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Barbie has been an iconic toy for over 60 years now and no child's collection is complete without at least one doll from Mattel's vast range. So, how do you know which is the best Barbie doll or playset to buy for your child in 2022? This guide will consider all of the relevant factors such as the type, theme, and extra accessories, to help you select the right one.
Whether it’s a magical pink-haired mermaid Barbie, one of her sisters, or her boyfriend Ken that your child wants to play with, we’ve got you covered! Perhaps they're more interested in horses or a huge playset like the Dream House instead? Those are featured in our article too - read on to see our top 10 best Barbie toys available at Amazon, eBay, Asda, and Argos.
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With literally thousands of items available in the Mattel Barbie range, it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to buy. There are houses, cars, and camper vans as well as countless outfits and shoes - and that’s before we even get into the dolls! Don’t worry, we’re here to help you dramatically narrow the field!
They say that variety is the spice of life and Mattel has certainly taken that on board, introducing a range of dolls to represent the different races, body types, ages, and genders that make up society.
The range of dolls representing Barbie’s friends and family includes diverse characters with different skin tones and hair colours as well as unique fashion styles. This means your little one will be able to play with dolls that represent all aspects of society and should be able to find one that looks just like them!
Many playsets actually feature more than one doll, each with different colouring options - so it’s possible to buy a product containing a Barbie with blonde hair as well as one with dark hair and skin.
Just as real people come in all different shapes and sizes, so do Barbie’s pals! The dolls in the Mattel range are now much more relatable than they used to be, as a variety of body types are available.
You can buy fuller-figured dolls as well as those with different physical features, such as alopecia and prosthetic limbs. This inclusivity helps children to relate to a wider range of people, even if they don't share the same traits.
Ken, Barbie’s main squeeze, is pretty well known but he's never been quite as popular as Barbie herself! All that could change though - even more male dolls are now available in the Mattel range, including those from other ethnicities and age groups.
Choosing a Ken or a younger male doll is a great way of rounding out your child’s collection and showing them that everyone can enjoy playing with Barbie toys, regardless of their gender!
Most people respond well to things that they find relatable and children are no exception. Barbie is the eldest of the four Roberts sisters who range from primary school-aged kids to teenagers. However old your child is, you’re likely to find a Roberts sister of a similar age that they can easily engage with.
Six-year-old Chelsea is the unicorns-and-crafts-loving youngest sister and ten-year-old Stacie is sports mad, while teenage Skipper is a technophile and star babysitter. Any of these sisters will make the perfect play partner if you ask us!
If your little one isn't quite ready for work, finding a playset that matches their hobbies is guaranteed to bring a smile to their face. Do they love painting, caring for animals, or playing football? Well, there’s a doll or playset for each of these activities!
Music fans will love popstar Barbies that come with a microphone and instruments, while budding cooks will love whipping up miniature treats in Barbie's kitchen. Animal-themed sets are also bound to be a hit with kids who don't have a pet but love cute creatures.
Are you looking to buy just one Barbie, or would you prefer a set of several dolls? The latter is definitely a more economical way to build a collection, plus it means your child can start playing straight away as they have different characters that can interact with each other.
These kinds of playsets don't just include dolls - they also contain different outfits and accessories that will add an extra dimension to playtime. As they contain everything needed to engage in hours of fun, all you need to do is add a child and let their imagination run wild!
Guaranteed to keep little ones entertained for hours, a playset is a fabulous gift for any child and there are sets to suit almost any budget. Plus, they can always buy an expansion pack with their pocket money if they want to create a whole Barbie universe in their room!
Lastly, we have to mention some of the cool additional features that some dolls come with! As well as different body shapes, there are dolls that have fully articulated joints that make them much more posable than traditional Barbies.
There are also mermaid Barbies complete with tails, as well as dolls with colour reveal functions, lights, or even sounds. Keep an eye out for some of these features if you want a bit of extra Barbie magic!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mattel Barbie Fashionista Doll | £10.00 Low | Affordable, Fashionable, and Totally Diverse Dolls | ||
2 | Mattel Barbie Ultimate Baking Kitchen Playset|FRH73 | £42.95 High | Cook up a Delicious Feast With Barbie! | ||
3 | Mattel Barbie Skipper Playground Playset|GHV89 | £30.00 High Mid | Creative Kids Will Love Babysitter Skipper | ||
4 | Mattel Barbie Doll and Horse|FXH13 | £23.74 Mid | Make Your Child's Pony Dreams Come True | ||
5 | Mattel Barbie Chelsea Doll School Playset|GHV80 | £15.49 Low Mid | Cute Chelsea Brings Fun to the Classroom | ||
6 | Mattel Barbie Daisy Doll and Travel Set|FWV26 | £20.00 Mid | Barbie's Musical Friend Daisy Brings the Tunes | ||
7 | Mattel Barbie Inspiring Women Ella Fitzgerald Doll | £36.55 High Mid | Inspire Your Child With the "First Lady of Song" | ||
8 | Mattel Barbie Baby Doctor|GKH23 | £19.99 Mid | Doctor Barbie Comes With Plenty of Accessories | ||
9 | Mattel Barbie Career Ken Footballer Doll | £11.00 Low Mid | The Ideal Doll for Football Fanatics! | ||
10 | Mattel Barbie Dreamtopia Rainbow Magic Mermaid | £19.53 Mid | A Magical, Light-Up Mermaid |
The Fashionista range features 12 stylish Barbie dolls that each have different hair, eye and skin colours as well as varying body shapes. They even embrace diversity when it comes to fashion, covering every subculture - from sporty looks and boho-chic to edgy street fashion.
We absolutely love that there is a doll in this range to suit almost everyone, making them something that kids of all ages can really connect with. Best of all, they're only a tenner each - so your little one can collect them all and create one huge girl gang!
This kitchen set is part of the Barbie Careers range and features a cooker with sounds and lights as well as a sandwich maker, mini-fridge, and other handy gadgets. Your child is bound to enjoy thinking up culinary storylines starring Barbie and her baking adventures. Perhaps it could be the start of the Great Barbie Bakeoff and Ken can be a guest judge one week?
Any young child who loves role-playing will appreciate this delightfully detailed kitchen set. It also includes five tubs of playdough to create cakes and cookies, making this product well worth the high price.
Featuring Skipper, Barbie’s younger sister, this set is part of the Skipper Babysitter Inc. range. There's so much to explore - it has two dolls as well as a comprehensive playground station with a slide, swing, spinning blocks, and even a sandpit to play with. Best of all, the sand is actually mouldable so your little one can create mini sand sculptures!
Engaging in playtime with your child won't be a chore with the Climb 'n' Explore Playground - it really brings out your creative side. In fact, if you’re anything like us, you may just catch yourself still playing after they've gone to bed!
A must for any horse-mad child, this pony-themed set will bring joy (and hours of quiet playtime!) to its recipient. Featuring Barbie and her gorgeous palomino horse, the set also comes with a bridle and saddle.
This really is the ideal gift for animal-loving little ones, especially if they aren't able to have a pony of their own. You could even help them build a stable and racetrack if you're feeling creative!
Chelsea, Barbie’s youngest sister, is the focus of this cute product. Your child will love playing teacher with this sweet school playset that features a classroom, a lunchroom, and playground areas. It's also packed with accessories like exercise books, school dinners, and a backpack for Chelsea to carry everything in!
Chelsea is definitely a more relatable doll for younger children around the ages of 3-7 years, and all the special little details that are included in this playset are sure to spark your little one’s imagination!
Why not expand your child’s collection with this dazzling Daisy Doll and Travel Set? One of Barbie’s friends from the popular Dreamhouse Adventures series, Daisy is a doll that makes different body types more accessible to young children. She's fuller-figured with fuschia-coloured hair and always carries her trusty pink guitar.
With loads of cool accessories like a suitcase, a camera, headphones, and even a mobile phone, Daisy will provide endless entertainment for your little one. This set is a tad expensive but you get a lot of items for the price!
From the Barbie Signature Inspiring Women range comes this fantastic Ella Fitzgerald doll. Based on the real “First Lady of Song”, this doll is dressed to the nines for the stage, complete with a vintage-look microphone and stand. She's fully-posable too, making her more versatile and easy to play with.
As this doll is rather expensive, we'd recommend it for older children rather than little ones who might get a bit too eager when bending the joints. Still, if you're looking for a strong female figure to inspire your kids, you can't go wrong with Ella!
Part of the Barbie Careers range, this set includes a full-size doll and two adorable babies. Dressed in scrubs and equipped with a stethoscope, Doctor Barbie has everything she needs to perform a checkup and make sure all’s well. There are also lots of cute little accessories, including blankets, medicines, and lotions.
We especially love that you can buy a doctor doll with darker hair and skin if you want to. Although this set is rather expensive, there's plenty here to keep aspiring medics busy for a while!
No Barbie collection is complete without at least one Ken, and this soccer-playing guy is a solid choice. Dressed in a snazzy blue and black kit, he's ready to get out on the field and score some goals!
Sadly, Ken doesn't come with any accessories except for a single football, so he's not quite ready to play five-a-side yet. Still, he'll bring some variety to your child’s toy box and is sure to impress footie fanatics!
Bring some sparkle into your child’s playtime with the Barbie Dreamtopia Rainbow Magic Mermaid. With her lovely long pink hair, princess tiara, detachable tail, plus beautiful rainbow lights that really light up when you press her necklace, she’s bound to entertain your little one for hours!
Sadly, this doll's dressing up options are pretty limited, but if you're after something a bit more mystical than the usual Barbie fare then this colourful doll is a great choice! There's also a mermaid Chelsea and a merman Ken in this range if you want to expand your collection.
No. 1: Mattel|Barbie Fashionista Doll
No. 2: Mattel|Barbie Ultimate Baking Kitchen Playset|FRH73
No. 3: Mattel|Barbie Skipper Playground Playset|GHV89
No. 4: Mattel|Barbie Doll and Horse|FXH13
No. 5: Mattel|Barbie Chelsea Doll School Playset|GHV80
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