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• My Favorite Action Figure

  I realize the time that baristas were cool has come and gone again, but I couldn't help but remember my favorite action figure when I mis-read Sunny's post about action heros. And why shouldn't a kid's favorite hero be a barista? Read More... Posted Jun 03 2008, 09:44 AM by Erin Behan with | with no comments Filed under: Toys, dolls, action figures, baristas

• Get Your Baby Bending with Their Own Yoga Doll

  You know what most toddlers need? Focus, dedication and dicipline. Instead of submitting the kid to an endless series of time outs to attain these gifts, a more effective and humane method is to get them hooked on some good old fashioned yoga. It’ll be good for their little minds, bodies and spirits…and hey it’s hip too... Read More... Posted May 02 2008, 09:42 AM by SunnyChanel with | with no comments Filed under: Toys, dolls, yoga, gifts

• Celebrity Doll Knitting Patterns from Knitted Icons

  Are you handy with knitting needles? Looking for the ultimate in DIY plushies ideas? Wondering if anyone will ever come up with a way to make a knitted doll of Madonna from the Blonde Ambition Tour? Well wait no longer, because now there's twenty five celebrity doll patterns you can choose from in Knitted Icons. Read More... Posted Apr 24 2008, 10:05 AM by moderndaydad with | with no comments Filed under: stuffed animals, crafts, dolls, Books, book, madonna, jimi hendrix, amazon, celebrities, knitting, mdd, Plushies, jackie o, chairman mao, ghandi, cher, muhammad ali, knitting patterns, crafty, queen elizabeth ii, marilyn monroe, king kong, knitted icons, elvis presley, mr. t, david bowie, che guevara

• 7 Days of Eco-Friendly Toys : Poot & Boogie Hand Made Dolls

  You know what’s creepy? Plastic baby dolls. My kid has one she named Coco and not only does this synthetic sibling of hers have a “I will take your soul” type blank stare, is eerily cold to the touch, but she feels totally unnatural and well, wasteful.  I think Coco might find herself missing in action and replaced by the much more soulful, huggable, eclectically fun and earth friendly Cherry by Poot & Boogie.   Read More... Posted Apr 16 2008, 12:07 PM by SunnyChanel with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: handmade, dolls, 7 days of eco-friendly toys, Poot & Boogie

• Woodchucks! Prettier Than Poop.

  How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck was as cute as this? My guess is that it would be a whole lotta wood.   Read More... Posted Mar 29 2008, 12:10 PM by SunnyChanel with | with no comments Filed under: plush, Toys, dolls, Woodchuck, Anna Chambers

• Hand Made: A Different Kind of Ugly Doll

  Since most of the woOberry dolls are made to resemble people, you can't really call them ugly dolls, per se. Perhaps quirky dolls with strange legs. The dolls get their inspiration from children's drawings--hence their misshapen bodies and disproportionate limbs. Each has a short story to tell--above is Gus ($55), a high school history teacher whose hobbies include strolling the park and sleeping late (on the weekends, of course). The more you look at them, the more they grow on you--kinda like that drawing on the fridge. Posted Mar 20 2008, 02:54 PM by Erin Behan with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: etsy, Toys, dolls, hand made, wooberry

• E.T. Phone Home.

  Do you believe in extraterrestrials? Do you wear a pie tin on your head in an attempt to communicate to our friends in outer space? Does every weather balloon or blinking light in the sky make your heart race in anticipation? Read More... Posted Mar 13 2008, 12:56 PM by SunnyChanel with | with no comments Filed under: Toys, play, dolls, Aliens

• Baby, It’s Cold Outside. Let the Muff Doll Keep You Warm.

  Yes, spring is on the way, but you wouldn’t know it by the brisk winter breeze that still chills to the bone. On our morning walks, I bundle up my daughter as if we’re taking a stroll in the freezing tundra. The only thing exposed is about six inches of her face and her delicate little hands. Read More... Posted Feb 28 2008, 12:48 PM by SunnyChanel with | with no comments Filed under: dolls, moma, Muffs, Cold Hands

• The Official Paris Hilton Toy Doll is Not of the "Blow-Up" Variety

  It had to happen. You knew it would. You might have even hoped it wouldn't. But it did. German toymaker Simba Toys has announced an official Paris Hilton Doll. Read More... Posted Feb 08 2008, 07:19 PM by moderndaydad with | with no comments Filed under: Toys, dolls, paris hilton, celebrities, mdd, celebrity, Simba Toys, Paris Hilton Doll, doll

• Truth in Advertising: Pure and Natural Animals

  Let's see: Hand-made? Check. Naturally pigmented? Yep. Made from 100% organic cotton? Indeed. From designer Volker Senger, these all-natural animals ($16 from Branch) are also machine-washable, which means you can run 'em through a warm cycle before baby starts to suck them into tatters. Read More... Posted Feb 04 2008, 03:44 PM by Aaron Burgess with | with no comments Filed under: organic, Toys, handmade, dolls, hand made, green baby, animals, organic cotton, natural toys, animal toys, green toys, branch, playthings, eco-friendly toys, volker senger

• Kimochi Emotion Dolls; Tantrum Tamers?

  Freak out in aisle 5! Checkout line full frontal meltdowns. You know what I'm talking about... Your kid hits the deck, face down and screaming full throttle. People in the store part like the Red Sea so they don't catch your bad parenting cooties. The cashier is so steamed you could fry an egg on her. And you chuckle feebly, "Heh, heh. Kids!?" while realizing you will never ever ever buy groceries in this store again. What if there were a magical toy that would make these unfortunate events disappear? Read More... Posted Jan 31 2008, 02:31 PM by Sarah Verdone with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Toys, dolls, toddlers, gifts, Kimochi

• Commenter Flashback Proves That Monchhichi is Still Soft & Cuddly

  Oh, the things we do for our beloved commenters: Sarah's Calico Critters post the other day triggered a flashback from Babble commenter Shannon, whose mention of Monchhichis sent yours truly into a search for the thumb-sucking Japanese monkeys from so many of our childhoods. Is that a word, "childhoods"? Anyway, we didn't have to look too far... Read More... Posted Jan 25 2008, 03:03 PM by Aaron Burgess with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: dolls, monkeys, calico critters, nostalgic toys, bebichhichi, monchhichi, nostalgia

• Yo! Grab A Yo Gabba Gabba Doll!

  "There's a party in my tummy/ So yummy, so yummy!"  Ahhh, Brobee. The "Yo Gabba Gabba" character is my daughter's favorite of the televised quintet and she's only ever seen the pilot episode. Now she and fans of the Nick Jr. show can cuddle up with Yo Gabba Gabba dolls, brought to you by Kidrobot. All of the characters are available, but Brobee gets you more bang for your buck because his arms are posable and his mouth is changeable, allowing him to be sad about a stolen ball, or happy about a tummy full of chicken and juice. (Sorry, there's no DJ Lance Rock.) $24.95, Kid Robot.  Posted Dec 03 2007, 10:00 AM by Leigh-Ann Jackson with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Toys, dolls, yo gabba gabba, tv, figurines, Brobee, Kidrobot

• Daydream Toy Beanstalks are my Nightmare

  Look, I'm not saying these aren't interesting -- having a modern-looking 26" tall humanoid in fun fabric whose weighted feet allow it to stand and be posed, okay, that's neat. I just don't know that this is a suitable child's toy. Their overlong alien arms and lack of any facial features come eerily close to the things that used to chase me when I had bad dreams. ("Can't sleep... Beanstalk's gonna eat me.") Regardless, if they float your boat, the Beanstalks are just $19.99 apiece at Daydream Toy. Choose (from left to right, above) from Droc, Arbez or Wolley. Sweet dreams! Posted Nov 21 2007, 08:03 AM by Mir with | with no comments Filed under: stuffed animals, dolls, modern, daydream toy, beanstalks

• Hand Made: Twinkle Baby Dolls

  When my daughter was a baby and I was a bleary-eyed new mom, I remembered reading that mom's scent would soothe a fussy baby. Somehow this became me taking off my bra every night and dropping it into the bassinet with her. It helped her to sleep, but was sometimes hard to explain to visitors. Ahem. I'm sure a cuddly little bonding doll from Twinkle Baby -- hand made in Santa Cruz, CA -- would've gone over better, and made a nicer keepsake. Choose cotton flannel for $17, minkee plush for $18.50, or all-organic fabric for $22. Posted Nov 17 2007, 08:05 AM by Mir with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: organic, dolls, hand made, made in the USA, bonding dolls, twinkle baby

• Pattycake Doll Company: Making More Just-Like-Me Options

  I remember looking for a doll that looked like my daughter, when she was a toddler, because I knew it would delight her to have one. In our case, finding one wasn't very difficult; but for millions of parents, it's not that simple. The Pattycake Doll Company is making soft dollies in Down Syndrome and Special Needs versions, each available in a variety of ethnicities and either boy or girl. They even offer a guide dog with harness! I notice there isn't an Asian version available, but this is a start, at least. Dolls start at $27.50 (a special needs doll and wheelchair will run you around $47). [Hat tip: The Multicultural Toybox]  Posted Nov 05 2007, 08:02 AM by Mir with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: dolls, special needs, down syndrome, pattycake doll company

• Mamazakka One-of-A-Kind Dolls

  Etsy seller Mamazakka won the Halloween costume contest yesterday with her handmade interpretation of Max and Wild Thing. But artist Autumn Sousanis' talents extend past Halloween: her store carries jewelry, pillow cases, and best of all, these stunning heirloom dolls. Inspired by Russian nesting dolls, these are made-for-grown-ups art pieces that beautifully symbolize motherhood. The painted faces and fabric details are truly exceptional; we've never seen anything quite like them. Dolls are available for purchase here; more photos after the jump! Read More... Posted Nov 01 2007, 10:15 AM by Gwynne Watkins with | with no comments Filed under: etsy, dolls, hand-made, mamazakka

• Green Baby: Crazy Two Dolls from Under the Nile

  Just when I think Under the Nile can't possibly come up with anything cuter, they do. Like all their products, these Crazy Two Dolls (I just wish they'd come up with more descriptive names, don't you?) are made from 100% organic cotton and are safe for teething babies. Get them from The Nurture Center for $14.95. For some reason I am overcome with a desire to name this pair HeatMiser and Pippi. I have no idea why.  Posted Oct 20 2007, 05:02 PM by Mir with | with no comments Filed under: dolls, green baby, under the nile, organic toys, crazy two dolls

• Spit Up: My Baby Forever Offers Two Disturbing Choices

  There's keepsakes and then there's just plain creepy. If you opt for the My Baby Forever Keepsake Doll ($45), you can select the doll matching your baby's birth length so that you can always remember her size as a newborn. Then you have her name and birth information embroidered on the doll's clothing. That's sort of a neat idea, I guess, except that something about the flat face combined with the life-like newborn body position is... unsettling. But it gets even better with the My Baby Forever Image Doll ($99), where you just go ahead and slap Junior's photo on a doll. Don't worry! The hood makes it look totally natural! Yeah. That one is going to give me nightmares.  Posted Oct 13 2007, 01:02 PM by Mir with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: dolls, Spit Up, keepsakes, my baby forever

• Huggee Miss You Dolls Keep Loved Ones Close

  A photo of a loved one who can't be here is nice, but for a small child, something a little more hands-on would be better. With a Huggee Miss You Doll (developed by Audrey Storch, a mother who faced breast cancer and often had to leave her children for treatment), kids get a cuddly lovey with a smiling face where a picture can be inserted. Perfect for kids with a parent who is deployed, hospitalized, or living elsewhere. A variety of fabrics and two different sizes are available from either SuperSmartyPants.net or Cuddle Babies. Prices start at $10. Posted Oct 08 2007, 09:02 AM by Mir with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: dolls, hospitalization, huggee miss you, separation, deployment

• Organic Softies Are Too Cute To Be Ignored

  "What are those, Mommy? I like those. I want one of those, Mommy." I spend a fair amount of my daughter's coloring/puzzle-assembling time online trawling for items to review. She sees a lot of the gear and gadgets that flash across the screen and is seldom fazed. Something about these darling 100% cotton-filled vintage fabric dolls struck a chord. She's probably not going to get one of them, mind you, but I can at least report a glowing review from my otherwise doll-ambivalent 3-year-old. $12 Pixies, $48 Best Friends, Baby Bear Shop.  Posted Oct 03 2007, 10:00 AM by Leigh-Ann Jackson with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: dolls, organic cotton, vintage fabric, Organic Softies

• Spit Up: I Need Therapy After Seeing Spa Kewpie

  Hodge-podge web store Zipper Gifts has a lot of beguiling items, but this $34 Spa Kewpie is a nightmare come to life. It gives me fits and starts, no kidding. It reminds me of the cruel fate many Barbies face at the hands of a kid armed with scissors and permanent markers. I live in L.A., spa central, and I doubt there's a single treatment in the whole town that can soothe me after stumbling across it. But don't let this creepy collectible fool you; the site has some good finds...  Read More... Posted Oct 01 2007, 09:05 AM by Leigh-Ann Jackson with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: dolls, Spit Up, Spa Kewpie, Shape Scapes, Zipper Gifts

• Mudpuppy Magnetic Dolls Are Portable Fun

  The good news is that there are six different sets from which to choose. The bad news is that you'll have trouble picking just one. These magetic doll sets from Mudpupy combine everything you loved about paper dolls and Colorforms (remember those?) and turned them into little travel-friendly dolly dress-up sets. The City Girls set is shown above (and there are more pictures after the jump), but all six sets are available from the manufacturer for $14 apiece. If you're not already won over by the cuteness, click on....  Read More... Posted Sep 29 2007, 01:03 PM by Mir with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: dolls, travel, magnetic, mudpuppy

• Green Baby: Rosalie Doll is Ready for Play

  Rosalie ( £44.90) is an adorable doll made by Tree House Blue.  Handcrafted by artisans from completely natural and organic materials. Rosalie's French styled clothing is removable.  Let's hope her hair can be styled, the poor dear is really having a bad hair day. Read More... Posted Sep 12 2007, 04:11 PM by chrisjordan with | with no comments Filed under: organic, Toys, dolls, green baby, natural fibers

• Hand Made: The String Doll Gang

  Believe it or not, this pocket-sized ninja is made in Thailand from one continuous piece of string. He and his cohorts in Komibashi's The String Doll Gang -- a motley assortment of punk rockers, princesses, devils, zombies, superheroes and more -- are just the right size to hang on a backpack or squeeze into a lunchbox. Get them here in time for the first day of school -- and seeing as they're only $10 each, pick up a Thelma and Louise one for your own keychain.     Posted Aug 29 2007, 01:15 PM by Gwynne Watkins with | with no comments Filed under: dolls, hand made, back to school, string doll gang, cheap

• Droolworthy: Multinational Karito Kids Dolls by KidsGive

  Move over, American Girl. Karito Kids dolls are phthalate-free vinyl and soft-body dolls with gorgeous (and different) sculpted faces, histories, and books. Unlike American Girls, they're not all American (imagine!), nor do they all sport identical buck teeth. At 21 inches tall, you're also getting a bit more doll for your money. Don't even get me started on the KidsGive philosophy of kindness and charity and unity; I'd be all over that even if the dolls weren't stunning, which they are. Lovely Ling is shown here; she and her buddies can be had at FAO Schwarz for $100 each. (Consider these dolls for display only until their owner is 6 or so, please.) Posted Aug 28 2007, 09:01 AM by Mir with | with no comments Filed under: dolls, Droolworthy, karito kids

• Hand Made: Wee Babies For Your Pocket

  My 4 year old daughter would love these Waldorf inspired wee babies.  She and her same age playmates (girls and boys!) love tiny toys they can hold and fit into their pockets.  As evidenced by the whole Polly Pocket craze. At 2.5 inches long they are NOT for babies who still put toys in their mouths.  Available in a variety of colors and skin tones.  Available at the etsy shop German Dolls for $6.      Posted Aug 16 2007, 06:13 PM by chrisjordan with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: baby dolls, dolls, hand made, waldorf, hand sewn, polly pocket, german dolls

• Teach Them New Languages with Little Smarties

  Ling speaks Chinese and English, and include ten greetings.  Press her knee to hear "I love you," which always works with me - ask my husband.  Use the passcode to play specialized games on the website. Only $39.99 at Little Smarties.  Posted Aug 09 2007, 11:03 AM by Karen Sugarpants with | with no comments Filed under: dolls, little smarties, language skills

• Rock the Retro: Topsy Turvy Fairy Tale Dolls

  I had a doll almost exactly like this when I was a child; one side is Little Red Riding Hood. Flip it over to reveal a two-faced doll beneath -- Grandma on one side, the big bad wolf (in Grandma's clothing) on the other. This Little Red doll is from Cookie Pots, and they have an entire array of other topsy turvy dolls as well. Just $24.99 for your very own slice of nostalgia. Posted Jul 22 2007, 11:32 AM by Mir with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Rock the Retro, dolls, topsy turvy, fairy tales

• Fruit Head Gang

  I have a thing for odd dolls and animals, so I fell hard for the rough-and-ready members of the fruit head gang, from sewing stars. Sour Apple Head Girl is my soulmate. But should you also get loopy for the fruits, please note that: they are tiny (7 inches tall,) fragile, and $65. In other words, not for babies or young kids. Maybe appropriate for older children with a doll collection and good impulse control. All three of them. Posted Jul 03 2007, 08:36 AM by Kelly Mills with | with no comments Filed under: dolls, toys for kids