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. Four 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 by 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!
Contents
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 the simple act of pulling the magnetic pacifier off of the doll’s face and placing it back on. Such a simple action is serious entertainment for an 11-month-old, folks.
The next stage, when words started to form, 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.
My now preschool-aged girl is turning into quite the little fashionista, and Baby Stella has become her muse. Stella has a pretty big wardrobe, and there are days where she has 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!” Stella is a doll that keeps entertaining.
At bedtime, Stella goes into her pajamas. She cuddles up in bed for storytime, and she becomes the ultimate nighttime comfort doll.
My daughter is 4 ½ years old now, and I feel like Stella is going to be a part of our daily life for a few more years. She’s well-made and has held up exceptionally well, considering all that she has been through in the last four years.
Features
- Outfit and diaper both 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.
- Inclusive! There are several different dolls with different skin tones and hair colors. Stella can be just like your baby, or like one of your baby’s friends!
- Loads of accessories available! Clothing, Stella-sized baby furniture, and everything in between.
I want to talk a little about the amount of detail that this doll has. I mentioned above that Baby Stella has embroidered facial features and detailed fingers and toes.
To add to that, she also has little dimples on her arms and legs, and right above her bum, just like a chubby baby. Her legs also are slightly bent with knees turned outward, also like a baby. There is much more detail designed into this doll than I would have 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 in 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. 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 be cleaned with a damp cloth only, 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 full washing machine treatment. I throw Baby Stella in the washing machine with a load 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 that I will. She air-dries on my kitchen counter overnight.
I have machine washed and dried all of Baby Stella’s clothes multiple times, and they 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 for this article, there were only a couple with hair, a couple versions without, and two different skin tones.
The doll we have has a 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 reason why. The headband is the one part of the doll that almost immediately snagged and started looking a little worn.
You can see in the table below, Baby Stella comes in different skin tones, hair colors, and styles.
Wee Baby Stella
Now, there are the smaller “Wee Baby Stella” dolls that are just 12 inches tall. Wee Baby Stella may be a better choice for smaller children as this doll is not much longer than a Barbie doll.
In the past, there were many accessories made just for Wee Baby Stella. That has changed. I see now that the brand is moving to a more streamlined accessory lineup that is 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, 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 he or she is 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 the doll we have. While it’s really too small for our doll, my girl has insisted we keep it and regularly squishes Stella into it. The shoes really don’t fit.
Baby Stella Accessories
Baby Stella Clothes
- 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 that 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 incredibly familiar with her. What I didn’t expect was to have my heart warmed all over again by her. She has helped to create many memories between my child and me, and I suspect that 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
