Obviously as soon as she was out of the box and batteried up she had to go for a ride in the pram! I have never had to change batteries in a Zapf dolly because they have never run out so I’ve no idea how long they last – so far a long time… Gently encourages children from the age of 1 to engage in nurturing role play and provides initial stimuli for developing a sense of empathy and responsibility. As soon as she found my first Baby Annabell® Baby Moves she was utterly delighted! She recognised her as being one from the same range and I knew she was instantly smitten because of this. There really is just something special about these dolls, they are more exciting, more realistic in their functions and super quality. Florence is a baby doll lover. I can’t blame her because I am too! I totally see the appeal and thoroughly understand why one is never going to be enough! Florence sometimes has days when she has twins, sometimes triplets, other days she’ll be the teacher and all her baby dolls are set out as if in a school room. She is JUST like I was so I wouldn’t ever dream of saying to her, ‘no, you don’t need another baby doll!’ because I know just how irritating that would be for her! For special occasions like birthdays, if she asks for another then I understand why!

My youngest daughter Lily loves her baby dolls, she's getting quite good at looking after them now. A few weeks ago we were kindly sent one of these My first Baby Annabell Baby Moves dolls for her to play with so that we could review it and tell you all what we thought. Lily is 6 years old now so I was a little worried that she might think this doll was a little young and small for her as she has a lot of the bigger dolls in the range already but I was soon proved wrong. Lily loves her, so much so that she has been taking her everywhere we go over the past week or two. Out of all the baby dolls she has there are a few favourites. There are three in particular that she plays with more than any others, Baby Born®, who she loves to take in the bath, my first Baby Annabell® Time To Sleep and of course, her regular Baby Annabell® who I think might just be her absolute favourite of them all. There is one common denominator with them all and that is that they are all dolls produced for Zapf Creation… They obviously just know what little people want in baby dolls! My daughter Loren has been a HUGE Baby Annabell fan ever since she started to play with babies and dolls at around 15/18 months, so she was thrilled when I asked her if she would like another one to try out and see what she thought. Adorably dressed Baby Annabell Mia is such a trendsetter! Her stylish two-tone denim dress, floral-patterned top, turquoise leggings, pink hat and matching shoes are all designed for tiny hands to dress and play with easily, one of the most imaginative gifts for 2 year olds discovering their sense of style and developing fine motor skills.

Little Annabell

This adorable set comes with a Baby Annabell My First doll which offers a loving introduction into nurturing play. The 30cm doll has a super-soft body which is ideal for cuddles, and she comes dressed in a pastel pink long-sleeved romper with hat. For aspiring hairdressers, Baby Annabell Sophia has long, golden hair, perfect for brushing and styling. Little ones will love to pamper this lovely doll and finish off the look with her cute outfit and accessories, ensuring she looks her best for every occasion! When little ones lie her down, My First Annabell's eyes close as she drifts off to sleep. And when it's time to play what's better than Annabell's very own Cozy Coupe?! Baby Annabell Sweetie for babies has a soft and squishy body, making her one of the perfect gifts for newborns to explore new textures and sensory experiences with the teeniest of hands. Listen carefully as your little one shakes her – she has an integrated rattle for added fun and discovery! Encouraging and teaching your son or daughter to nurture and care for a doll with lifelike features that is able to cry, gurgle and laugh in response to the things they do and the way they treat it, is a great way to teach empathy and be able to show love and affection, that they can then transfer to real babies, including younger siblings they may end up having.

For Easter, where I decided that a present would be a far better gift than mountains and mountains of chocolate, Florence found a new baby doll at the end of her moderate chocolate egg hunt! (Obviously I couldn’t leave her completely chocolate free at Easter!) The new baby doll is another Zapf Creation number and another in the Annabell range and although completely different to the others she is just as exciting and Florence adores her already! My first Baby Annabell® Baby Moves is everything she says she will be and super sweet to boot! She has a soft body, another great trait for a littler girl and a delicately featured face. Zapf Creation have a very creative and thoughtful approach when making dolls, I think they have hit the nail directly on the head by making some of their dolls available as boys, different ethnicities and bigger and smaller sizes for differently aged children. I have always found the ‘my first’ range pleasing and the new my first Baby Annabell® Baby Moves is no exception. I only wish there had been dolls like this when I was a little girl. I would have been just as in love with playing with them as Florence is; I totally delight in watching her play with them.

Little Sweet Princess

The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching, bringing with it the question of what your little one might like to find under the Christmas tree this year. Whether you’re shopping for a teeny bundle of joy or a toddling cutie, we’ve wrapped up our favourite Baby Annabell Christmas gifts for babies and newborns to explore, right up to gifts for 3 year old children. Whatever their age, you’re sure to find a present that will bring joy to their face and keep them engaged in a world of adorable imaginative roleplay for years to come. I think one of the reasons I’m keen on the ‘my first’ range within the Baby Annabell®section is that they are small, not tiny, but smaller than the average Annabell at 36cm long. The first Zapf Creation doll Florence had was from this range and I think they’re a little easier for tiny girls to cope with. They are, as the name suggests, the perfect first doll for a little girl (or boy of course). The doll sends a nurturing suggestion to your child so that they can react and feel just like a real mummy or daddy. Playing in the app mode, the child can follow a fun routine with their doll, completing nurturing actions before moving on to the next task. For growing imaginations and nurturing roleplay, there’s no Christmas gift more adorable than Baby Annabell Little Sweet Princess ! She loves to give kisses (although it makes her blush!) and her high-quality hair is perfect for aspiring stylists to brush into hairstyles that complement her glittering tiara, princess gown and golden ballerina shoes. When all that lovely affection and dress-up play takes its toll, little ones can lay Little Sweet Princess down and watch as she closes her tired eyes and drifts off to sleep. As kids get a bit older, they can start to play with more engaging toys. The best baby dolls for 3 year olds use props to give children more choice when playing. These adorable gifts will keep toddlers engaged, build their sense of responsibility, and help develop their fine and gross motor skills.

My First Baby Annabell I Care For You is a 36cm functional doll that combines traditional nurturing role play with the option of a free app, that teaches children how to care for a baby.

This dolly is intended to encourage nurturing, not that my little one needs any encouragement! She loves playing Mummy! For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned.