The range of dolls that falls under the description of a Waldorf doll is extremely wide. They are not only traditional dress-up dolls with joints, but also include cuddle dolls for babies and smaller children, as well as gnomes and peg dolls. 

With regard to the soft kind of Waldorf dolls, there are three main types, each of which is appropriate for children’s various stages of development (also illustrated in the graphic below).

• Blanket or butterfly doll (suitable for newborns and babies (aged 0-2): Blanket or butterfly dolls are very simple dolls consisting of a head with recognisable facial features of eyes and mouth, to which a “blanket” is attached. The hands and feet can be knots or small stuffed pockets in the corners of the blanket, which are ideal for babies to hold on to and to bite when they start teething.  These dolls do not have hair but a fabric cap.
• Cuddle or pillow dolls (suitable for toddlers (aged 2-3): Cuddle or pillow dolls are similar to the blanket dolls in that their heads are covered with a hat rather than hair, but their bodies are stuffed with carded wool, making them more huggable.
• Jointed dress-up dolls (suitable for children (over 4): Jointed dress-up dolls with long hair and limbs are ideal for older children, as they have (or are developing) the skills to dress and undress the dolls, or braid their hair.