Most dolls are made from TPE and silicone, which are inherently soft materials. The doll’s limbs are supported by a metal skeleton, but the hands and feet do not have this support. Therefore, not all dolls are built to stand independently – this is an add-on feature you can purchase at the time of your order.
When you purchase a doll that can stand without assistance, some additional support is required, as we touched on earlier, but this is actually quite simple to achieve. On the bottom of the doll’s feet, three bolts are placed – one near the ball of the foot, one on the outside sole, and one in the heel. Once these are secured by the manufacturer, the doll can stand up and support its own body weight.
Many doll owners find the ability to stand their doll up to be a great thing, but there are a few caveats to keep in mind. Mainly, if you’re into feet, the bolts will certainly take away from the realism, so keep your personal fetishes in mind here. Also, the bolts themselves can damage flooring, which requires special consideration.
Okay, so the bolts can damage your floors, but what can you do about it? It’s easy – socks or shoes! While some flooring materials (such as scratch-resistant vinyl or stone tiles) may be less likely to be damaged, it’s a best practice to put shoes on your doll for protection.
Some manufacturers will include shoes already on the doll, but this isn’t standard since the extra weight can add to the overall shipping costs for both buyers and sellers. If you know your doll is on the way, it’s best to go ahead and have a pair of shoes ready for when they arrive. If the foot size wasn’t included on the listing, reach out to the retailer, and they’ll be able to advise you on the correct shoe sizes.
The shoes don’t need to be anything specific – even cheap slippers from your local store are plenty sufficient. Some people use thick, plushy socks, but from our experience, it can be a bit annoying to try and get these around the bolts. Socks can also grab onto the toenails and pull them out – nothing you can’t fix with a bit of glue, but it’s just an extra hassle.
Another option would be placing a mat, such as a yoga or gym mat, below the doll’s feet. This will effectively protect the flooring beneath. I’ve personally done this with some photoshoots of my dolls, and I just toss a rug or fabric over the top to make it look a bit nicer than just a mat on the floor. I’ve also had good luck with bathroom mats, as they tend to be thicker and come in more aesthetic styles.
At the end of the day, keep in mind that these dolls can weigh 80-100 lbs. Anything applying consistent pressure to flooring can potentially cause indentations, or worse. Particularly if you’re renting, it’s important to protect the flooring. While it may seem as if shoes would be an unnecessary expense, consider how much cheaper it is to buy a pair of slippers as opposed to replacing or restoring floors. It’s a no-brainer!
How do you guys feel about standing dolls? Do you prefer it, or would you rather your dolls have realistic feet?
