Should I choose a Minikane or a Miniland Doll?
So you're looking for a new bestie for a little one, and wondering whether to choose a Minikane or a Miniland doll - I mean, they look pretty similar, so what's the difference?
To be honest, both the Minikane and the Miniland dolls offer the same great benefits of play for a child - including Social Emotional Learning (SEL), language development, self identity & empowerment, and comfort & security. Dolls are a cherished toy for many a generation, and when a child is immersed in doll play, they are actively shaping their minds, emotional development and cognitive abilities. Can you tell we LOVE dolls?
Let's take a delve into the worlds of Minikane Dolls and Miniland Dolls to help you choose a new best friend..
Minikane Dolls
Minikane is a French brand of beautifully diverse dolls, and a broad range of dolls clothes and accessories. Each doll is handmade in Europe from a silky soft vinyl since 2012. These anatomically correct dolls have posable limbs and heads, and feature an open mouth (perfect for role-play feeding- check out the Tiny Harlow range for cool accessories) and handmade eyelashes.
Each doll's hair is hand-cut, with hand painted facial features, and features a soft vanilla scent (designed to smell like a newborn baby).
Unlike Miniland, Minikane specifically advise against getting their dolls wet, so do take care of your doll around water.
Key points:
- a softer feel than Miniland dolls
- a slightly smaller size at 34cm
- vanilla scented
- comes unpackaged
- all clothing available to buy separately
- open mouths
- has eyelashes
What we love:
- the huge range of accessories and add-ons allows your child to better personalise their dolls for added character
- the open mouth can serve to add an element of feeding role-play
- the transparent plastic eyes are super realistic
Miniland Dolls:
Truly recognising the importance of teaching inclusivity and tolerance, Miniland Dolls offer the largest and most diverse range of dolls between the two brands. This includes racial appearance such as Caucasian, Hispanic, African, African American, Asian, Native American, as well as Down Syndrome dolls with hearing implants, and dolls with glasses.
Miniland offer dolls in two sizes, the main one being the 38cm doll, but they also have a dinky 21cm doll. This smaller size does not feature hair, making them a great and safer choice for younger todders. The 38cm doll is recommended for children over 3 years who can carry the larger size, plus care for and style the hair more easily.
Like the Minikane dolls, Miniland feature a soft vanilla scent, are handmade in Europe, and have moveable limbs and heads. You will find the vinyl to be firmer to the touch than the Minikane.
When it comes to accessories, Miniland do offer some lovely add-ons, including outfits, baskets, blankets and strollers, however the range isn't as large as Minikane.
When considering which doll to choose, it should be noted that the larger size of the Miniland dolls does make interchangeability of clothing challenging between Minikane and Miniland, so do explore the outfit options before making your decision.
Key points:
- a slightly larger size than Minikane at 38cm
- comes in a presentation box
- includes vest & pants (and in some cases an outfit)
What we love:
- can get wet
- includes clothing accessories / outfits
- includes an eco-friendly cardboard presentation box
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Whichever brand you go for, you'll be opting for a handmade bestie of the highest quality, and from diverse ranges so that everyone can have a doll that looks like them! Which will you choose?