Little girls do love their dolls. They love to play and dress them and take them places, as if they really were their mommies.

I have a daughter that first began her love affair, with a certain doll, when she was only 18 months old. The relationship was a bit rocky at first as my little mommy pulled her baby’s hair and competed with the doll for bottle and binky use. Yet as the weeks passed the love my baby had for her baby grew to complete devotion.

She fondly named the baby doll Bah-Bah-Toe (don’t ask, I don’t know) and they have been inseparable now for several years. The cementing moments of the relationship occurred when Bah-Bah-Toe was given her own dollhouse. At first this was a humble dwelling that consisted of nothing more than a few cardboard boxes stacked and taped together.

At Christmas time that year, when my daughter was 2, the idea of getting her a brand new doll was down right blasphemous. Bah-Bah-Toe reigns supreme. One evening as my husband and I observed our little mommy lovingly reciting a story to her precious baby and tenderly tucking her into one of those cardboard rooms it struck us: Bah-Bah-Toe needs a real house.

Finding the perfect dollhouse for our daughter and her baby was not too difficult but was a decision that required some care. There are so many options out there. The first thing to consider is size. In our case the house needed to be able to inhabit the doll we already had. For those who may still need to populate the new residence the size concern is moot. Yet size is still an issue. Tall dollhouses pose a tipping threat and a climbing temptation for little ones. The last thing you want is the dollhouse to become memorable because of your child’s King Kong impression and the ensuing trip to the ER.

Dollhouses that are overly intricate, ornate or small similarly don’t work for toddlers. Those gorgeous Victorian ones are great, but a toddler will destroy it before the sun sets on Christmas day. Those with fine detail and small furnishings also pose a choking hazard. What a toddler needs is a dollhouse that isn’t too big, and isn’t too small. There are several varieties on the market that your daughter will be thrilled to call her own.

Many dollhouses come with just that: the house. Other brands come with a load of extras including play figures, furniture and clothing for the dolls. Price and your existing collection of accessories is a great way to decide what you need for your daughter’s Christmas wishes to come true. If you have many dolls already, then a house by itself is probably the way to go. For those just beginning their doll collections, a house that comes with extras will have a higher price tag up front, but when you factor in the cost of buying extra pieces separately, it might be the better deal.

Our little mommy has grown so much we hardly recognize the 2 year old who squealed with delight as she tucked a baby named Bah-Bah-Toe into her new house for the first time. Yet she still loves that doll, and her dollhouse where her doll baby lives.

What joy she has gotten from those toys and what a great investment they have been in the growing of her imagination.

Edie Mindell is the writer for SimplyUniqueBabyGifts.com. If Santa is looking for perfect Christmas gifts for toddlers, there is a great selection awaiting delivery just in time for Christmas. If Radio Flyer Toys is on the list, visit their online catalog and enjoy free shipping (lower 48 states).

It’s an extremely exciting time when families prepare for a new baby. There is so much to get and, it seems at times, so little time to get everything. But, during this economy crisis, those moments of excitement are easily offset by the new financial landscape that many find themselves in. If you are not careful, the need to stretch a budget could take some of the fun out of all of the new baby hubbub. Do your best not to let it steal your joy!

You and your family will want to make every dollar stretch to the max as you buy what you need for baby. Whether you or not you can buy for cheap, you will need to make sure that the money is there for life’s daily needs and expenses for your new baby and your existing family. Remind yourself that you can’t use it all up before baby comes because you will definitely need cash for living. Baby needs can quickly put a squeeze on your finances, so you need to come up with a plan that will work for you and your family.

Try these simple tips for managing your daily “new baby” expenses in addition to your regular family expenses so that your budget remains in tact. These tips will help you to consider different ways for saving. Cost-conscious new parents need to keep everything in perspective…while you have a beautiful little one to admire and adore, that same little one will need plenty of things, so you will absolutely have to make sure that you have the money to keep your family’s budget and your little one happy and healthy. Here’s how:

Make nurning the first food choice for your baby. Mommies that can physically handle breastfeeding should do it because it’s great for your baby, for your figure, and for your wallet. Canned baby formula can be exceptionally costly with very few opportunities to buy for cheap. Some national brands can cost the average family about $13 per can. Nursing is a free alternative that could save your family thousands!

If you must use infant formula, be sure to sign up to receive new mommy discounts from the company that makes the formula that you will use. These companies love to send out coupons and other goodies to ensure that you keep buying their product. The coupons will allow you to buy for cheap instead of spending the full amount per can. They will even send you free cans from time to time!

Baby nursery furniture doesn’t have to be a major financial investment. You will be able to find plenty of baby gear at your local thrift or consignment stores. These places will give you the chance to buy for cheap everything that you will need for baby from strollers to walkers to toys, and everything in between. But be careful to ensure that the items that you buy are not on the consumer recalled list.

Get loads of free stuff, or nearly free, on great websites like Craigslist.org and Freecycle. These sites allow people to post the things that they want to get rid of, and that you could potentially need. Imagine getting whole bags of baby clothes, nursery furniture, and even diapers and coupons for formula. You are sure to find someone that would love to share these items with you for free!

Buy for cheap the least expensive diapers first. If these diapers do not work with your baby, then, you buy the more expensive ones. Be careful with diaper rash and diaper allergies that can make your baby very uncomfortable. Always try to use coupons to save even more. Ebay is a great site for finding diaper coupons that can save you big money.

Your family will absolutely love your new baby. To ensure that you are able to keep your budget in check and still enjoy the sweetness of your baby, follow these little tips. Seize every opportunity for saving, cost-cutting, and being able to buy for cheap for your little bundle of joy’s sake!