Got the Annabell version 5 a few days ago and it's brilliant! My daughter loves it and after the nightmare i had with the version 6 all I can say is buy this doll while you still can (I'll paste in a list of all the reasons the version 6 is awful below but seriously the Version 5 (musical toy) is as good as the V4 (moves head side to side) and V6 (moves arms) are bad.
The doll is very life like in that it's about the size of a newborn, the skin feels life like and facial movements are very realistic. The crying is cute and quiet so isn't too annoying as a parent. All in all the doll's a hit, only minor issue was the doll didn't cry at first, in order to get it working I squirted a little water on the eye and blow really hard (mouth over the eye, picture CPR. I know it sounds crazy but worked) until I heard air coming out the other eye, did it for both eyes and hey presto tears when the doll cries, I reckon the dolls tear ducts are tiny holes the just get blocked with dust or whatever.
But to be honest for £28 this dolls a steal especially as the new one is so awful
*** below is my review for the Baby Annabell Version 6 out summer 2011 (the one with moving arms!) ***
Review of Baby Annabell
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Written on: 31/08/2011
"Baby Annabell Version 6"
I hate the version 6 Baby Annabell doll! After exchanging 3 faulty dolls (all same fault!) we've finally decided to go for the version 5 which is half the price and twice as good!
When I decided to buy a Baby Annabell doll for my daughter because she's really into playing mummy, I had a good look around. Everyone is currently (summer 2011) trying to sell off the Version 5 half price and Argos had the new version 6 in, so i thought i'd get that.
Pro's
My daughter (nearly 2) LOVED "baby!" and wouldn't put her down. yep thats the only pro i can think of and even that turned into a con when i had to return the darn doll 3 times and i was let with a distraught child each time.
Con's
1) Poorly made- Terrible stitching that was coming apart almost straight away.
2) Faulty sleep mode- Doesn't work after it goes into sleep mood unless you switch it on and off again.
3) Hard to hold- Head barely moves, just sort of sways, most of the movement is the arms which looks nice from a distance but means my daughter can't hold the doll properly and when she does get a grip, the arms start to make an awful clicking sound because they can't move correctly.
4) Body not soft- there seem to be a lot of mechanics to this doll so the soft body isn't really soft at all.
5) Bad accessories- the doll comes with a tiny silly sheep that does nothing and a pointless bottle as the doll doesn't drink.
6) Not a lot of functions- the doll burps, cries, sort of laughs and moves its arms, Thats it! unlike version 5 that cries real tears, drinks, has a lullaby toy, dummy.
7) Doesn't fit in the baby Annabell pushchair- moving arms mean it doesn't fit in the pushchair.
We had a truly awful experience and to be honest Zapf don't seem to care that their new doll is rubbish, thank goodness Argos were so understanding (lost original receipt) and returned my money. I wouldn't have bought anything from zapf again but my daughter misses "baby!" and has a tonne of accessories for the Baby Annabell but actually the Version 5 is fab!