Dress Up & Pretend Play

Dress Up & Pretend Play covers over 3,000 lines for role-play at home and in nursery. More than 1,600 are dress-up costumes and accessories, including princess dresses, superhero outfits, masks, headwear and children's jewellery. The other big group is pretend play, which includes play kitchens and cookware, play food, tool benches, doctor kits, cash registers, pretend smartphones and washable play make-up.

Explore by theme

• Kitchen and food – nearly 570 kitchen toys and 220 play-food sets, from wooden pots and pans to ice-cream stands.
• Costumes – about 660 costumes from Disguise, Spooktacular Creations and others.
• Jobs and grown-up play – medical kits, play tools, money and banking sets.
• Accessories – bracelets, necklaces, crowns, wands and play make-up.

Ages and prices

This range is aimed squarely at preschoolers. Roughly 76% of the age-graded items are rated from 3–4 years and 11% from 5–7, while toddler-safe pieces such as soft play food make up about 8%. Costumes and play sets begin at £16, half cost £41 or less, and more than 840 are below £30.

Brands

Along with Disguise, you'll find Melissa & Doug wooden role-play sets, JOYIN, Meland, Lehoo Castle and Blinger.

Costumes, flames and small parts

Costumes for children should be kept away from candles and open flames. Play make-up and jewellery sets contain small parts and are graded 3+. Pretend phones and cash registers that light up or make sounds may use button cell batteries, so check the screw-fastened cover is closed. Some felt boards and play food use small magnets, which should be kept away from toddlers.

FAQs

How do I choose a costume size?

Each listing gives the maker's age range and, where available, height in centimetres. If you're between sizes, size up.

Can a costume be returned after trying it on?

Unworn costumes in their original condition can be returned free within 30 days.

Where are the dolls and dolls' houses?

See Dolls & Accessories and Dolls Houses.

Start again from all categories or brands A–Z at any time. For role play with dolls, prams and dolls' houses, see Dolls & Accessories.