My Friend Emily Doll by Lamaze

What THEY Say...

Baby's first doll features a rattle necklace, clinky rings, and interesting sounds and textures.

Website: www.learningcurve.com

My Friend Emily Doll by Lamaze

What WE Say...

As with many Lamaze toys, Emily comes with the uber-useful plastic clip so that she can be connected to the pushchair/car seat/highchair straps. Perfect for preventing the drop-and-holler game which is so painful when you're doing 70 on the motorway.

Most important for a doll in my book is the face - and Emily is sweet and lovable (creepy or ugly dolls just don't get given house room). She's also fully embroidered, so completely safe for the youngest of babies.

Her colours are bright and fun, and her dress - patched with various touchable textures - crinkles nicely when grasped in a small fist. Her locket rattles, her shoes are a satisfying mix of soft velvet and deep-ribbed corduroy, and topped with two delightfully twiddly curly ribbon laces.

Her hoops are perfect for chewing on, and the small details of the butterfly on her hat, the ribbon curl bangs and the teeny ears just make her adorable.

We tend to keep Emily in the car, sometimes to be chatted to, but more often to be absently caressed and fiddled with as Ella gazes out of the window and watches the world go by.

Website: www.learningcurve.com