Barbie-type doll for 3yr. old??

[newg]

anyone have a doll they like that is similar to a Barbie.......but a little more appropriate for a 3yr. old??

I remember Barbie having a younger sister when I played with them.......skipper I think.
It looks like she has a few now..........and saw this one on amazon and she looks cute: http://www.amazon.com/Barbie-Sister-Chelsea-Party-Cupcakes/dp/B004KTB9H0/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1309309926&sr=1-3

DD1 is def. developing an interest in these types of dolls, which I'm okay with.....I'd just like to pick ones that are more age-appropriate. She has a tinkerbell doll, a Little Mermaid doll (which is waaayy too close to showing her hoochie)...both were gifts. And they are giving away LIV dolls at McDonalds right now......which still look too mature for her, but she likes combing their hair.

Any recs??

[kaitlyns.mom]

Subbing to this thread because I have the same question. DD is all about "Barfie" :rotflmao: but I would rather save the Barbies for a few years down the road.

I will say, this isn't really like Barbie but her favorite dolls are this kind (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2373329). She has two of the girls and two of the babies and plays with them all the time. When her friends come over they make a beeline for those dolls also.

[brittone2]

She isn't exactly the target audience age-wise for these, but if you are looking for a more child-like barbie alternative, the Only Hearts Club dolls are cute IMO. I tend to see them at indepedent toy stores, Target carries them (or did at one time), and at online retailers. I have a few put away for DD but she's still happy with her Loving Family dollhouse dolls so we haven't really branched out yet.

http://www.onlyheartsclub.com/only-hearts-club/

DD (4.5) got one of these from my mom and she likes it. They are much smaller in scale than Barbie though. Like 1/3 of Barbie's height maybe? They have brushable hair and are pretty cute.
http://www.amazon.com/Ty-Lil-Ones-Snoopy-Girl/dp/B004PIL4EO

[wellyes]

My 3 year old was given a dozen Barbies and they are her favorite things on this earth. I actually think it's fine. She treats them all like friends or playmates. For example, this morning I caught her talking to a couple Barbies saying "Who wants to go to the wheeeee spot? Everyone? OK" then she put them on a plate, dumped the plate over so they fell to the ground and said "Wheeeee!"

Her other favorite dolls are (also a gift) the Disney princess figurines http://www.amazon.com/Disney-Princess-4-Figurines/dp/B004CC2PZK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1309359695&sr=8-4. They're also adult figures.

DD also has the Snap'n'Style dolls, likes them well enough, but doesn't care a whit about dressing them. She just chats with them the exact same way she does with Barbies.

[egoldber]

:yeahthat:

My younger DD has a huge variety of dolls: many Barbies of various styles (all non-hoochie ;) ), FP Loving Family dollhouse dolls, Schleich and Papo princess/prince dolls and a variety of small plastic figure dolls. Including the 4 Princess mini doll set linked above. She plays with them all together in many various imaginitive ways.

She also has and loves several of these Groovy Girl dolls, although they are becoming harder and harder to find! http://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Toy-Groovy-Fantasy-Themed/dp/B0013EMV5Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1309360847&sr=1-1

She has been asking for some of these lately, but she already has so many dolls of various types I told her maybe for her birthday! http://www.amazon.com/MGA-Lalaloopsy-Doll-Tippy-Tumblelina/dp/B004DL0KPW/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1309360736&sr=1-2

[MommyofAmaya]

DD also has the Snap'n'Style dolls, likes them well enough, but doesn't care a whit about dressing them. She just chats with them the exact same way she does with Barbies.

DD really liked these at 3. She did like dressing them.

[Tenasparkl]

Those snap n style dolls are popular with my almost 3-year old. She also loves her fairy and princess "barbie" type dolls, but I'm trying to keep her away from actual Barbies for now too. Both the mini and big lalaloopsey dolls are getting lots of play too. Basically if it's a doll, then she loves it!

[katydid1971]

Another vote for the snap n' style. I think we own about all the clothes that come with it. DD changes her clothes every 10 seconds. She is very particular about what things go together. LOL DD also really enjoys the little polly pocket type disney princesses. Again changing the clothes is a big deal. Lastly Strawberry Shortcake is HUGE around here. It started with some that came in a happy meal and the collection has grown. That's the only thing she asked for from Santa. Her bedroom floor is littered with them as I type. Right now I'm staying away from Barbie as much as I can. DD was given a Tangled barbie sized doll for her birthday. She likes it but really prefers playing with the other dolls I mentioned.

[newg]

Subbing to this thread because I have the same question. DD is all about "Barfie" :rotflmao: but I would rather save the Barbies for a few years down the road.

I will say, this isn't really like Barbie but her favorite dolls are this kind (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2373329). She has two of the girls and two of the babies and plays with them all the time. When her friends come over they make a beeline for those dolls also.

Ohhh...she's cute!!

[newg]

:yeahthat:

My younger DD has a huge variety of dolls: many Barbies of various styles (all non-hoochie ;) ), FP Loving Family dollhouse dolls, Schleich and Papo princess/prince dolls and a variety of small plastic figure dolls. Including the 4 Princess mini doll set linked above. She plays with them all together in many various imaginitive ways.

She also has and loves several of these Groovy Girl dolls, although they are becoming harder and harder to find! http://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Toy-Groovy-Fantasy-Themed/dp/B0013EMV5Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1309360847&sr=1-1

She has been asking for some of these lately, but she already has so many dolls of various types I told her maybe for her birthday! http://www.amazon.com/MGA-Lalaloopsy-Doll-Tippy-Tumblelina/dp/B004DL0KPW/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1309360736&sr=1-2

Yes, DD has a groovy girl.....but she stays up in bed ;) Maybe if I get her some of the accessories she'd come downstairs.... I bought it at an independent toy store.

[newg]

Another vote for the snap n' style. I think we own about all the clothes that come with it. DD changes her clothes every 10 seconds. She is very particular about what things go together. LOL DD also really enjoys the little polly pocket type disney princesses. Again changing the clothes is a big deal. Lastly Strawberry Shortcake is HUGE around here. It started with some that came in a happy meal and the collection has grown. That's the only thing she asked for from Santa. Her bedroom floor is littered with them as I type. Right now I'm staying away from Barbie as much as I can. DD was given a Tangled barbie sized doll for her birthday. She likes it but really prefers playing with the other dolls I mentioned.

We have a set of small, plastic princesses.......maybe 1'' high, that she loves. Ohhhh, I forgot about Strawberry!!
I'd be ok with the Tangled barbie, but I'm waiting for the $15 price tag to drop at Target :)

Thanks for all of the ideas ladies!!

[kaitlyns.mom]

Kohl's also carries the Snap 'n Style dolls. Just don't buy them on Amazon; for some reason the prices are way higher!