toy baby for my real baby
October 28, 2010 10:04 AM Subscribe
Where can I get a high quality, anatomically correct boy baby doll for my 5 y.o. son? He really wants one and it's a great relief from the usual requests for guns and Star Wars figures. He'd like something that he can feed, change, dress, etc.. I'd like something that isn't made of toxic vinyl and that won't fall apart. I'd be interested to know recommended brands I can get online and stores in the NYC area that might have good offerings. Thanks.
Corolle has Paul, an anatomically correct boy doll. We have other Corolle dolls (Suce Pouce Bleu and Tidoo) for each of my sons and we're happy with them.
posted by cocoagirl at 10:17 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by cocoagirl at 10:17 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
As a kid, my baby doll ("Jenny," who I still have, who I got for my fifth birthday!) was a Berjusa/Berenjeur "La Newborn" anatomically correct doll. They're widely available on Ebay, thanks in part to the adult reborn hobby community (and at least a few years ago, you could get the non-anatomically correct ones at Toys 'r Us).
They're vinyl. However, they're also incredibly realistic, done to scale, can be dressed in real baby clothes and diapers, and will put up with years of abuse and baths and things (Jenny lived through being turned into a Klingon, for example, using modeling clay when I was about 12 and obsessed with Star Trek). When I was little, she was my baby, not my doll. My sister likewise treasured her two Berenjeur dolls, and we both still have them today. I'm honestly somewhat horrified by the idea of getting rid of her, unlike my cloth baby dolls, which are long gone. I realize there may be a trade-off in terms of your comfort level with vinyl, and I was a little pedant even as a kid about realism, so this may matter less to your son. But really, I still think they're the best baby dolls ever, twenty-one years down the line. So there you go.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:53 AM on October 28, 2010
They're vinyl. However, they're also incredibly realistic, done to scale, can be dressed in real baby clothes and diapers, and will put up with years of abuse and baths and things (Jenny lived through being turned into a Klingon, for example, using modeling clay when I was about 12 and obsessed with Star Trek). When I was little, she was my baby, not my doll. My sister likewise treasured her two Berenjeur dolls, and we both still have them today. I'm honestly somewhat horrified by the idea of getting rid of her, unlike my cloth baby dolls, which are long gone. I realize there may be a trade-off in terms of your comfort level with vinyl, and I was a little pedant even as a kid about realism, so this may matter less to your son. But really, I still think they're the best baby dolls ever, twenty-one years down the line. So there you go.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:53 AM on October 28, 2010
Is he asking for the anatomy? If it is a big deal for him then absolutely try to find one you are comfortable with. I know how important it was for me to have a doll that was not blonde with blue eyes. So my little native american looking self ended up with the Mexican Barbie. If the anatomy is not so important, I would suggest Baby Chou Chou from Zapf.
Shortly after my first son was born preemie, I bought a non-gendered 14 inch Baby Chou Chou because it's head was exactly the same size as his at birth. Around two years old Alex became aware of the doll (which was wearing his coming home outfit) and had to have it. That baby went everywhere with him for several years. Now his brother has Baby Sam and also Baby Max (waldorf-style star baby that i made). Sam has held up well over the years despite typical boy treatment. They are soft bodied with head, hands, and feet of vinyl/plastic.
You can still find those Baby Chou Chou's on ebay in a couple different sizes. That style was discontinued if favor of something that made noise.
posted by Talia Devane at 11:21 AM on October 28, 2010
Shortly after my first son was born preemie, I bought a non-gendered 14 inch Baby Chou Chou because it's head was exactly the same size as his at birth. Around two years old Alex became aware of the doll (which was wearing his coming home outfit) and had to have it. That baby went everywhere with him for several years. Now his brother has Baby Sam and also Baby Max (waldorf-style star baby that i made). Sam has held up well over the years despite typical boy treatment. They are soft bodied with head, hands, and feet of vinyl/plastic.
You can still find those Baby Chou Chou's on ebay in a couple different sizes. That style was discontinued if favor of something that made noise.
posted by Talia Devane at 11:21 AM on October 28, 2010
(Oh, and for what it's worth, La Newborns were available in African American, Asian, and Hispanic dolls--Jenny is African American--and while I can find some dolls of color online, it looks like the white ones are far more common. I agree that with Talia that diversity in dolls is hella important.)
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:30 AM on October 28, 2010
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:30 AM on October 28, 2010
Could you clarify what you mean by "anatomically correct"? You're not asking for an anatomy dummy, are you?
posted by d. z. wang at 1:13 PM on October 28, 2010
posted by d. z. wang at 1:13 PM on October 28, 2010
She means that she wants it to have a penis, not plastic underpants.
posted by elsietheeel at 2:16 PM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by elsietheeel at 2:16 PM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: No, while the anatomy dummy looks pretty cool, I'm looking for a doll with a penis, as elsietheeel said. I've looked through all the recommendations here and the Berenjeur might suit my purposes best; despite the vinyl, I love that it can be dressed in real baby clothes. I'll check to see if there are any warnings about the materials used.
I read reviews of all the dolls and the Berenjeur also got the highest marks for satisfaction. (Amazon's review of the Furnis "Newton" doll mentions that the penis is so stiff his pants won't go up. Tee hee.)
Anyway, I have a front runner. I'll see what otherparent thinks and go from there.
Thanks, hivemind.
posted by aimeedee at 7:28 PM on October 28, 2010
I read reviews of all the dolls and the Berenjeur also got the highest marks for satisfaction. (Amazon's review of the Furnis "Newton" doll mentions that the penis is so stiff his pants won't go up. Tee hee.)
Anyway, I have a front runner. I'll see what otherparent thinks and go from there.
Thanks, hivemind.
posted by aimeedee at 7:28 PM on October 28, 2010
Just wanted to add that the Berenjeur La Newborn was the very realistic, anatomically correct baby doll that my brother requested and received for his birthday one year. He was proud of that doll.
posted by Polychrome at 2:38 AM on October 29, 2010
posted by Polychrome at 2:38 AM on October 29, 2010
This question is non judgmental, and anyone can of course feel free to ignore it. Why do you/and or your son want a doll with a penis? I've never heard of or considered this before.
posted by blargerz at 2:33 PM on October 30, 2010
posted by blargerz at 2:33 PM on October 30, 2010
Response by poster: biargerz, the simple explanation is that I want a doll that has the same parts my son has. There are anatomically correct dolls that serve a "purpose," like helping with potty training, and there are those that are desired because they reflect the child--in complexion, gender, level of physical ability (dolls with crutches, in wheelchairs, etc.). My desire is the latter...hope that helps somewhat.
Thanks, again, all.
posted by aimeedee at 6:14 AM on November 1, 2010
Thanks, again, all.
posted by aimeedee at 6:14 AM on November 1, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'll be interested to see other suggestions too!
posted by devotion+doubt at 10:11 AM on October 28, 2010