Baby Annabel is one of the most human like dolls you are likely to come accross, with its interactive motions which make it cry, burp and laugh.

I bought one for my daughter for christmas two years ago and it was a great doll to have, until my daughter saw an advert for the new and improved baby Annabel which has more functions and it is just like a little baby. So my daughter put it on last years christmas list, as her old one was a bit grubby from being played with so much and being pushed on the swing in the garden I decided that I would update her doll...or should I say santa did;)

The doll I purchased two years ago made noises like burping, laughing and sucking when the bottle was placed in her mouth, and breathing sounds when she is asleep, but the new model now also cries real tears and turns her head to the sound of your voice. It was on offer at woolworths at the time of purchase and only cost me £17.99, it normally costs £34.99 so I got a real bargain.

The doll arrived in a very well packaged box with clear plastic so you could see the doll inside. She now comes dressed in a fluffy white baby grow and hat (the one shown above was the old baby annabel outfit) you also get a clear balloon shaped bottle and a pink dummy and a pack of tissues.

Once you eventually manage to get the doll out of the box after undoing all the plastic straps and tape, the only other setting up is putting the batteries in but you will also need a phillips screwdriver for that job, it takes four 1.5v batteries and I have to say they do last quite a while.

The doll itself looks quite life like with its curled up fingers and toes, she has blue eyes that open and close and her mouth is open so it makes it easy to put the bottle or dummy into it, her arms, legs and head is a soft plastic but her body is foam so when you pick her up again she moves like a real baby insted of a doll and she can be placed in a sitting position with ease.

Basically the only things she does not do is fill a nappy (which is one thing I am pleased she does not do!!) and you cannot bath her as the functions would not then work.

You can buy lots of accessories for your baby Annabel ie: various clothes, cot, pram, wardrobe, changing mat, shoes, socks, musical bag etc etc. All the products on offer have the baby Annabel logo which is a sheep with a pink body and hair.

I myself have purchased some of the clothes and they vary in price from around £8 and the musical sheep bag was priced at £15 but I cannot comment on other prices as I have not bought them.

The doll is recommended for children aged 3 years and over, but I have to say my daughters first baby Annabel was played with when she was 2 and she never had any problems with it as it does not have any small parts to it.

I would highly recommend this doll to anyone it is a very good quality toy, my daughter has had so much enjoyment out of both old and new baby Annabel's and loves taking her out in a dolls pram to the shops. It is great for role play. I just hope they do not make a new and improved model next year!!