Gommu Mini Baby 2 - Natural Rubber Baby Doll: Vanilla

The best toys don't do very much. They leave the imagination to fill in the gaps, and Gommu has absolutely nailed that.

With two tiny eyes, a dummy and the sweetest little outfit, this Mini Baby somehow has more personality than dolls with ten times the detail. It's calm, understated and feels a million miles away from the bright, noisy toys that seem to dominate baby shelves.

Unlike most first dolls, it's made from 100% natural Hevea rubber rather than fabric. That makes it beautifully tactile for little hands, soft enough for babies who are still exploring everything with their mouths and reassuringly durable too. Hevea comes from the sap of the rubber tree, so it's naturally biodegradable once it's eventually been outgrown.

It's also completely hermetically sealed, which is one of those brilliant details you'll probably never notice. Water, dribble and soap can't get inside, so there's no hidden moisture sitting where mould and bacteria can build up. It means this little doll is just as happy joining in with bath time as it is being tucked under an arm for the nursery run.

Each one is handmade and hand-painted, so no two are ever exactly the same.