My daughter loves her dollies. I am proud to say that she also loves her Lego, planes, fire trucks and her parking garage. A well-balanced kid, she is. Last weekend, we got lovely and loving stares at a craft fair as she cradled yet another doll with a homemade knitted sweater. The ladies at the craft fair looked on with little smiles on their faces. Yes, I caved and bought it for her.
Of course, her dolls require accessories. I bowed to her desire for a cradle and she used her allowance to buy a large, lined basket. She has a lovely vintage stroller, a great find from a woman on Freecycle. Her doll also has a little baby seat for the car, another garage sale discovery. All in all, the pretend babies in this house are quite well-outfitted. If you’re the parent of a preschooler who loves dolls, you’re probably similarly outfitted, especially if you tend to hit the garage sales with a preschooler. There’s nothing like affordable “good junk” to get your preschooler spending her allowance money.
Today we went for a walk and we used another of our accessories – a doll sling. Yes, there are slings for dolls, and they’re actually quite useful. Instead of walking the baby carriage down to the corner store, my daughter now hauls her baby around in a sling on her back and front, just like I used to do with her. We have a mei tai that was made by a friend of mine. You can find these on Etsy, a source for all things homemade. We also have a doll ring sling, and these are easier to find online. Many of the stores that sell homemade or commercial ring slings also sell doll slings.
If you’re looking for a sweet gift for a stocking present or for a preschooler in your life, try a baby sling. It’s also a relatively affordable gift for preschool birthdays. If you’re crafty, try making your own doll sling with a piece of fabric and a small curtain ring. It’s sure to be a hit.