Doc McStuffin’s “Time For Your Checkup” Doll is very cute and very little. It is, in fact, a tiny 5-inch doll that comes with a tiny bag and tiny doctor’s instruments. The pieces are extremely small, so there’s your first sign of trouble. They could easily be lost by a child in any age group. The set includes a female doll dressed as a doctor, a stethoscope, otoscope, needle, thermometer and reflex hammer. For those who don’t know, this is Official Merchandise modeled after a cartoon called Doc McStuffins–that being about a six-year-old girl named Dottie who fixes her toys with help from her stuffed animal friends. During the final credits, Dottie gives advice to children about how to stay healthy.
If your child is careful with her things, this is a great toy to encourage pretend playing. Because the instruments are so small, your child really can’t do anything with them other than pretend. That said, both the doll and the instruments–considering their size–are made with great detail. Even the thermometer has numbers on it.
If your grandchild is small, careful and imaginative, this would make a great gift. Unlike action toys where the child sits back and watches, Doc McStuffin really encourages imaginative play. The recommended age is 3 and up, but a 3-year-old might be a bit too young for this toy. Just think of all those many small pieces that could suddenly become choking hazards. We’re still calling this a perfect gift for children aged 4 to 6.