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Toy ID Boards => Archive Of Identified Toys => Topic started by: BondGirlOO17 on Thursday 17 March 2011, 06:17 pm

Title: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Thursday 17 March 2011, 06:17 pm
This was always my favorite baby doll when I was little. I got her sometime between 1984 & 87. She is a little over 12 inches from head to toe, with a soft plush tummy and plastic head, arms, and legs. She came with a soft pink dress and bonnet, though I lost the bonnet many years ago. Her thumbs would fit in her mouth, so it looked like she was sucking her thumb.
The only markings on the doll are 4 lines of text on the back of her neck, though these are slightly worn in now and hard to read: 16 (or 10); 3140 (or 5140); 3.75; Hongkong. Her dress has a "Playmates" tag, but I still haven't been able to identify the exact doll.
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx226/SpyrallX/PinkBaby.jpg?t=1300385577)
I would love to find one of these that's new or even just in better shape than mine (years of constant play took their toll.) Even just finding a replacement dress & bonnet would be awesome.
Title: Re: [ID: Tiara Dolls by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: EmBee on Thursday 17 March 2011, 07:03 pm
She's very similar to my doll:

(http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz343/ToyID/19811312BabySoftLovePlaymates.jpg)

-Em
Title: Re: [ID: Tiara Dolls by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Friday 18 March 2011, 03:04 am
That looks just like her! Mine's just all faded. I don't suppose you're selling yours?
Title: Re: [ID: Tiara Dolls by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: EmBee on Friday 18 March 2011, 03:43 am
Oh awesome!!  We had the same baby doll.   ;D

Oh no, I'm sorry if my message was misleading.  All I have left of my doll is her stained dress.  :'( That is a photo I saved off of eBay.

I'm glad I helped though, good luck in finding another!

-Em
Title: Re: [ID: Tiara Dolls by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Friday 18 March 2011, 06:26 am
Oh well. I'll keep looking. ^_^ Thank you so much for the photo. I've been trying to find a new one for a long time, but not knowing the doll's name made it very hard to look up. Now at least I know what I'm looking for!
Title: Re: [ID: Tiara Dolls by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: EmBee on Friday 18 March 2011, 02:56 pm
You are welcome.  If I remember right that specific doll did not go for a heap of money.  I think it was something around $13 - $30.  Fingers crossed for both of us!

-Em
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Saturday 20 August 2011, 11:08 pm
I just stumbled across this thread and was so amused!!  These were my very favorite dolls as a child as well!!  Growing up I was given 1 in a blue dress and left her at grandmom's, we had no idea what happened to her so my mom bought me a second in a yellow dress then we found the first!!  Then somewhere down the line the 1 in the yellow dress became a boy, not sure about this but yeah lol.  A few years ago I was in toys r us and found the 1 in the box- although it is not EXACTALLY the same it is the same company and is VERY similar  I will be giving the new 1 to my future children 1 day! lol  I have the original Blue and yellow dresses but could not find them right away and really wanted to post as I was excited lol

(http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i456/ecpblue/DSCN9728.jpg)

I am just so amused that these were other peoples favorites as well!!
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: zuse on Saturday 20 August 2011, 11:13 pm
I love that head mold. You can see the one I had in this thread (still not definitively named). Now I wonder since the person said it had a soft body if it wasn't one of these? But mine is all plastic and the head swivels kind of strange like theirs so maybe she just misremembered the body.

http://ghostofthedoll.co.uk/Forum/index.php?topic=35.0
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Saturday 20 August 2011, 11:24 pm
The body of the 2 different 1s I showed are soft and their heads swivel as well.  The picture of the 1 you posted if the same mold as the 2 I posted next to the box- you can tell this by looking at the distinct hand positioning.  The legs and arms also swivel.  Here is a naked pic of the boy lol, granted he is a little stained as I got him when I was like 4. 

(http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i456/ecpblue/DSCN9729.jpg)
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Saturday 20 August 2011, 11:59 pm
Similar doll for sale on ebay!!  Same doll but with hair and a different outfit!  

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-14-NEWBORN-SOFT-LOVE-PLAYMATES-TIARA-DOLL-BOX-/320528815124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa1019414

Hurry sale ends in less than an hour
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Saturday 24 December 2011, 02:56 pm
My Christmas gift to myself this year:
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx226/SpyrallX/DSCN2113-Copy.jpg?t=1324738143)
I'd like to thank everyone here who helped me identify my doll, because otherwise I never would have known how to search for the new one, which I got on ebay.

Meanwhile, I saw this following doll on ebay as well.
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx226/SpyrallX/531415658_o.jpg?t=1324738130)
 Her box says "Baby Darling" but to me it seems she is the exact same doll. Weird that playmates would have two different names for the same doll style. I wonder if she's just in the wrong box?
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Saturday 24 December 2011, 04:17 pm
LOVE the gift to yourself!!!  Thanks for sharing the other baby in box- is that one by playmates too I can't tell??  I wonder if it is a knockoff?  

I looked on ebay under baby darling and could not find it- should I look under something else?
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Sunday 25 December 2011, 07:00 am
I don't know if a search will turn it up if the auction ended. The logo on the bottom right corner does appear to be the Playmates logo for the time period. Meanwhile, here's the only other picture I've located of a "Baby Darling" doll.
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx226/SpyrallX/KGrHqUOKjEE6dHWKSbGBOtd1yQmj60_12.jpg)
I'm wondering if they changed the doll's name at some point.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Sunday 25 December 2011, 03:55 pm
interesting- here is the link for the auction, there are more close up pictures:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220913695889&_trksid=p2992.m753

The baby darling doll is from 1979, I am not sure the year of the other but I am trying to find it.  I am thinking that baby darling may be the original??
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Monday 26 December 2011, 04:21 am
The Baby Soft Love I bought says 1981 on the box.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: invaderhorizongreen on Tuesday 27 December 2011, 12:47 am
perhaps the original company went out of business or got bought out? OR maybie was just sold to someone new who used the same mold?
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Tuesday 27 December 2011, 02:55 am
Hmm makes me wonder!!  Now I am confused :-)
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Wednesday 28 December 2011, 08:44 am
I was curious enough about the different versions of this doll (Baby Darling, the Tiara Dolls Baby Soft Love, and the Precious Playmates Baby Soft Love) that I emailed Playmates to ask about them.
The reply I got was confusing and not particularly informative, but it does seem to indicate that the Baby Darling is a legitimate Playmates doll and the name was simply changed for reasons the person who replied to me didn't know.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Thursday 29 December 2011, 01:13 am
I always forget about contacting companies!!  Too bad they were not any help!  This is driving me crazy as well!!  Maybe if we try contacting someone else at playmates??
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: zuse on Thursday 29 December 2011, 03:44 pm
Did you ever see this thread? I think I misidentified their doll. But mine definitely has the same head but a plastic body so that she can drink water and wet. I always loved the face on it. :)

http://ghostofthedoll.co.uk/Forum/index.php/topic,35.0.html
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Thursday 29 December 2011, 07:42 pm
Zuse, I can't tell from the first picture in that thread whether that is the same doll or not. She said it had the cloth body, so it's probably not the Baby Bathe-A-Lot, but she also said that it was around 6", which is significantly smaller than the Baby Soft Love. Without a better picture it is hard to tell.

Found a Baby Bathe-A-Lot on ebay though. Its face doesn't look quite the same, so I think it may be an older version.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MIB-1960s-Playmates-12-Baby-Bathe-A-Lot-Doll-NICE-/200638837528?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb701b318

Meanwhile, I also came across this doll, which seems to have the same/similar face & body as the Baby Soft Love, but she also has long black hair.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Firm-13-inch-vinyl-soft-body-black-doll-white-lace-trimmed-dress-bonnet-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqFHJ!0E63Ru!(Y6BO6oZd2OM!~~60_3.JPG)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170748975533?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: zuse on Thursday 29 December 2011, 08:11 pm
Mine is a pretty smallish doll. Especially since the limbs aren't completely straight. Maybe 8 or 9 inches? I'll try to measure it sometime. Definitely from about 1988 or 1989. I've looked through the Corolle catalogs from the late 80s and don't see the robe in with the other fashions.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Friday 30 December 2011, 04:02 am
Zuse and bond girl- I am thinking that your dolls are related/similar to the ones we are talking about but in my opinion I don't think they are the same at all.  The ones we are talking about seem to have a very distinct handshape, no hair, cloth bodies and came in the nightgown that has been pictured a few times, there is a pink one, blue one and yellow one as far as I know.  They each also came with a bonnet.  I own 3 of these dolls, which I pictured earlier in the thread, in the picture I posted obviously the one in the box is the baby soft love and the 2 on the right are the same although I do not know for sure if they are the darling ones or the tiara ones as I do not have the box and their tags are worn.  I do know that the ones on the right are NOT baby soft love as there are smaller more subtle differences that make me certain they are not the same, I can describe these if anyone would like  But my point is there is a difference between the soft love and other ones I have but I am not sure the id of the other 2 at this point.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Friday 30 December 2011, 01:51 pm
My doll is definitely the Tiara Dolls Baby Soft Love (or the Baby Darling, but I'm pretty sure based on when she was bought that she's the 1981 Tiara Dolls Baby Soft Love.)
The ones in the pink dress (one old & one new) are the only ones that are mine. The last picture I posted is just a doll I saw on ebay that looked to have a similar face and hands, though her arms are turned down, like the newer, and slightly different, Precious Playmates Baby Soft Love that you have in the box.

Zuse's doll is the Playmates Baby Bathe-A-Lot. She was actually asking about the doll shown in the first picture on that other thread, which probably isn't the Baby Bathe-A-Lot or Baby Soft Love.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: EmBee on Saturday 31 December 2011, 03:46 am
Ahh!!!  I'm so so happy that you were able to get your baby doll again!  That's fantastic.

I have the same one if you remember :) but I have not replaced her yet.

Grats and Merry Christmas!
-Em
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: Audrey on Friday 06 January 2012, 10:47 am
She was also my favorite doll growing up. As a child I had many with the pink dress and blue dress, Baby Bathe-A-Lot and Baby Sleepy who is the exact same doll but with hair. My sister had the one with the yellow dress so we could tell them apart. They all had the same name but different middle names.

More recently I have been collecting versions of this doll which my daughters will eventually get when I know they won't destroy them. Below is my newer collection without the many dolls I still have from my childhood.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6646291899_e6650bf4bf_o.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6646292099_e6dff21ce4_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6646292209_d9a76acce6_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6646292265_e584b7bb98_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6646292433_c47ab71d43_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6646292061_71c7f52351_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6646292149_7fa58fb764_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6646292315_1b750f04ae_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6646292355_5fbab71e40_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6646292397_9c79580b11_o.jpg) (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6646292471_52eda2309f_o.jpg)

The Baby Darling box was filthy so I will be trashing it. The other loose dolls had beat up or dirty boxes which also got tossed. The older version of the white doll, which is a Baby Darling, has a more orange skin tone and green eyebrows. The newer versions which come as Precious Playmates or Tiara Dolls has a more porcelain skin tone and darker makeup.  The Precious Playmates also have more matte skin.

Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Saturday 07 January 2012, 06:15 pm
That is an awesome collection! Where have you found the newer version, the Precious Playmates one?

Do you ever have a problem with the plastic parts getting sticky? I'm trying to figure out the best way to clean them, and I've wondered if the newer ones have the same tendency to get sticky.

Also, thank you for explaining some of the cosmetic differences b/w the different versions. I'm really glad I didn't buy a Baby Darling version of mine, since I would have been disappointed if her face had looked even a little different than my childhood one.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Sunday 08 January 2012, 04:28 am
WOW Audrey, thank you so much for sharing!  What a great collection!  Also thanks for some of the background info!  Do you know any more by chance? Perhaps a time line of which dolls were made when?
Thanks!!
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: xnikkixsikkix on Tuesday 31 January 2012, 03:01 pm
I hate to jump on this thread, but does anyone know where I can find one of these? I have been looking for years with no luck and FINALLY came across this thread that identified her, but I can't find any for sale online.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Wednesday 01 February 2012, 01:47 am
There were a few on eBay over the holidays. I saw 4 different ones. Haven't seen any since then though. I would really like to know how to find the newer version, the Precious Playmates one.

My advice would be to keep checking. I checked on eBay at least once a month. When I finally found one, I had just checked a few days before with no luck.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: xnikkixsikkix on Wednesday 01 February 2012, 03:58 pm
Thanks, I will keep searching. I'll let you know if I find any newer ones available.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: xnikkixsikkix on Wednesday 01 February 2012, 05:05 pm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-14-NEWBORN-SOFT-LOVE-PLAYMATES-TIARA-DOLL-BOX-/320528815124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa1019414
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Wednesday 15 February 2012, 08:17 pm
There is a 'Blue Box' Soft Love doll on eBay. There is no date on the box (I asked) but I'm thinking this has to be earlier than the Playmates Baby Darling. The doll looks the same (with the light colored eyebrows like the Baby Darling has) but the dress has some differences. Figured I'd post it in case anyone was interested.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370585289561?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx226/SpyrallX/544364002_o.jpg?t=1329336417)
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: Audrey on Thursday 08 March 2012, 10:44 pm
That is an awesome collection! Where have you found the newer version, the Precious Playmates one?

Do you ever have a problem with the plastic parts getting sticky? I'm trying to figure out the best way to clean them, and I've wondered if the newer ones have the same tendency to get sticky.

Also, thank you for explaining some of the cosmetic differences b/w the different versions. I'm really glad I didn't buy a Baby Darling version of mine, since I would have been disappointed if her face had looked even a little different than my childhood one.


Sorry for the late response.

I have been collecting mine over the years, so some I bought from online auctions sites like Yahoo which now is gone but also ebay and uBid and sites like that.

If the doll has been in the box a while, they are usually sticky. I take all mine out and wash the plastic parts with a face cloth with just the tiniest bit of water on it. Sometimes the dresses have little spots from the sticky plastic parts, and they come out with a tiny bit of gentle detergent and then I rinse it and it's fine. Even the Precious Playmates ones have been sticky.  If I leave them out of the box, they are fine after I wash them. If I put them back in the box after, they will get sticky again after a year or two and then I just repeat the process.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: Audrey on Saturday 10 March 2012, 09:52 pm
Here's some on ebay right now that look like they are in good condition.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PLAYMATES-BABYDOLL-/180835074363

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Playmates-rubber-drink-and-wet-baby-doll-12-Hong-Kong-/370591560917
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Tuesday 17 April 2012, 11:30 am
Thanks for the heads up, Audrey! I bought the Baby Soft Love in the blue dress, so I can give it to my future daughter. ^_^

Now I need to find one in a yellow dress for my mom, which she wants for my niece to play with.
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: BondGirlOO17 on Wednesday 25 April 2012, 06:11 am
I came across yet another "Baby Soft Love" that is very similar, but isn't Playmates. She's still quite cute, and I wouldn't mind finding one of these for sale too.

(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx226/SpyrallX/LaurelBSL.jpg?t=1335331135)
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: ecpblue on Thursday 26 April 2012, 04:39 am
hmmmm- it appears that many of us are searching!!
Title: Re: [ID: Baby Soft Love by Playmates] old baby doll
Post by: johnparker29 on Tuesday 23 October 2012, 06:23 am
I just came across this range and was so amused!!  These were my very preferred baby dolls as a kid as well!!  Increasing up I was given 1 in a azure outfit and remaining her at grandmom's, we had no concept what occurred to her so my mom purchased me a second in a yellow-colored outfit then we discovered the first!!  Then somewhere down the range the 1 in the yellow-colored outfit became a boy, not sure about this but really lol.