American Girl Dolls- how young is too young for one?

[Sir Ron]

We're going to buy an American Girl doll for our almost 9 year old. She fulfilled her deal with us. We told her that if she read all the books in the Molly series she got for Christmas last year, she could have one. Forget that I think it's absurd to spend that much on a dumb doll.

My quandary is that our four year old daughter would probably also think she can have one too. She loves looking at the catalogs and is in love with dolls. She does a good job with normal dolls, however, I do not think she is old enough to properly take care of an American Girl. So I have three options in my eyes.

1) Buy her one and cringe if she destroys it. lol
2) Don't get her one and hopefully she doesn't get upset on Christmas. (She's a very good child but I'm not sure if a 4 year old would understand that she can't get an AG but her sister can.)
3) Find some other big doll that's about the same size as an American Girl doll but doesn't cost nearly as much. (If anyone can recommend one, I'd appreciate it.)

Thanks for the advice.

Sir Ron and Bethy

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Try an American Girl Bitty Baby for the younger girl.

 

[Minnie824]

My 3.5 yr old has an american girl doll. We took our 6 & 3.5 yr olds to the store this summer and they got dolls and outfits. My only issue with both of them, is not losing the clothing and accessories. I took a big box, made a way to hang the clothes, and store stuff in the bottom. I'd get the 4 yo a doll...it won't get destroyed.

 

[cccm]

Bitty Baby!

 

[dcgrumpy]

I bought my 4yo a couple of mini dolls for Christmas last year. They are usually $20, I paid $15 on Overstock.com. She really likes th AG dolls but is way too young to take care of them.

 

[KariC]

We got an Amer. Girl for our then four year old DD. It was probably too early. Jess' hair can be quite the mess most days. However, she is taking better care of her now, so...all is good. And we are about ready to let her choose another. I really wanted to get her a Bitty Baby or the Bitty Twins (since she's a twin), but she really wanted Jess...last years girl of the year.

Anyway....if you want the doll to be special for the 9 year old, who had to read books to get the doll....don't get one for the 4 year old. You did ask your 9 year old to "earn" the priviledge of the Amer. Girl. Now, you could go to Target and get one of their "My Generation" dolls for your 4 year old, and hopefully the 9 year old won't feel cheated by that.

I know it's tough because you want everything to be equal. We struggle here sometimes with that type of thing too!

 

[Sir Ron]

We got an Amer. Girl for our then four year old DD. It was probably too early. Jess' hair can be quite the mess most days. However, she is taking better care of her now, so...all is good. And we are about ready to let her choose another. I really wanted to get her a Bitty Baby or the Bitty Twins (since she's a twin), but she really wanted Jess...last years girl of the year.

Anyway....if you want the doll to be special for the 9 year old, who had to read books to get the doll....don't get one for the 4 year old. You did ask your 9 year old to "earn" the priviledge of the Amer. Girl. Now, you could go to Target and get one of their "My Generation" dolls for your 4 year old, and hopefully the 9 year old won't feel cheated by that.

I know it's tough because you want everything to be equal. We struggle here sometimes with that type of thing too!

Thanks so much for your input! I agree about the "feeling special" aspect. Thanks!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Some kids are too young at that age, some are not. They are very well made dolls so destroying them isn't so much the issue as can they fully appreciate them.

My DD's got the bitty twins for Christmas last year. They are a great and perfect for that age. They have short hair too so they are more appealing to young girls, but are cuddly and soft. Bitty baby has a hard bald head, I never liked that.

Most BB clothes can fit on the 18 inch dolls and vice versa.

My older DD (6) now has 3 18 inch dolls and is asking for Samantha for Christmas. The 3 year old mostly plays with the bitty twins. My 6 year old got the Hopscotch Hill dolls when she was 4 or 5, but they are discontinued now.

If both girls have dolls, they can play together with them. They are more fun with more then one.

 

[Duchie]

Target has the American Girl sized dolls. They call them the My Generation dolls, I think. I got one for DD when she was young and I wasn't sure if she'd actually like/take care of an AG doll. It has held up EXTREMELY well, and she plays with it quite a lot. For a 4 year old, they are a really good alternative to the AG dolls.

 

[hipporina]

Last year, I got my DD Bitty Twins when she was 4. She is a twin, so they were perfect. She loves them. This year, my mom is getting her one of the Just Like Me American Girls. I will not get her a historical doll until she is a good bit older though.

My older DD (9) got a JLM AG at 7 and a historical at 8. This year she is getting a Girls of Faith doll which is really similar to AG.

 

[DisneyPhD]

My DD never really played with her target doll. It has not held up well at all. The hair is a total mess. She was kind of take it or leave it.

She loves her AG dolls.

I found a madam Alexander 18 inch doll at cost co. Not sure who is getting it. My guess is my 3 year old. It might go to my niece. It was about $25 and looks really well made.

I was not impressed with Target's actual dolls. Don't think because a girl doesn't care for her target dolls she won't use an AG one. Target accessories are good.

 

[Kae]

I would go with Bitty. DD has her Bitty since 3 & is 7 still plays with.

Kae

 

[disney100666]

I think you should get your 4 year old the Bitty Baby or the Bitty Twins if she wants them to be like her sister's. (somewhat)

 

[piglet too]

Another one suggesting to get her a Bitty Baby.

 

[Sir Ron]

My 4 year old is not big on "baby" dolls. When she's ever been given the choice between a baby doll and a Barbie she picks a Barbie. Hmm.. not sure what to do here haha.

 

[crossfamily]

I got my daugher a bitty baby for her first birthday and to this day that is the only one she takes care of. She's 3 now. She has tons of other dolls but I have no idea why she treats that one the best. Its weird.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I bought my 4yo a couple of mini dolls for Christmas last year. They are usually $20, I paid $15 on Overstock.com. She really likes th AG dolls but is way too young to take care of them.

I bought my 3yo a mini doll also. Got her Julie to match her big sisters for xmas.

 

[Buckalew11]

My suggestion was going to be Bitty Baby also. DD always loved Bitty Baby more than her AG doll (though she loved them both).

If she isn't into baby dolls than I am not sure I'd recommend it. She may not be interested. Maybe you could show her the catalog and see if she has a reaction that sounds positive.

This is my take on your dilemma: You made a deal with DD who is 9yo that she was to read all the books before she got the doll. Good deal (I told DD that she could have Kit, her pick, when she could read so she was ready by that Christmas).
I think it would unfair to your 9yo to give your 4yo something that she had to wait for.

I have 2 older sisters and many times this happened to my oldest sister--she'd have to wait and then my middle sister didn't (she'd get it when oldest go it) and sometimes even I would get something they go but DS (8yo older than me) would get.

 

[Sir Ron]

I'm going to buy my oldest an AG doll for sure. I think I'm going to to do one of two things for my youngest. I'm either going to get her an Our Generation doll or get her a few of the High School Musical "barbie" dolls. She loves her Barbies and loves HSM.

 

[Pirate Me]

I think I got my American Girl doll when I was 6..I loved her but she's in the back of the basement storage room now.