LilSugar

Child's Play? 10 Bizarre Dolls More Likely to Traumatize Than Amuse

LilSugar — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:01:54 PDT

Hello dolly! From dolls that breastfeed to dolls that give birth, dolls aren't necessarily controversy-free playthings. Check out the following selection of disturbing dolls, and let us know if you'd let your tot play with any of these.

Raggedy Ann Doll Turns 95 and Is No Worse For the Wear

LilSugar — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 06:00:14 PDT

Rag dolls age well! On September 7, Raggedy Ann turns 95 and she doesn't look much older than she did back in 1915, when "cartoonist, illustrator and storyteller" Johnny Gruelle drew a face on an old doll and gifted it to his daughter, Marcella. The toy gained fame when the artist created Andy and turned the brother and sister's adventures into a book series.

Between now and the beloved redhead's birthday, The Strong Museum of National Play in Rochester, NY is hosting a tribute to the soft doll that includes a permanent exhibit of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. The museum is also inviting fans to share their Raggedy Ann photos and memories in a digital scrapbook. To see how the simple doll has evolved, check out these photos.

To see more pics of the Raggedy Ann over the years, read more.

View 10 Photos ›

Missing Bitty Baby Signs Posted at Park For Safe Toy Return

LilSugar — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:00:00 PDT

Every child loses a toy now and then - a shovel in the sandbox or a jump rope on the jungle gym, but sometimes searching the playground and turning the house upside down doesn't unearth the object. For one little girl, misplacing her beloved and pricey baby doll meant taking action! She and her parents printed and posted missing person flyers all around the park where the plastic babe was last seen.

A $20 reward was even offered for the safe return of the Bitty Baby Apple. At $45 per doll plus the cost of clothing, the tot's mom and pop probably figured this method of recovery was worth a try. To what length have you gone to find your kid's toy?

The Little Girl, The Doll and The Wardrobe

LilSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:18 PDT

Give your girl and her dolls a wardrobe of their own! Before tossing the playthings' clothing and accessories in another plastic tub, consider investing in an authentic doll chest that will neatly hold the items and allow lil hands to access them without dumping everything on the floor. Like the trunks our mothers and grandmothers used generations ago, these armoires are designed to showcase the dolls' precious duds while teaching their owners about the importance of caring for their things. Whether opting for a wicker hamper ($65) or a sturdier wooden piece, these keepsakes create order and are easy on the eyes.

Breastfeeding Doll: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:20 PDT

Teaching children about the birds and the bees is no longer a formal chat that happens during the tween or teen years. Many mamas choose to introduce the concept when a sibling makes her debut. Fourteen percent of lilsugar readers say they'd purchase a birthing and nursing doll ($90) to educate their kiddos about the miracle of life, while 43 percent of our mamas would invest in a Boobie Buddy ($55) or nursing doll. Now, a Spanish manufacturer has created an even more hands-on toy called Bebé Glotón ($62), a doll that comes with a halter top that allows children to "nurse" the baby. What's your opinion of the product - is it any different than buying your tot a bottle-fed babe?

MinaPoe Evil Guest Doll Pendant: Love It or Hate It?

FabSugar — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:22:22 PDT

I recently heard about French designer Mina d'Ornano and her baroque sensibility. Then I came across one of her pieces - this minaPoe Evil Guest Doll Pendant ($1,317). Yes, it's a doll necklace. An evil-doll necklace to be precise. I have nothing against dolls, even scary ones, but to wear one around my neck is not me. Is it you?

Take all of my Love It or Hate It Polls here!

The Earth Friends Educate The Next Generation

LilSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:50:00 PDT

There are plenty of dolls on the market made from eco-friendly materials, but how many help parents teach their tots about the importance of being eco-conscience? The Earth Friends ($64) may be pricey, but they get to the point. The nine boy and girl dolls are made completely from organic and recycled materials. With organic cotton hair, a cotton and hemp blend for skin, organic and recycled cotton clothes and recycled plastic containers for stuffing, the plush toys even come in 100 percent post-consumer-waste recycled cardboard boxes.

Each doll also has a backpack filled with a real Douglas Fir tree planting kit. Instructions explain to budding environmentalists that the tree will create shade and a habitat in the future, helping generations to come. If you love the green theme, but are looking for something a bit more budget friendly, check the other options at various price points.

Tattooed Barbie: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:38:54 PDT

Some mothers ban Barbie because they believe the toy sets an unrealistic standard of beauty for their daughters to live up to . . . not to mention the buxom blonde's feet aren't firmly planted on the ground. But to celebrate the beloved doll's 50th anniversary, Mattel has a new version out on the market that plays into pop culture - Totally Stylin' Tattoos Barbie ($20). Lil ladies can use the tat gun to position a variety of body art pieces - including a "tramp stamp" with Ken's name - on Barbie's plastic bod. What's your opinion of this product?

lil Find: Kammi Teething Doll

LilSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:00:50 PDT

I'm a big proponent of homemade teethers like cold food, but natural remedies aren't practical when you're on the go. These Kammi Teething Dolls ($20) offer a simple solution to soothing baby's ailing gums. They look a bit like cotton gnomes, but the terrycloth dolls are crafted out of knots. You just dampen the knots, store the doll in the freezer for a while and then let baby bite away. The best part? The dolls can be machine washed.

Wee Are the World: Karito Kids

LilSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:00:12 PST

While American Girls tell the stories of our nation through the eyes of little girls growing up during different eras, another brand of dolls celebrates the world's cultures. Karito Kids is a line of six dolls ($100 each) and accompanying books ($11) that showcase different cultures. Representing African-American, Caucasian, Latin and Mediterranean ethnicities, the life-like dolls each come with a storybook about their character, which includes a journal entry.

When purchasing the dolls, you have the opportunity to help introduce the concept of charity to your lil one. Each package comes with a code that can be entered online to activate a donation of three percent of the retail cost to one of four charitable causes - home, health, food or school.