We received our first Baby Stella Doll when my daughter was around six months old, and just a handful of months later, I first put my experiences with her down in this review. Six years have passed since that first review, and I still have nothing but positive things to say about her. Baby Stella is a fantastic doll that has warmed my heart and made mommy-daughter playtime extra fun and full of giggles.
She was a gift from my mother-in-law at my request. I’d researched and read several threads on mamma forums talking about these dolls. Though I was familiar with Baby Stella before my baby arrived, I’d heard enough good things that I felt she’d be an excellent gift for my little one.
But do these happy ramblings from an easily excitable mom really rate, especially a few years later? Read on to find out!
My Experience with a Baby Stella Doll
Baby Stella is a very well-loved toy in this house. When my daughter was a baby, she loved to give Stella plenty of hugs and kisses. As time progressed, we accumulated more accessories and outfits. Stella became a best friend to my daughter, and together they would explore the world.
For a baby doll, Stella is surprisingly educational. First, my daughter learned to pull the magnetic pacifier off the doll’s face and place it back on. Such a simple action is serious entertainment for an 11-month-old, folks.
When words started to form, the next stage saw us spend many days talking about body parts and facial features. In this instance, Baby Stella is a marvelous teaching tool. I will forever have fond memories of little baby girl giggles when I would ask, “Where’s Stella’s belly button?”
Soon after, Stella became the consummate friend, being dragged everywhere and through everything. She would end up in the strangest of places, and I would spend some nights searching for her because she was nowhere to be seen at bedtime. She’d often turn up in unusual places. I would spy her peeking out from behind the curtains, seated on the windowsill, often with her clothes and diaper beside her.
When she turned into a preschool-aged girl, she became quite the little fashionista; Baby Stella became her muse. Stella has a pretty extensive wardrobe, and there were days when she had multiple outfit changes before noon.
After she’s been styled appropriately for the day, she is often taken on walks in her backpack carrier or in her road-worthy buggy. There are often elaborate imaginary baby meals with her feeding set. “Mom, she’s eating pineapple baby food!”
Now that she’s just about to enter first grade, some of her interests have turned to other toys. However, Baby Stella still receives plenty of attention, though the style of play has changed. She insists that Stella isn’t a baby anymore, and in fact, she’s recently turned three.
At bedtime, Stella still goes into her pajamas every night. While some nights, she remains the ultimate nighttime comfort doll, it seems that more often than not, she’s tucked into her own crib by my daughter’s bed and rocked to sleep.
My daughter is now 6 ½ years old, and Stella has been a part of our daily life for years. She’s well-made and has held up exceptionally well, considering everything she has been through. I don’t know how much time Stella has left as a favorite sidekick as my daughter’s attention moves to more ‘grown-up’ interests. Still, we have so many memories of a beautiful early childhood spent with her.
Features
- The outfit and diaper have Velcro fasteners to make it simple for little fingers to dress and undress the doll.
- Teachable Anatomy! From embroidered facial features to detailed fingers and toes.
- Soft materials include a firm polyfill and warm, chenille-like skin.
- Loads of accessories are available! Clothing, Stella-sized baby furniture, and everything in between.
I want to talk a little about the details put into this doll. I mentioned above that Baby Stella has embroidered facial features and detailed fingers and toes.
She also has little dimples on her arms, legs, and right above her bum, just like a chubby baby. Her legs are also slightly bent with knees turned outward, like a baby. This doll has much more detail than I expected for a plush doll – right down to her cute little belly button.
She’s quite firm as well. She’s not so firm that it’s off-putting, but she’s not super-squishy. Stella falls somewhere between where you would imagine perfectly huggable would lie.
How Does Baby Stella Hold Up Over Time?
Stella has held up impressively well. Many other dolls in this house have been loved not quite as hard as Stella but have not held up the way she has. As I mentioned earlier, her headband looks a little rough. More recently, 5 or 6 years in, one embroidered eyebrow started to unravel. However, I stopped it from further unraveling with a tiny drop of clear nail polish. Her clothes, however, are still in beautiful shape, even after several washes.
We have a few sets of Baby Stella clothes. The outfits, including the clothes she came dressed in, aren’t quite as fabulously made as she is, but they are still much higher quality than seen in other well-known doll lines. There were some loose threads I had to cut off, but otherwise, it’s pretty decent. The diaper is made of thin yet oddly sturdy material, and the Velcro fasteners are very firmly sewn on.
Is Baby Stella Washable?
I have noticed that the little fibers that make up the doll’s surface can pick up pet hair and dust quite quickly, but overall, she’s pretty easy to clean and keep clean. The manufacturer’s washing instructions state that Baby Stella should only be cleaned with a damp cloth, which is usually enough to remove dirt and hair.
However, our Stella has been dragged through a lot more than just a little dirt and dog hair. Baby food, mud, juice, and so much more all end up on Stella, as you can imagine.
When she’s filthy-dirty, she gets the entire washing machine treatment. I throw Baby Stella in the washing machine with a load of light colors on a warm or cool water setting, and she comes out clean and new. I haven’t tried drying her in the dryer, and it’s unlikely I will. She air-dries on my kitchen counter overnight.
I have machine-washed and dried Baby Stella’s clothes multiple times, which have held up very well.
Versions
There are so many different Baby Stella dolls that it’s tough not to find one that’s right for your child. They have also changed over the years. When I initially researched this article, there were only a couple with hair, a couple without, and two different skin tones. Since then, the line has expanded to become more inclusive.
The doll we have has a soft, satiny headband sewn to her head and a tuft of brown hair at the top. I haven’t seen this version for a couple of years now, and there may be a good reason. The headband is the one part of the doll that immediately snagged and started looking a little worn.
As you can see in the table below, Baby Stella comes in different skin tones, hair colors, and styles.
Baby Stella Variations
Wee Baby Stella
Available since 2016, the smaller “Wee Baby Stella” dolls are just 12 inches tall. They may make a better choice for younger toddlers, as this doll is not much longer than a Barbie doll.
In the past, many accessories were made just for Wee Baby Stella. That has changed, and the brand has a streamlined accessory lineup made for both sizes of Stella dolls.
With that said, many different Wee Baby Stella offerings come with appropriate-sized accessories, and many are still available for purchase separately.
Related: Our Favorite Wee Baby Stella Accessories (Updated!)
Baby Stella Clothing and Accessories
While there are a few differences from doll to doll, all Baby Stella dolls come with a pacifier that magnetically sticks to her mouth and one removable outfit.
But there are many outfits and accessories available, too. Baby Stella’s many accessories include a stroller, plush training potty, bath sets, feeding sets, and so much more.
Her outfits are numerous as well. From adorable pajamas with bunny slippers to a yoga outfit to many available dresses, your little one can dress Stella to suit whatever mood they are in.
In our time with Stella, we have only had one issue. My daughter’s grandmother, who originally gifted Baby Stella to her, sent a Wee Baby Stella outfit as a birthday present. It was a pretty floral dress with matching red shoes.
As noted above, Wee Baby Stella is a smaller version of our doll. While it’s too small for a full-sized Stella, my girl insisted we keep it and regularly squishes Stella into it. The shoes really don’t fit, but we manage.
Baby Stella Accessories
 | Stella Collection Buggy | This buggy has a collapsible frame, a removable carrier, and big rubber wheels to take Stella on sunny walks in the park! | See it at Amazon |
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 | Playtime Potty Chair | Stella can potty train right along with her best friend with this plush potty chair. Notice that the material matches that of the Brunette doll’s dress. | See it at Amazon |
 | Bath Set | Bath time is very important for little ones, and pretending to bathe their own doll is a great way to pass the time. This plush bath set includes a bathrobe, tub, rubber ducky, and shampoo bottle. | See it at Amazon |
 | Baby Stella Blissful Blooms High Chair | It’s not plush! This high chair is the perfect size for the larger Stella dolls, and it has a sippy cup holder in the tray and collapses for easy storage. | See it at Amazon |
 | Stella Collection Backpack Carrier | Perfect for preschoolers. Take Stella and her essentials on any trip, big or small. It combines the functionality of a proper backpack with a doll carrier to make it easy to travel anywhere. | See it at Amazon |
 | Take Along Travel Crib | This is a great little folding crib for Baby Stella. It has the same fabric as the Blissful Blooms high chair and other Stella accessories. The zippered carrying case is also a nice touch, making it easy to pack up and take with you wherever you go. | See it at Amazon |
Baby Stella Clothes
 | Cherry Dream Pajama Set | Look at the adorable bunny slippers! This adorable set replaces the original PJs with a cheery cherry pattern and satin ruffle detail on the cuffs. Since one of the dolls has a shirt with the same cherry print, these jammies would be an excellent gift pairing. | See it at Amazon |
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 | Pool Party Swimsuit Set | This cutesy 3-piece set includes a swimsuit, swim cap, and goggles to create a complete look for relaxing by the pool! Please note that the swim cap will not fit on dolls with pigtails. | See it at Amazon |
 | Pretty in Pink Baby Doll Dress | Is there a better combination than pink and gingham? This adorable dress has a matching pink diaper cover but does not come with shoes. | See it at Amazon |
 | Twinkle Toes Party Dress | In our house, this is known as the Fairy Princess outfit. It’s our most recent outfit, and we love that the top has the wings and tutu built right into it. | See it at Amazon |
 | Baby Stella Stay Wild Outfit | Let’s face it. The real reason why this outfit is worthy is that every kid would love to dress their doll up like a teddy bear. | See it at Amazon |
Pro’s & Con’s
- Highly educational – Teach toddlers about anatomy and help to develop fine motor skills. Older children benefit from imaginative, nurturing play.
- Grows with your child – This is an excellent doll for babies and preschoolers alike.
- Loads of accessories and clothing available.
- Soft and cuddly! Features are adorably embroidered.
- Very well made with no loose parts. Baby-safe!
- Picks up dirt and pet hair very easily. Use a damp cloth to keep Baby Stella looking good!
- The diaper that came with our Baby Stella was fraying a bit. Check to make sure there aren’t any loose threads.
- The older version with the headband can twist and become ragged fast.
Price
Baby Stella is higher-priced than most dolls, and in some ways, I can understand why some people don’t think she’s worth it. I don’t believe that you’re just buying a doll; you’re buying an educational tool and a friend for your child. Baby Stella is a doll that can grow with your child for years to come.
Our Rating
When I set out to write a review about Baby Stella, I chose her because I am familiar with her. What I didn’t expect was to have my heart warmed all over again by her. She has helped create many memories between my child and me, and I suspect several more will be created for both of us.
If you are thinking about getting a Baby Stella doll as a gift for your child or someone else’s, I hope I have convinced you to do so. She is like a ray of sunshine!
More Information
| Brand: | Manhattan Toy |
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| Doll Line: | Baby Stella |
| Model Name: | Peach |
| Type of Doll: | Soft-bodied doll, baby doll |
| Ages: | 12 months and up |
| Height: | 15″ |
| Articulation: | No |
| Variations: | Yes |
| Material: | Polyester |
| Care Instructions: | Surface wipe with damp cloth |