Maileg mice
35 products
Maileg mice
A mouse of eleven centimetres in a matchbox, with a little blanket and a pillow. That is what Maileg started with, and it is still what the brand is known for. These mice are not soft toys to sleep with but small characters: they have a name, an outfit, a bed of their own, and they take part in stories children make up themselves.
Order before 4 pm on a working day and your order ships the same day.
The sizes: how the family works
This is the most important thing to know before you choose. Maileg works with fixed size lines, and those decide which clothes and furniture fit. In our collection you will find these:
- Baby mouse — around 10 cm, arriving in a matchbox with bedding.
- Little sister and little brother — 10 to 11 cm. The most popular size, and the size of the classic mouse in a box.
- Big sister and big brother — 13 cm, with more detail in the clothing.
- Mum and dad — 15 to 16 cm, the largest of the family.
Why this matters: a jacket for a big sister will not fit a little sister. If you want to add clothes or furniture later, pick one size deliberately and stay with it. Every product page states the height in centimetres.
One thing that causes a lot of confusion: "micro" is not a mouse size at Maileg but a rabbit size. If you are looking for a micro, you want the plush rabbits, not the mice. And because everything is handmade, one mouse differs half a centimetre from the next — that is part of it.
What you will find here
- The royal family — king and queen at 16 cm, with prince and princess at 13 cm. A family you can build up in stages, which makes it a rewarding gift for more than one occasion. There are also royal twins in a matchbox.
- Tooth fairy mice — a little sister and a little brother who turn a wobbly tooth into an occasion. There are separate tooth boxes to go with them.
- Ballerinas and fairies — the ballerina big sister, the little fairy with wings and a ribbon to hang her up by, and the angel in a little suitcase.
- Mice in a matchbox — the classic: a mouse arriving complete with bedding in its own box. There is a little sister, a big sister, a big brother and a baby with a sleeping face on one side and an awake face on the other.
- Out and about — mice on a tricycle, on skis and with a surfboard.
- At work — the waiter at 15 cm and the housekeeper, both from the large size.
Because Maileg brings out a new collection twice a year and retires older items, our range shifts with the seasons. What you see today may be a sought-after piece a year from now.
Washing: simply at 30 degrees
This surprises a lot of people, because a Maileg mouse looks fragile. But the mice are washable at 30 degrees — for most models even in the machine. That is what Maileg's own label says.
What you do need to know: take the clothes and accessories off first, the cardboard of the matchbox obviously cannot go in, and neither can wooden parts such as the skis. Let the mouse dry thoroughly afterwards and push it back into shape while it is still damp. Check the product page to be sure — it can differ slightly per mouse.
From what age?
For virtually every mouse in our collection Maileg states from 3 years. That is entirely down to the small accessories: glasses, shoes, ski poles and loose clothing are not meant for children who still put everything in their mouth.
The real mouse play gets going around that age anyway, when children start inventing stories of their own. Always check the guidance on the product page.
Why mice work so well in play
At our own nurseries we see it daily: small figures with a character of their own set imaginative play in motion the way little else does. A mouse gets tucked into bed, comforted, taken to school, declared ill and made better again.
That is not only fun. In that play children put into words what they are going through themselves — the first day at school, a new baby brother, a visit to the doctor. There is language in it and there is empathy in it, and that is exactly why we keep them on the groups.
Collecting — for grown-ups too
A striking amount of Maileg goes to adult enthusiasts, and that is no accident. Two new collections appear each year and older ones disappear, so some mice become genuinely sought after after a few years. One mouse a year under the Christmas tree or at every birthday, and a collection with a story grows.
Looking for a gift for someone who already has mice? Look at the size of what is already there and choose something from the same line — then it all fits together. Have a look at the full Maileg collection as well, with rabbits, dolls' houses, furniture and little suitcases.
Frequently asked questions about Maileg mice
Which sizes are there and what fits together?
Baby (±10 cm), little sister and little brother (10 to 11 cm), big sister and big brother (13 cm) and mum and dad (15 to 16 cm). Clothes and furniture are made per size line, so stay with one size if you want to expand.
Can a Maileg mouse go in the washing machine?
For most models yes, at 30 degrees. Take the clothes and accessories off first, and keep cardboard and wooden parts out. Let the mouse dry thoroughly afterwards. The exact washing guidance is on every product page.
From what age are Maileg mice suitable?
Maileg states from 3 years for virtually all mice, because of the small accessories. Check the guidance on the product page.
Is there a micro mouse?
No — at Maileg "micro" is a size for the rabbits, not for the mice. The smallest mouse in our collection is the baby at around 10 cm.
Does it come with a box or a bed?
Many of the mice do; it is stated per product. The matchbox with a blanket and a pillow is the best-known example.
Why do mice disappear from the collection?
Maileg releases two collections a year and retires older items. That is why some mice become rare later on — for collectors that is precisely the appeal.
Are Maileg mice soft toys to sleep with?
Not really. They are small figures for imaginative play, with accessories that can come loose. For taking to bed a proper soft toy is more suitable — have a look at our soft toys for that.
What does the name Maileg mean?
It combines the surname of the Danish founders Dorthe and Erik Mailil with "leg", the Danish word for play. The brand has existed since 1999.
