The 10 Best Doll Strollers
This wiki has been updated 34 times since it was first published in February of 2016. Little ones often want to mimic what adults do, so give your youngster the opportunity with one of these strollers. They let children carry their dolls and stuffed toys around the house or to the park in the same manner they are transported. We found models that come very close to looking like their full-sized counterparts, to enhance your kid's game of make-believe. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Joovy Caboose
2. Mommy & Me 2-In-1 Deluxe
3. Little Tikes Buggy
Editor's Notes
January 21, 2020:
Priorities when choosing the best doll stroller is quite different than the typical criteria for choosing a stroller for a real baby. Safety concerns are for the little person pushing the stroller, rather than for its occupant.
While options like the Precious Toys Foldable and the New York Doll Collection Denim are a better height for many toddlers, it's important not to let a brand new walker try to push ultra lightweight models like these because they are easy to tip if the child tries to use it to support themselves. Once the toddler is running around confidently, these are the perfect height for young ones.
If your child shows the parenting instinct before they can walk well, we've added the Little Tikes Buggy for it's solid and sturdy build that makes it significantly difficult to tip, plus it's a nice rounded shape.
For slightly older children who display a long-term interest in their dolls we've included some quality options that look and perform more like the real thing. The Joovy Caboose offers a large functional basket for supplies and space for two, with great details like the removable snack tray.
The Mommy & Me brand offers several durable options that someone could mistake for their full-sized counterparts, especially the luxurious-looking Mommy & Me 2-In-1 Deluxe and the Mommy & Me Jogger.
Special Honors
Legler Cornelia The doll-sized prams from the Legler brand all look like they could have been picked up at an antique store, with the Cornelia especially so. The bed is traditional wicker-work and the adjustable hood is made with gauze and lace. While it's so delicate that many would probably prefer to use it as a decoration, it could be a nice gift for an older child who is more careful with their toys. legler-online.com
Broken Arrow Mini Pram Pottery Barn often sells children's make-believe toys that look nicer than the real thing and the Broken Arrow Mini Pram fits that description. While it's only large enough for a 13 inch doll, the crisp, neutral gray fabric bassinet with matching diaper bag will spark children's imagination and blend with just about any child's room decor. potterybarnkids.com
4. Mommy & Me Jogger
5. Badger Basket 3-In-1
6. New York Doll Collection Denim
7. Valco Baby Bassinet
8. Litti Pritti My First Doll
9. Mommy & Me Babyboo
10. Precious Toys Foldable
Why Every Kid Should Play With Dolls
Playing with a doll can help a child nurture all of these facets of the mind.
Dolls have always been popular among kids. In fact, several dolls have made it onto the list of the most influential toys of all time. In order to make it on that list, a toy has to be more than just cute: it has to appeal to some deeper need. And in fact, dolls do just that. They also provide a number of developmental benefits for children. Boys, in particular, can benefit from playing with dolls. Along with the many other developmental differences between the genders, boys tend to struggle more with using their imagination, creativity, and language. Playing with a doll can help a child nurture all of these facets of the mind.
Taking care of a doll can also help a child practice taking care of him or herself. Through the acts of changing the dolls clothes, children get better at putting their own garments on. Because children like to mimic their parents, they may do things like check the doll's diaper on a regular schedule. This, in turn, forces them to think about their own bathroom habits. Your child may also think about how to hold a spoon properly through feeding his or her doll. All of these acts also help your child develop sequencing skills. When your child gives the doll a bath, he or she has to remember to first fill the water, then take off the doll's clothes, then soap up the doll, and finally rinse it off.
As your child becomes more attached to the doll, this gives you the opportunity to use the toy for important lessons. If you'd like to help your child learn about things like emotions and vocabulary, you may not be able to sit them down long enough to focus on a book. But, if you use their beloved doll to educate them on these things, they'll be more prone to listen. For example, you can use the doll to work on things like prepositions. You can place the toy on a bed and ask your child if the doll is on the bed or in the bed. You can also ask your child how the doll might feel if it doesn't see it's dad for a while, therein helping your child identify feelings. It's a very useful educational toy.
What Makes A Good Doll Stroller
When looking for a doll stroller, you'll consider many of the same things you did when looking for a stroller for your child. First of all, you'll want one with a safety strap to keep the doll from falling out, and getting damaged. Making your child strap their doll into the stroller will also help them think about securing their own seatbelt in the car or stroller. Just as you protect your child's face with a stroller that has a sun canopy, your kid will want to protect his doll from harmful UV rays. Research has found that sun exposure in babies can lead to skin cancer later in life. So teaching your child to protect their doll from the sun will also help them think about their own sun safety.
You probably pack quite a few things for your child every time you leave the house, just to make sure they are always happy and entertained. These could range from educational toys to snacks. If you find your bag is always stuffed to the rim, find a doll stroller with a little storage area to add these things, so your child can bring along some of their own items. A collapsible design and lightweight frame will make bringing your kid's stroller along in the car less hassle. Since children can be a bit clumsy, look for a doll stroller with smooth-turning wheels, helping them take corners a little more easily.
A few features can enhance your child's game of make-believe, like included carrying bags and bottle holders. Some models can be adjusted to have either a pram or stroller layout, allowing your child to pretend that their doll grows and gets older with time. Choosing a model with easy-to-clean materials is always a smart choice, as well. It is a well-known fact that kids often make a mess.
Influential Patents In Doll Strollers
It's not exactly clear when baby doll strollers were invented, but children have always had the desire to mimic their parents' actions, and play with things similar to items their parents own. From the moment they are born, children look to their parents for cues on how to live life. Copying the behaviors of their parents is an important part of children's development, so it seems natural that humans would create doll strollers to allow kids to imitate the act of being a parent.
From the moment they are born, children look to their parents for cues on how to live life.
One of the earliest patents we can find for a doll stroller belongs to Arthur Wasserman. In 1949 he created a model that had a canopy, small storage area, and a very tall handle placed at about a 45-degree angle. In 1962, Roman Rutkowski further improved on the baby doll stroller by making a version with a detachable body. This gave children the option to carry their dolls in a bassinet, or to place that bassinet on a chair next to them or on a table (similar to how real mothers do with their infants during a meal). Rutkowski later came out with a collapsible doll stroller. His main objective with this model was to make it easier for parents to pack the stroller down into a small size and put it in their vehicle for transport.
In the same year, Rutkowski focused on designing a doll stroller that would mimic real strollers in a new way: having adjustable positions. In this version, he also wanted to make a more affordable doll stroller that was simple in form and function. In the early 1980s, inventor John V. Zaruba aimed to make a doll stroller that was functional, but also artistic, with his ferris-wheel stroller.
Tina Morna Freitas is a writer who lives in Chicago with her family and three cats. She has a B.A. in anthropology with a minor in English, and has built a freelance career over the years in writing and digital marketing. Her passions for cooking, decorating and home improvement contribute to her extensive knowledge of all things kitchen and home goods. In addition, her 20 years as a parent inform her expertise in the endless stream of toys and equipment that inevitably takes over the homes of most parents. She also enjoys gardening, making and sipping margaritas, and aspires to be a crazy cat lady once all the children are grown.