If virtual animals are just not 'real' enough, this lifelike Baby Alive doll might do the trick.

This doll not only coos and giggles, but it also goes to the toilet.

The Baby Alive Learns To Potty doll sells for $129.90 and has been available at OG department stores and Toys 'R' Us since 2006.

It was recently in the news after making it to a list in the United States of hot toys for the holiday season.

Made by Hasbro, the animatronic Baby Alive comes with her own toilet, a change of diapers and baby formula in green pea and banana flavours. There is also a milk bottle.

Both OG and Toys 'R' Us declined to reveal sales figures.

But a spokesman for OG said the dolls were especially popular over the recent Christmas season.

Although the toy is touted as suitable for children aged three and above, parents will probably have to be roped in to help out during playtime with Baby Alive.

The powdered doll food is first mixed with water and then fed to the doll.

So realistic is Baby Alive that her mouth moves and she appears to 'chew' on the spoon.

Soon, she will ask to go to the toilet. Hesitate or fumble with the diaper before putting her on the potty and she will do the deed anyway, as she did on this reporter's dress during the test.

After that, there is a greenish-yellow mess that smells like sulphur to clean up.

Replacement packets of doll food and diapers are sold separately at $9.90 each.

On this newfangled doll, sociologist Paulin Straughan says: 'For children, the more realistic it is, the more intriguing it is to them.

'However, at the end of the day, the technology might be new and unique but the idea behind it still feeds the traditional and old-fashioned need of gender socialisation.'

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on Jan 4, 2009.