American Girl Doll question

[tink2]

DD is 8 and asking for an American Girl doll- her cousin got one for Christmas. I have avoided this like the plague for years- I just think it is too much to pay for a doll- and yep, her older cousin cut her first American Doll's hair (at 10 years old). Anyway, went to the movies to see Enchanted the other day and a promo for a Kit movie came on- dh and I looked at each other and said oh well, may as well give in. I do think dd will take care of the doll and she does love the new doll she got for Christmas- similar to AG, just a lot cheaper. So, I'm starting to grow on the idea. My mom wants to buy her one (yea) since she bought the other two granddaughters one. She wants to do it for her bday in June. Now, my question- when will the doll of the year for 2008 come out? My niece got Nikki this year- 2007's doll of the year - and she is beautiful. My mom wants me to go ahead and pick one out for dd, but I'd like to wait to see the 2008 doll. Will she come out in Jan or do they wait until close to Christmas to release the new one?

 

[Elmo888]

Mia is the new doll, and she was introduced on Oprah in November. She will be available to buy on January 1st. We just received an AG catalog yesterday, and Mia was featured on the front of the catalog.

I agree about the expense, but the tie to the books is great. Every doll comes with a book, and 8 yo is the perfect age to read the book. (My mom bought both of DD7's dolls, too...one for her 7th birthday, and one this past Christmas...she'll be 8 in Feb.)

I just noticed that we will be at WDW at the same time!

 

[tink2]

Thanks Elmo- I am new to the AG thing. I'm anxious to see what Mia looks like- couldn't find her on the website. Thanks for the info- I'll tell my mom to wait until next week to discuss with dd which one she wants so she'll have the new doll to choose from.
Yep- not far now until our trips!!! Here's hoping for great weather and low crowds....

 

[gonemousin']

Thanks Elmo- I am new to the AG thing. I'm anxious to see what Mia looks like- couldn't find her on the website. Thanks for the info- I'll tell my mom to wait until next week to discuss with dd which one she wants so she'll have the new doll to choose from.
Yep- not far now until our trips!!! Here's hoping for great weather and low crowds....

She's a cutie...red hair, green eyes and freckles.

 

[TinaLala]

Be very carefull! Mothers who have started their child on the American Girl Dolls have regretted it in the end. The items cost a fortune and girls usually aren't happy with one or two items.

Personally if it wasn't for my MIL getting my first daughter a Bitty baby we wouldn't have them. However we purchased the Disney princesses and neither daughter is even interested in them, so I haven't bothered with them. Trust me my oldest daughter's friends are totally interested in them. They go to NY to the store and have the tea party thing. I've seen my friends spend hundreds of dollars on clothes and accessories only to see their daughter play with it for a few days and be done with it. Ask yourself if your daughter will really play with it before you invest a lot of money into it.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Santa just brought my dd7 her first AG and she loves it so much. If you think that you will want to get a few things for her check out there site right now they are having a 50% off sale. Just make sure that when you/your MIL do get her that you order a brush for her. My dd had no idea that the AG's even existed until last month when we got a catalog after ordering the Just Like Me doll. Now that she knows about them we have seen two of the AG holiday movies one w/ samantha and one w/ felicity and so now she wants those dolls and we have looked into getting the books for her now she has already read the book that came w/ her dd. I bought the during free shipping so you might want to keep an eye out for that I don't know how often they offer it but it helps.

 

[tink2]

Be very carefull! Mothers who have started their child on the American Girl Dolls have regretted it in the end. The items cost a fortune and girls usually aren't happy with one or two items.

Personally if it wasn't for my MIL getting my first daughter a Bitty baby we wouldn't have them. However we purchased the Disney princesses and neither daughter is even interested in them, so I haven't bothered with them. Trust me my oldest daughter's friends are totally interested in them. They go to NY to the store and have the tea party thing. I've seen my friends spend hundreds of dollars on clothes and accessories only to see their daughter play with it for a few days and be done with it. Ask yourself if your daughter will really play with it before you invest a lot of money into it.

This is exactly why I haven't started this with her. Right now, none of her friends have them that I know of or have heard of. My mother has been on me about this for about two years now- letting her buy dd an AG doll b/c she bought the other granddaughters one. Dh said absolutely not- ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a doll. But since dd has started asking, my mother is dead set on it. I am going to have to try to make dd understand that it is a one time deal- this doll will be it (I know, good luck on that one). Seriously though, I don't foresee any of her best friends' mothers buying them- we've discussed it before and her very best friend asked for a My Twinn doll this year and her mother just couldn't make herself buy it. So maybe if they don't get them, she will be content with just one. Plus, she will be 9 her bday and I'm thinking she won't be that 'into' dolls after a year or so.
Anyway, thanks for the help and wish me luck!!!

 

[bear_mom]

Be very carefull! Mothers who have started their child on the American Girl Dolls have regretted it in the end. The items cost a fortune and girls usually aren't happy with one or two items.

Personally if it wasn't for my MIL getting my first daughter a Bitty baby we wouldn't have them. However we purchased the Disney princesses and neither daughter is even interested in them, so I haven't bothered with them. Trust me my oldest daughter's friends are totally interested in them. They go to NY to the store and have the tea party thing. I've seen my friends spend hundreds of dollars on clothes and accessories only to see their daughter play with it for a few days and be done with it. Ask yourself if your daughter will really play with it before you invest a lot of money into it.

My dd has played with her doll for over two years and she plays with it almost daily still. She has gotten a lot of the accessories for her doll for her birthday and Chirstmas presents, they make great gift ideas for people.

Emily

 

[Bugsmom73]

I disagree. DD has SOME stuff from AG store but she is just as happy with the clothing from target and craft sales. She understood that if she got a doll bed, it would not be from the catalog. FWIW, she got hers when she was 6 and we are considering Mia for her birthday. Mainly, b/c Mia looks like DD, who is a red with smattering of freckles on her nose, and green eyes.

 

[tjmw2727]

Be very carefull! Mothers who have started their child on the American Girl Dolls have regretted it in the end. The items cost a fortune and girls usually aren't happy with one or two items.

Personally if it wasn't for my MIL getting my first daughter a Bitty baby we wouldn't have them. However we purchased the Disney princesses and neither daughter is even interested in them, so I haven't bothered with them. Trust me my oldest daughter's friends are totally interested in them. They go to NY to the store and have the tea party thing. I've seen my friends spend hundreds of dollars on clothes and accessories only to see their daughter play with it for a few days and be done with it. Ask yourself if your daughter will really play with it before you invest a lot of money into it.

The same could be said for any toy, doll or video games! Look at webkins for example one of DD's friends has 40 -that dosen't mean webkins are something to be wary of

My dd's each got a bitty baby as toddlers and played hard with them and they are still in great shape. They each have one AG girl and between them most of the books - wonderful for the 7+ set IMHO. My 11yo got her Kit for her 7th birthday and still plays with her many times during the week. The accessories are pricey but very well made so kids can actually play and dress the doll without the clothes ripping or not fitting right.

Compared to many of todays toys I find the AG company great because the dolls and clothing are age appropriate and teach good messages for growing girls as well as history. Compared to barbie, bratz or even webkins I would rather put my $ into the AG products.

My dd's each got an AG doll as a gift from my MIL. Since then they have gotten outfits as gifts and often saved their own $ for a book, outfit or other accessory. We have spent a day at AG in NYC and had a wonderful time shopping without overspending. I for one don't regret one dollar I have spend on AG dolls or products for my dd's.

TJ

 

[Cinderella1122]

I would definately get your daughter an American Girl Doll. I loved the books and dolls growing up. I received a bitty baby when I was really young ( sadly it didn't survive my youth) and I recieved Felicty and Samantha between the ages of 6 and 10. My younger sister also received a bitty baby at the age of 3 and Molly when she was 6. I thought the fad would die out, but it seems that they are more popular now then ever. All 3 of my nieces received a bitty baby when they were real little and 2 of them have graduated to AG dolls. My 9 year old niece has 4 dolls, my 4 year old niece received her first (nikki) this christmas, and my 18 month old niece received her bitty baby this christmas.

I guess to make a long story short, they are a great investment. I still have mine (and im 24 years old) they sit on my nightstand and my nieces love to come over and see my dolls.

 

[livndisney]

Be very carefull! Mothers who have started their child on the American Girl Dolls have regretted it in the end. The items cost a fortune and girls usually aren't happy with one or two items.

Personally if it wasn't for my MIL getting my first daughter a Bitty baby we wouldn't have them. However we purchased the Disney princesses and neither daughter is even interested in them, so I haven't bothered with them. Trust me my oldest daughter's friends are totally interested in them. They go to NY to the store and have the tea party thing. I've seen my friends spend hundreds of dollars on clothes and accessories only to see their daughter play with it for a few days and be done with it. Ask yourself if your daughter will really play with it before you invest a lot of money into it.

I completely disagree with this. My DD has the Bitty twins and I in no way regret it. She LOVES them! She dresses them every morning, feeds them and loves them. She reads to them and sleeps with them. I would much rather her play with the AG dolls than some of the "fashion" dolls available. These dolls do not have purple lips, eyeliner and wild hair The clothing for the AG dolls covers "everything" and is very well made. If the price of the AG clothing is a concern there are LOTS of people who make and sell nice clothes to fit the AG dolls.

 

[powellrj]

I found this picture of the doll. She is really cute!
http://dolldiaries.com/mia-st-clair-american-girl-doll-of-the-year-2008/

 

[Elmo888]

This is exactly why I haven't started this with her. Right now, none of her friends have them that I know of or have heard of. My mother has been on me about this for about two years now- letting her buy dd an AG doll b/c she bought the other granddaughters one. Dh said absolutely not- ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a doll. But since dd has started asking, my mother is dead set on it. I am going to have to try to make dd understand that it is a one time deal- this doll will be it (I know, good luck on that one). Seriously though, I don't foresee any of her best friends' mothers buying them- we've discussed it before and her very best friend asked for a My Twinn doll this year and her mother just couldn't make herself buy it. So maybe if they don't get them, she will be content with just one. Plus, she will be 9 her bday and I'm thinking she won't be that 'into' dolls after a year or so.
Anyway, thanks for the help and wish me luck!!!

WOW...it sounds very similar to my experience. I asked my mom to buy the first doll - with the understanding that it was expensive and I completely understood if she didn't want to. After that, I told my mom that one was more than enough. Well, DD7 wanted another one, and I still said no way. Her 5 yo friend already has two! Anyway, my mom was insisting on buying DD7 one for Christmas. I told her no, but she wore me down. Or beat me down. (She said "My sisters and I always received a doll for Christmas.") So, now DD7 has two, but, I swear, that's it! (Even DD3 tells DD7 "you already have one, so you don't need another one.")

My mom did ask me which one. DD7 wanted the girl of the year, Nicki, but I prefer the historical dolls and their stories. So, DD7 has Felicity, and, for some reason, she's so pretty (prettier than Samantha, DD7's other doll).

Anyway, here are some inexpensive AG finds (well, non-AG substitutes!)...

Target has the salon chair with accessories.

Ikea has a doll bed made of unfinished wood for $20. And you can paint it any color that your DD likes! And it comes with bedding. It is a bed, not a crib. As a bonus, two AG dolls actually fit side by side.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10101664

Good luck!

 

[Elmo888]

BTW, I have a 12 yo niece in the 7th grade who started getting them at age 4. Now, she has 5 AG dolls, and she still plays with them. My SIL took my niece to the new AG store in the area last month. So, you never know. (Still not a good reason to have 5 of them, but maybe a reason to have one!)

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

When my dd was 4 my MIL wanted to get her one. I told her no way, that they were too expensive and that she needed to wait. Six months later she set up a girls outing to spend the entire day at the American Doll Store. I gave in and let her have one, against my gut feeling. I didn't think she would take care of it or appreciate it. I was SO wrong! She picked Elizabeth and loves her to death. She takes very good care of her, I am quite impressed. Last summer we went back to the store and we let her get Felicity, since they go together.

We bought the Sweet Treats food from AG and a tea table from Target. Both of my dd's, age 5 and 2) play with the dolls daily at the tea table. I would say that is one of their favorite things to do. We do have many of the clothes from AG (a family friend spoiled her with them) but most of the other items are from Target or Michael's craft store, they to have a small 18 inch doll area.

She is still to young to really get into the history of the dolls. I look forward to when she can understand it more.

Those dolls get more attention than all the little toys we have laying around and I'd bet that if I added up the price of all the little toys it would compare to getting something from AG.

I guess you never know how much your child will play with it though until they get it.

 

[lynette j in la]

I found dolls with several outifts, items, and extras as well as the sets of books for around $100 to $125 on EBAY. I have never been unpleased in the condition of the clothes, dolls and only the books may have looked slightely used. I even sold the duplicates on Ebay. So for the price of on starter set, I got my DD entire lightly used sets with tons of stuff. The big stuff I got from Target! Just ask questions and look at pictures before you bid...The most important thing to check is the condition of the hair.

 

[TheDizMom]

My DD got hers last year for Christmas and loves her . My MIL got it for her, as she too has for all of her granddaughters. For birthdays and this Christmas she has gotten them new clothes and beds etc. When we were at DW during spring break she got several princess dresses for "Stella". She just loves her and plays with her regularly, and takes very good care of her(she'll be 7 in March). I say go for it and let her enjoy it. The best thing is they can pass them down someday since they are so well made and if grandma is willing to fit the bill you have it made in the shade girl ! My DD has the one that looks most like her, but the new one is very cute too. She has things that are AG and also from Michaels, Target (the bathtub), and we have gotten her several really beautiful things from General Store, which is a local store in the Minneapolis area. They are handmade by a local woman, and I know you can find handmade things at craft sales/fairs and state fairs that are well made and cheaper.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Santa brought the my disney girl Cinderella, Ariel, Minnie, and Jasmine costumes w/ dd's doll. We already have belle and tink for her my disney girl but we need new ones I also just bought snow white NIB on ebay they also have tink and belle but I am going to wait till we go next month b/c they at least 5 dollars more and the cost of shipping the SW wasn't this much so I went ahead and bought her. The only other one that we need at this time is Sleeping Beauty she is the only one we haven't seen.

She is so cute in the costumes and they fit great.

 

[angiejg]

Before we got into them I thought they were overpriced. DD has never been the "doll" type except for Barbies and Pollys. She first started reading the books and fell in love with all the girls. She has read every single American Girl book at least once. We got her first doll, Josephina, last year. We now have five of them. She got one from Santa this Christmas, one from her grandma for her birthday, and she bought the other two with money she saved. We visited the American Girl store in Chicago and it was absolutely incredible. We saw the American Girl Revue and it was fabulous. The girls are such great role models and teach young girls so much. DD only wanted AG stuff for Christmas. We don't have any of the furniture. I do think it's way overpriced. But we have a change of clothes for each of them, their pets, and a couple of accessories. I can't say enough good things about AG!

Angie