American Girl Dolls for a 5 year old..

[littlbugmom]

My daughter is 8yrs old and loves the stories behind the AG characters but she also wanted a Just Like You. We got her the JLY and the Kit doll for christmas, last year.

She was a little disappointed that the JLY doesn't really look much like her at all. We did our best to pick the hair, color, eyes etc... that best matched her but they just didn't offer anything that matched well. They don't offer my dd's hair, if she got the right color eyes the doll had freckles, if she found one without freckles, it didn't come with the right hair..etc...

She adores her Kit doll and does play with her JLY, but doesn't love it.

 

[princesspwrhr]

Okay, not to totally hijack (even though it kind of is).....

I've been thinking about getting DD2 the Bitty Twins for Christmas. She caught me looking at them on the computer recently and went nuts! Will Bitty Baby's clothes fit on the Bitty Twins? And which one is better? I liked the twins because they had hair and more options (haircolor, boy and girl dolls), but, frankly, Bitty Baby has cuter clothes...and the matching ones.

ETA - And I was also wondering if Preemie baby clothes will fit on the dolls.

Bitty Baby clothes fit Bitty Twins.

Preemie baby clothes do not fit well, they are are too long in the torso and depending on the manufacturer also can be a bit wide.

Bitty Twins are a bit wider than the AG dolls and AG dolls are also taller - haven't tried to switch shoes around. My 10 yo has 3 AG dolls and my younger two each have one of the Bitty Twins.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

DD got her first one last Xmas (at 4). She absolutely loves her. She goes everywhere with us (which is currently a concern about her coming to Disney. Trying to convince DD that she needs to stay in the room! )

She has the Asian Just Like You doll. We are not Asian but that is the one she wanted. She tells everyone that Miss Claudia is adopted from Korea! This year she wants Kit from Santa.

I am thinking she is gonna want to bring this doll on our trip too! I don't care so much for her to play with it on the plane, but def. not the parks-guess who would be lugging it around all day!!! And I sure ain't gonna leave it in the stroller!!

That is so funny about the little Asian doll. I like them too-I think they are very pretty. I tried to talk her into Kit-she loved the movie, has the SAME haircut, with the little bow on the side and has big blue eyes. Nothin' doin'--she said she doesn't like the way any of those look(the historical dolls). I think they are beautiful!! Maybe I should just order me one-maybe then she'ld want it!!

 

[LisaNJ25]

My olders dd got Julie this past Christms..She was 8. She was never really a doll player when she was younger.

She just went to the Americn Girl Store in NYC monday for her birthday. She has lunch and mini birthday party. She came home with Mia lol. She also has Julie's hair done there.

That said.. I also have set of toddlers turning 3 and 4 next week. My almost 3yo son lovessss the dolls. He has meltdowns over them You should see him with the catalog. So he keeps asking for Julie so I got him the knock off versions from michaels. My 4yo wants Molly so I got her the dark hair one.

A budget tip is the shoes and clothes from michaels, ac moore fit the dolls fine. I just cant see paying $30 for doll outfit. My dd even got pair of croc knock off for $3.50. We alot of the clothes.. even the underwear and hangers.

I am sure you dd will love it..

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Lisa- that's hilarious. I can just see a little guy reading that catalog!!!Aren't litlle kids the cutest!!?? I love 'em to death--and 3 is such a fun age. Thanks for the tip about Michael's I will have to check that out. I have already been looking through the A.G. sale items!!

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Oh yeah, my 5 yr old son LOVES the dolls too.

 

[mom2my2gr8kids]

OH My Gosh!! That is the same one my dd wants! Has to have those earrings!!! I just thought that it looked big-size wise, but she wants it!! I think I am going to get her the ballet outfit to go with it. She takes ballet, so I think that will be fun. If I find any cute outfits on sale I'll get that to go with it.
We got Coconut at Barnes & Noble a while back. So...I guess I just need to get busy!! How long does it take for this stuff to get shipped & is it gonna be in a box that isn't a dead giveaway?

My dd has all but 2 of the dolls and the JLY ones. We order stuff all the time and it comes in a plain brown box .. can't tell it is from them at all!!!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I am thinking she is gonna want to bring this doll on our trip too! I don't care so much for her to play with it on the plane, but def. not the parks-guess who would be lugging it around all day!!! And I sure ain't gonna leave it in the stroller!!

That is so funny about the little Asian doll. I like them too-I think they are very pretty. I tried to talk her into Kit-she loved the movie, has the SAME haircut, with the little bow on the side and has big blue eyes. Nothin' doin'--she said she doesn't like the way any of those look(the historical dolls). I think they are beautiful!! Maybe I should just order me one-maybe then she'ld want it!!

Well if we hadn't seen the movie, I'm sure she wouldn't be asking for Kit. She actually had a blonde JLY doll originally picked out but changed her pick to Kit after the movie. Again, she's not blonde...she doesn't quite get the concept of "JLY"

 

[Minnie's Friend]

My DD just turned 6 and got her first AG doll for her birthday. We got her Kit and she is in love and was so excited. She had talked about taking her birthday money to buy the bed from Target for it but has now decided to buy clothes after looking through the catalog. She got the Target bathtub and slumber party kit for her birthday from her gram.

Back in July there was a thread and it included links to two discussion boards all about American Girl dolls. One of them was not taking new subscribers until August as the person running it was on vacation. Do any of you have a link to the discussion boards as I can't find that thread anymore?

Thanks!!!

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Back in July there was a thread and it included links to two discussion boards all about American Girl dolls. One of them was not taking new subscribers until August as the person running it was on vacation. Do any of you have a link to the discussion boards as I can't find that thread anymore?

Thanks!!!

http://agfansboard.proboards56.com/index.cgi?
http://agplaythings.com/

 

[momma of 2]

I was thinking of getting my daughter a jyl doll for her 5th birthday this year. Both of her older cousins have one and she obsesses over them. She has a bitty baby that she got for her first birthday and Emma goes EVERYWHERE with us. I was a little nervious about getting an AG doll because I did not want to take that "baby doll" playing phase from her. Have any of you had that problem with getting an AG doll at this age?

 

[lovin'DVC]

My girls are 9 and 11, and still LOVE their AG dolls. I think any of the bigger dolls would be fine for a younger child, as long as they are able to take care of the hair, (or have a mom that will help brush) or they choose a doll with shorter hair. My younger daughter got Kaya when she was 6 or 7 and that doll has long hair that is hopelessly tangled now. The bitty twins were a hit for my younger kids - AG doesn't make solo boy dolls, so my twin boys were able to have a doll like them!

As far as clothes, we've found that the Build a Bear clothes fit the AG dolls pretty well. We've also gotten some clothes on clearance at AG that were very reasonable.

Terry

 

[minnie2]

My 4 year old will be getting a Just like me AG doll for Christmas from Santa. She wants a doll and the bath tub with fake bubbles. I figure she'll play with it at this age and might not when she's 8 or 9. She plays with her bitty baby, so I know she'll play with the bigger doll. She doesn't like the dolls that are suppose to look like her, so she'll be getting something different. She already has coconut and licorice.

My dd 8 got the bath set and the hair styling center from Santa and it is adorable! She played with it all Christmas day and now she has her girls take a bath then they get their hair done!

I am soooo glad I posted this! Makes me feel more at ease to know your girls don't like the historical dolls either Nah, I am glad they are about her age and they really enjoy them.That's quite a chunck a' change for a doll that they really don't love enough to play with often.

Are ya'll early Christmas shoppers as well? I just love 2 know I can enjoy Fall, and then the holiday season baking cookies, and hanging out with the kids without all that pressure. The adults on my list are the killers!!!!

Also, my oldest son's bday is the first week of Dec. so, that's a big stresser there!! He always has a hard time trying to decide what he really wants to do, and since the weather is usually yucky here, we are limited. I would flip if I had to do his birthday and all my Christmas shopping at the same time Of course by this time of year I am usually wrapping up the details on a secret/surprise Disney trip, so that does fill my days Ha!!

My dd LOVES the historical ones! When she was 5 all she wanted was Samantha for her 5th bday she begged everyone. We were moving shortly after her bday to a new state so my mom bought her Samantha so she had a friend in the new house. well Samantha sat on her lap the whole 14 hour trip driving from GA to IL! There is where the obsession began for both Mema and her dgd! since then my mom has gotten her a new on for every bday and when she comes up to Chicago to visit we always end up letting her 'look' at the AG store and suprise suprise dd always wals out with a new doll None of them are the JLM dolls. This last time dd was looking at them and my mom said all the ones she had already looked like her especailly Nicki and she has Nicki and her name IS Nikki!

I admit it I love them too so much so Mema bought me a mini Molly doll since she is my fav. I have tried for yrs to convince Nikki to get Molly and she just didn't like her so of course now that I have a mini Molly, Nikki keeps saying how lonely she is and maybe she should play with HER AG friends. UM get your own kid

Anyway to answer the OP your dd will love it I say go for it!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Okay ladies!! Guess what? We have been looking at that JLY doll again, checking out the clothes---she saw the Elizabeth doll..... and fell in love!! She actually likes her better than the JLY. I was about to place an order, but now I think I should wait and see if she flip- flops again!! Can you take Elizabeth's hair down and brush it, or does it stay pulled back all the time? She loves the pink dress that El. comes in and wants the green summer dress. That's great cause I loved it too!!! She also said" l think her face is just soooo prettier!!" Well, what to do!! I personally like the historical dolls better, so maybe this will be a hit!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Okie dokie, next question: do you ever get AG stuff from Ebay?

 

[momma of 2]

I just got a puppy costume for bitty baby twins, a retired outfit that I have looking for like forever, and the birthday outfit for bitty baby. Everything I got was in great shape. I love ebay

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

thanks-they always look good, but I didn't know if they were actually worth it. Has anyone actually bought an AG doll from them?

 

[minnie2]

Okay ladies!! Guess what? We have been looking at that JLY doll again, checking out the clothes---she saw the Elizabeth doll..... and fell in love!! She actually likes her better than the JLY. I was about to place an order, but now I think I should wait and see if she flip- flops again!! Can you take Elizabeth's hair down and brush it, or does it stay pulled back all the time? She loves the pink dress that El. comes in and wants the green summer dress. That's great cause I loved it too!!! She also said" l think her face is just soooo prettier!!" Well, what to do!! I personally like the historical dolls better, so maybe this will be a hit!

My daughter has Elizabeth and Last i asked Elisabeth is her fav doll but Julie is her fav books . Yes you can take the hair down.

Okie dokie, next question: do you ever get AG stuff from Ebay?

We have never gotten one of the AG dolls off ebay BUT my mom has ordered knock off stuff. She got this cute wicker sofa.

Most of her AG clothes I have made or my MIL has made or she has gotten right from AG place.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks! I wanted to start ordering some stuff for the kids in the next week or so....hate to drag it out.So, this will be a good start.

Again--thanks ladies (& daughters!) for all the good input! Ya'll have helped with a big decision!!

 

[KimTinVA]

My 5 year old twins just got the just like you dolls for their bday a week ago and have been with them 24-7. I also got the beds from Target which are great. I have also ordered disney outfits off of ebay, one aristocats and one hannah montanta for my daughters which are what they are each really into right now for their dolls. I have seen a lot of custom outfits for the dolls on ebay. I think i will let them pick out a princess outfit in disney for their dolls that fit the my disney dolls. It's scary the doll outfits cost as much as their clothes!!