrog over November and dive right into decking the halls though. Sure, taking the Halloween decorations down can be sad, but there is more to November than those hand turkeys everyone used to make in school.

There's quite a lot of excitement surrounding Thanksgiving. So, don't break out the gingerbread and holly just yet. Those pumpkins, scarecrows, gourds, and fall leaves still look amazing. Add to it with these fun Thanksgiving activities for kids that will give everyone something to gobble about and make the house look festive for Turkey Day.
Thanksgiving activities for kids

Read more
5 easy Thanksgiving sides kids can help make for this year’s feast
Make a new tradition this Thanksgiving by having the kids help cook
Family cooking together in the kitchen

As you begin to prepare for Thanksgiving and the onset of the holiday season, you may be thinking of your Thanksgiving menu. Whether you have tried-and-true recipes you make every year or you like to experiment with something new, involving the kids can mean more help for you during a very busy time.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to spend time with family and friends, but if you’re cooped up in the kitchen all day, you may feel a little left out of the Turkey Day excitement. Invite the kids into the kitchen this year to help with arguably one of the best parts of the holiday dinner -- those side dishes.

Read more
9 fun things to do at a sleepover: A checklist for your kids
Try these fun and entertaining sleepover activities for kids of any age
Kids at a sleepover

The time has come. You have agreed to let your child invite their friends to your home for a sleepover. Now, you need to figure out how to keep a group of kids entertained for the night. There's no need to start having a panic attack. It can be easy if you break down the activities a bit. If you need help with how to keep the kids occupied, we have a list of things to do at a sleepover, no matter what age group, so everyone is tuckered out by bedtime.
Food-related activities

Make your own pizza
Who would say no to pizza? Making your own pizza at home is easier than it seems. This way, each child can create their own. You know they will eat the whole thing because kids who help cook are more likely to eat the food. You could use English muffins, flatbread, mini bagels, or whatever else as the base and let the children pick their toppings.
Put together themed charcuterie boards
From holiday to movie themes, let the kids pick out what kind of charcuterie board they want to create and gather the ingredients. Children are so creative, and everyone will love to see what the finished projects look like. You could turn it into a contest and have everyone vote on their favorites, but any activity where you get to eat at the end is a winner for everyone.
Make baked goods
Have you been meaning to make those cookies for weeks? Well, make it a fun activity for the kids to do at the sleepover. Children love to bake and be in the kitchen, and it boosts their self-esteem, but the best part is everyone gets to enjoy the baked goods. If you have any of those themed cookbooks, let the kids pick out a couple of things to bake from there.
More relaxed activities

Read more