This cute little doll is made to order from 100% cotton. She comes with a diaper that your little one can change and a hooded blanket for swaddling. She has a small tuft of hair up top for extra cuteness. This would be a great first doll, and a great way for big brothers and sisters to care for a baby of their own. This little cutie retails for $49.95 at thesillywagon.com. A boy version is also available. The doll takes 2-3 weeks to ship, so plan ahead if you’d like one for the holidays.

A great first doll, the Happy Green Bee Abbee Doll would be a great holiday gift. Available in several color options, it is simple and huggable. Best of all, it is made from organic cotton, so you can feel safe about your choice. You can purchase one for $28 at happygreenbee.com.

Jayden loves the Earth, which is why she is called an Earth Friend. Made entirely of natural, recycled, or organic materials, Jayden is safe for all ages to play with. Her hair is made from organic cotton, and clothes from organic or recycled eco-fibers. Her fabric is made from hemp fiber and the soft stuffing is made from recycled plastic containers. She also comes with a backpack with a Hope Tree Planting Kit, Douglas Fir tree seeds and planting instructions inside, along with a magic expanding plant and grow coco pellet. This is a great way to teach your child about preserving the earth while allowing her to have fun at the same time. Jayden would make the perfect holiday gift for your little girl. Adopt her for $69 at SonnyBoutique.com.

I received a Kewpie doll when I was very little, and I still have it. She was never my favorite doll (she wasn’t as flashy as my other dolls, and is admittedly a bit homely), but she was a constant. So, when I saw this 100th anniversary Kewpie, I wanted it immediately. My daughter, on the other hand, was less than impressed, and suggested “Creepy” might be a better name for it. I’ll begrudgingly admit I can understand that a bit, but I’m still fond of this silly-looking baby. While she is described as a collectible and recommended for ages 14+, she’d make a great decoration or keepsake, particularly if you enjoy a vintage look. Her body is made from vinyl, so you don’t need to worry that curious little hands will break her. You can purchase this classic for $39.99 at backtobasicstoys.com.

MiniLaLa makes each of these beautiful, one of a kind Posy Dolls by hand, using vintage recycled and designer fabrics. The faces are hand-embroidered. Each doll has a removable hat, scarf, and shoes, and stands about 45 cm tall. This would be the perfect holiday gift for a special little girl. You can purchase one for $89.95 AUD (approx. $83.37 USD) at MiniLaLa.com.

Precious Baby Doll Company is run by a single mom of an adopted daughter who wanted to establish a company that enabled children to adopt their own dolls, many of different ethnic heritages than their own. Each doll also comes with a story that tells about where they were born and their journey to the United States. Sophia Allesandra is a great example. With dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, she is lifelike and beautiful. Wearing a soft yellow cotton dress, sandals, and diaper, Sophia Allesandra, like all Precious Baby Dolls, is designed to be a lifelike adoptee for your little one. One of these dolls would make a wonderful holiday gift. You can adopt one for yourself or a child for $69.99 at PreciousBabyDolls.

This cute little rag doll from Bumblebird reminds me of a rag dolls that my mom made for my sister and me one Christmas. They have that same simple, made-with-love look. Each doll is made from tea-stained muslin. Greenley has brown wool felt pigtails and wears a simple dress; other dolls are also available.  She is 18 inches tall and machine washable. You can bring her home for $45.95. Check her (and her other handsewn friends) out at thesillywagon.com.

There are lots of sweet baby blankets out there. This Hawaiian Blanket Set adds the extra-special touch of a matching cloth doll. The blanket is made from super-soft fleece with a fun floral backing. At 30″ x 40″, it is big enough for use on the go. The soft doll is perfect for little hands that are just learning to grasp objects. Both pieces are very sweet. You can purchase the set for $58 at polkadotpatch.com. Several other similar sets have already sold out. This would make a wonderful gift.

We love Kathe Kruse toys at our house and have collected quite a few of them over the years. I just came across this cutie, which I think would make a perfect gift. Measuring 9″ x 5.5″, this little guy sleeps in a cozy bed complete with a music box (which is snuggled inside layers of organic cotton stuffing for safety). When curious babies pull on the toy, the music begins. You can purchase one of these musical dolls for $49.95 at blueberryforest.com.

Something about this Regurbito Doll caught my attention recently while browsing Haciendo El Indio’s website. Made of 100% linen, wool felt, cotton, and stuffed with polyester fiber, this cute little mouse-like character reminds me of the main character in one of our family’s favorite books, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Regurbito is hand-made and ships from Europe. You can purchase this cute doll for 28 Euros, or about $40 USD, at HaciendoElIndio.com.

If you have a little boy who you’d like to buy a doll for (or a little girl hankering for a boy doll) but aren’t sure the best route to take, look no more! The Groovy Girls Poseable Dylan doll is not only cute with fun hair and a masculine outfit (yet fashionable), it’s not expensive at all. I had a look at Phil the Doll by Haba Toys on amazon.com and he was $44.99, much too pricey for a stuffed boy doll. Made by Manhattan Toy, Dylan is only $8.50 at kidstravelhappy.com; you can’t beat that price (especially if your son doesn’t like him after all.)

In my experience, potty training isn’t something you can bribe your child into. I’ve tried, of course, but even a gorgeous set of furniture for her doll house wasn’t enough to get my then almost three year old motivated. Then, out of the blue, it was done. That said, there are some ways to stack the deck in your favor, and books and DVDs are one of them. Once Upon a Potty is the series that I had for my oldest daughter, who was much less resistant. The illustrations are fun, and the video is simple and to the point. A cute stuffed doll is also now available. It won’t miraculously train the child who like my daughter, expresses a preference for diapers (I can’t tell you how many times we heard “I want to change it!”), but it certainly promotes awareness of the body and pottying. You can pick up these products at OneStepAhead.com. The book retails for $6.95; the DVD for $16.95; and the doll is $19.95.

I really like this Organic Sleepy Time Baby Gift Box by GrowInStyle.com. While the price might be a bit much for an average baby gift, at $164, it would be perfect for a family member or best friend who just had a baby. The gift box includes an Organic Cotton Hooded Towel by Kate Quinn Organics, Organic Cotton Sleep Sack by Ceewee Baby, Organic Cotton Monster Wash Mitt by Bebop Baby Shop, Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Angel Baby Oil by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Rainbow Baby doll from Kathe Kruse, and a sleepy time book, Down in the Woods at Sleepytime by Carole Schaefer & Vanessa Cabban. All of this comes packaged in a 100% recyclable gift box, wrapped with recycled gift wrap, recycled ribbon, and a lead-free pewter charm. Just thinking about these wonderful sleep-inducing gifts makes me want to curl up and take a nap! You can view this gift box at GrowInStyle.com.

What child (except me as a baby—I hated dolls) wouldn’t find this dolly irresistible? I think she’s a sweet little thing. Lovely color, pretty flower adorning her dress, cute little circles for hair. She kind of reminds me of the “In The Night Garden” characters, to tell you the truth; that’s a British show much like the Teletubbies, for those who aren’t in the know. You can even wash her on a gentle cycle and we ALL know how important it is that any doll with potential to become a favorite can be machine washed! For $34, Blabla Boogaloo Lee-Lee Plum doll is made of hand-picked cotton in Peru and is a member of the super cute BlaBla collection. You can view and purchase her at BlablaKids.com.

Like a sale but still want something special? The Alimrose Pink Floppy Monkey Doll caught my eye immediately when I clicked on the sale items at bellydancebaby.com. Plush and pretty and just original enough to stand out, this happy monkey is on sale for $30 ($14 savings.)  I like it for a new baby gift to go along with a sweet soft blanket or a basket of toys and sleepers.  I can’t see this floppy monkey being a flop with any child.

Still holding out for something a little less costly? Check out Tavitts.com for Ty 10” Baby Dangles Pink Monkey. Super cute, pink, and fluffy, just like the Alimrose version, but at a fraction of the cost for $6.95. At our house, we think Ty stuffies are soft and huggable and just the right price.