Maileg Mice Guide: Sizes & Choosing Your First Mouse

Welcome to our Maileg Mouse Guide. We’ve been sharing the magic of these charming toys since 2018, and from circus mice to beach mice, we’ve seen them all! So we're perfectly placed to help you choose your first Maileg character. Maileg mice are at the heart of the miniature world, and this guide will introduce you to the whole mouse family while helping you decide which one is the perfect start for your collection.

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An introduction to Maileg mice

What are Maileg mice?

Maileg mice are charming little toys, suitable for ages 3+ and designed to inspire imaginative, small-world play. Thoughtfully made and full of character, they are toys that invite storytelling, and gentle, open-ended play.

Maileg Mouse Sizes & Family Members

Maileg mice come in four main sizes, each representing a different member of the family:

• Mum/Dad/Grandparents (approximately 16cm)
• Big Brothers and Sisters (approximately 13cm)
• Little Brothers and Sisters (approximately 11cm)
• Baby Mice (approximately 8cm)

Our 👉Maileg mouse size guide dives deeper into the sizes of Maileg mice. To learn more about Maileg sizing as a whole  👉Explore the Maileg Size Guide →

Maileg Matchbox Mice

Matchbox mice are some of the most iconic Maileg toys. They come with a mattress, pillow and blanket all neatly stored in a beautifully illustrated vintage-style matchbox. These mice are often a first introduction to Maileg and remain favourites for both play and gifting.

Maileg Mice with magnetic hands

Some mice have magnets in their hands, allowing them to interact with accessories that are made from metal, including items such as the vacuum cleaner, cups, bonfire set, tricycles and scooter handlebars. More on this later. 

Maileg Mouse Themes

Maileg release two collections a year and often these include a range of new mice designed around a particular theme. Over the years there have been beach mice, surfing mice, ballet mice, royal mice and even circus mice. It's always exciting to see what theme Maileg will dream up next!

New Maileg Mouse Collections & Retired Designs

Maileg releases two collections each year. Some classic mice, such as the iconic matchbox mice, remain in the collection but are refreshed with new fabrics and bedding. Others are discontinued, becoming 'rare and retired' collector’s pieces over time.

How to Choose Your First Maileg Mouse

When choosing your first Maileg mouse, it helps to think about what will spark the most joy. You might pick a mouse based on a theme or interest, such as a ballerina for a child who loves to dance, or a hiking mouse for a grown-up who enjoys the outdoors.

You can also choose by family role, such as a big brother or a little sister mouse, or lean into fairy tales with a mouse from the royal collection.

Finally, consider how your child likes to play: will they enjoy dressing their mouse, sending it off on a tricycle or scooter, tucking it into bed or hosting tea parties?

Choose your first Maileg mouse by interest 

Choosing a mouse that already fits a child’s interests makes it easier for stories to flow naturally. Maileg mice are wonderful at reflecting a child’s interests (or a grown-up’s too).

• Love ballet or dance? A ballerina mouse is an obvious choice. 
  
• Enjoy the outdoors and adventure? A mouse from the Maileg hiking collection would be perfect!
  
• Drawn to fairy tales and castles? Princesses and any mouse from the Royal Collection would be a wonderful gift, 
  

Choose a mouse for how your child likes to play

If scooters or tricycles are going to be part of the fun, you’ll need a mouse with magnets in their hands to help them hold on. For children who love bedtime routines, a matchbox mouse comes with an instant cosy sleeping setup. And if dressing and re-dressing their mouse sounds appealing, it’s a good idea to consider clothing availability too, so that their mouse can build a little wardrobe as they play. Maileg create lots of fabulous outfits for Maileg mice, particularly for mums & dads and big brothers & sisters. 

When to choose a mouse with magnetic hands?

Some Maileg mice have magnets hidden in their hands, which makes play extra fun because they can hold onto metal items like scooter handlebars, cooking utensils and other accessories. If you’re planning to add a scooter or tricycle to your mouse’s world, it’s important to choose carefully. Only Big Brother and Big Sister mice with magnets can hold handlebars properly and ride wheeled accessories comfortably. Some Little Sister and Little Brother mice do have magnets, but they’re not tall enough to use scooters or trikes with ease. Mum and Dad size mice don’t generally have magnets and are also too tall for scooters and tricycles. 

Find out more in our  👉guide to Maileg mice with magnetic hands  in which you'll learn which mice have magnetic hands and what they can do with them.

Still not sure? Here's our recommendation for your first Maileg mouse

Of course, the choice is always yours, but if you’d like one Maileg mouse that offers the most versatility, we usually suggest starting with a Big Brother or Big Sister mouse with magnets in their hands. This size fits all mouse-sized furniture, has a wide range of outfits available, and can use scooters, tricycles and other accessories. A big brother or sister is a lovely all-rounder and often chosen by many of our customers as a first mouse.

Explore more guides

Ready to get to know Maileg Bunnies and Rabbits?  Explore the Maileg Rabbits & Bunnies Guide →

Thinking about starting a dolls house project? Explore the Maileg Dolls House Guide →

Want to understand Maileg sizes? Explore the Maileg Size Guide →

Learn about Maileg furniture, dolls house compatibility and sizes: Explore the Maileg Furniture Guide →