Prices, ratings and photos on this shelf are read off the live listings by hand, room by room.

The Bottle House Shelf
Paci questions — everything else about Cry Babies dolls

Paci questions — everything else about Cry Babies dolls

Do they need batteries?

Some do, some do not, and it splits cleanly by room. Everything on the Nursery Floor and the big Disney babies run on batteries — that is what drives the pump and the lights. Every soft Tiny Cuddles baby, every Cuties doll and every mini doll from a capsule works on water and pressure alone.

What water should go in?

Plain cold tap water, through the hole the box shows, using the bottle that came with the doll. Nothing else — no juice, no bath foam, no food colouring to make the tears show up. The channels are narrow and anything with sugar in it will block them for good.

Can a soft one be washed?

Not in a machine. The water reservoir and the valve sit inside the head, and a drum will wreck both. Squeeze out the water, sponge the plush with a little soap, and stand the doll upside down to drain before she dries.

Will an outfit fit my doll?

Match the number, not the character. Outfits on the Stroller Porch are made for the 12-inch Cry Babies body. Tiny Cuddles babies are around nine inches and their pyjamas are sewn on. The folding crib is the flexible piece — anything up to sixteen inches sleeps in it.

How many characters are there?

More than anyone has counted properly, because each series resets the cast. A capsule series runs twelve or more dolls with a rare one hidden inside; the soft Tiny Cuddles sets run six characters each; the Cuties list eight to ten. Every card here repeats the number its own listing states.

Is there a cartoon?

Yes, and it is the reason a child can name a doll she has never owned. The animated series has lived on several platforms and moves between them, so rather than send you to one that has since changed, search the series name on whichever service you already pay for.

Who makes them?

A Spanish toy company, IMC Toys, which also makes the Baby Paws puppy in the Pet Nook. The pyjamas, backpacks and nightgowns in the Pajama Drawer are made by clothing licensees instead, which is why their sizing follows children's charts rather than doll sizes.