American Girl Update

[4littleones]

So I gave my 3 girls each an 18" American Girl Doll and they each also got a 15" bitty baby. My girls ages are 6, 4.5 and 2.5.

My 4 yr old LOVES her 18" doll and likes her bitty. The 6 yr old likes her 18" doll. The 2 yr old is clueless.

At least nobody fought at christmas. But Now DH and I are fighting over how much money I gave the AG company

I just wanted to update because no matter how much advice, thought and planing you do. You really never have any idea how your kids will react to something until it is done.

 

[bdcp]

Two friends at work gave their daughters the 18" doll from Kmart/Walmart/Target. They bought them from two different stores. I just can't remember exactly which ones. They look like AG dolls. The point is, their girls love their dolls and they cost a LOT less. Under about 7 or 8, the kids have no clue whether it's a real AG doll or not so why spend the money?

You're dealing with very young kids who really don't know what they want, especially your two youngest ones.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Two friends at work gave their daughters the 18" doll from Kmart/Walmart/Target. They bought them from two different stores. I just can't remember exactly which ones. They look like AG dolls. The point is, their girls love their dolls and they cost a LOT less. Under about 7 or 8, the kids have no clue whether it's a real AG doll or not so why spend the money?

You're dealing with very young kids who really don't know what they want, especially your two youngest ones.

I took this advice with my then 4 yo. Bought her a cheap Target doll and that doll looked like crap in a couple months.,DD took care of it and even so the Target's doll hair is a matted mess. It looks like a big ball of hair on her head.

At 5, I bought DD "Julie" then the next year she received "Lainie" . She takes very good care of her AG dolls and this is a kid who takes care of nothing.,
Last year at 8 we took a trip to the AG store in Chicago. She still talks about it over a year later.

The cheap dolls can be an option but they are a 1/3 of the price for a reason.
I think the OP made the right decision.
AG things are pricey but such a nice wholesome play option for little girls.

 

[4littleones]

The bitty babies (well they are actually twins, with hair) will likely go up on ebay at some point soon and I saved the original boxes so I will likely get some money back on them.

I bought a fake one from Target and it was nice and all but I fell in love with the AG dolls when I saw one in a thrift store so I returned the Target one and bought AG. I think the resale value on the AG is pretty high and my kids are actually really good with toys. I resell pretty much all of their toys because they are kept in very nice condition so I'm not worried.

I think my mistake was the Bitty twin dolls. I could have done w/o them. I can't just take them away and resell them now. I have to wait a bit LOL!

 

[mebbradley]

The bitty babies (well they are actually twins, with hair) will likely go up on ebay at some point soon and I saved the original boxes so I will likely get some money back on them.

I bought a fake one from Target and it was nice and all but I fell in love with the AG dolls when I saw one in a thrift store so I returned the Target one and bought AG. I think the resale value on the AG is pretty high and my kids are actually really good with toys. I resell pretty much all of their toys because they are kept in very nice condition so I'm not worried.

I think my mistake was the Bitty twin dolls. I could have done w/o them. I can't just take them away and resell them now. I have to wait a bit LOL!

I have my American Girl from my 8th birthday still, I'll 22! These dolls have an amazing shelf life and while mine could stand to go get her hair fixed at the hospital, She's been through everything. I had one from Target first and She fell apart within a week or two of me playing 8-10 hours a day with cousins and her.

I love my Kristen AG Doll!

 

[ceecee]

I got DD a Target one and the hair was a mess within a week, she hardly played with it. She got her first of many AG dolls the next year and they still look great. She was older, probably around 7 and she and her friends all knew the difference (ie: a "real" AG). I liked the stories that went with the dolls and we read all of the books before she decided which dolls she wanted. DD did not like to dress them in other clothes, only the ones they came with. She loved the movies and the AG Store in Chicago was great. It's just a total package.

 

[quandrea]

My eight year old values and loves her two dolls. Our three year old wanted one to keep up with big sister. I didn't want to spend the money on an AG doll that she may wreck so I found one used. A fifteen year old girl was selling it on kijiji. She sold it in its original box with all kinds of clothes, a dog and accessories, books, etc. All for $135 Canadian. The girls love playing together, they have all kinds of new stuff and if 'Lily' is ruined in a year or two, I won't be upset. When she is older, she can have a new AG. Just a thought for parents out there. Check for a used one.

 

[ilovedisney1982]

So I gave my 3 girls each an 18" American Girl Doll and they each also got a 15" bitty baby. My girls ages are 6, 4.5 and 2.5.

My 4 yr old LOVES her 18" doll and likes her bitty. The 6 yr old likes her 18" doll. The 2 yr old is clueless.

At least nobody fought at christmas. But Now DH and I are fighting over how much money I gave the AG company

I just wanted to update because no matter how much advice, thought and planing you do. You really never have any idea how your kids will react to something until it is done.

This past Christmas, I gave DD the look-alike American Girl that has an online world. I spent a hefty dollar, don't get me wrong. I bought the doll, 4 outfits, the bed, a pet, earrings, and a bunch of cute little accessories. Let's just say she plays with her little country doll she got from our past trip to Tennessee more than she does with the AG doll. In contrast, she adored the Bitsy Twins that I gave her for our little Thanksgiving gift exchange. I assume it depends on the girl and her interests. My daughter loves playing mommy (yes, even at her age) and still loves being a princess. It all depends on her interests.

 

[Jaxs27]

We started out with Target dolls, but they looked awful within months. I finally broke down and bought Kit and now my 11 year old has 11 dolls. I have not bought them all, she has saved, Grandmas have bought a few. Anyhow, she loves those dolls so so much. I love that she is 11 and still plays with dolls. Most of her friends don't play with toys anymore, but when they come over our house they LOVE all her dolls.

 

[luvmyfam444]

my mil bought my girls ag dolls this year (their 2nd). and I bought dd one of the dolls WM carried...she wanted Mckenna who was no longer sold by AG. I found a doll that was in gymnast clothes (for $25 or so!) and dd was so excited...Santa found McKenna!

So clearly in my 6yo mind AG brand means nothing to her....

 

[TLuvsD]

Our D LOVED her Bitty Baby. That doll went everywhere with us...even on vacation. She really enjoyed Kirsten as well, was so-so about Kit. She was not that "into" dolls, more stuffed animals...but loved her "family" of Bitty Baby and Kirsten (Kit arrived later from SIL). They are still in excellent condition. D is enjoying her freshman year at college.

 

[Ksquilter72]

I'm glad your older daughters love their dolls! Santa brought my 6yo her first AG doll, and she and her older sister have played together non-stop.

I will add this to the 'Is it worth the money' discussion: I have three daughters, three Bitty Babies and now three AG dolls. We also have strollers, doll beds, a changing table, etc etc. Just today, one of the Bitty Babies arrived back home after a trip to the doll hospital to fix an eye, and over the last 14 years, we've sent a stroller and doll bed back for a replacement (no questions asked - received a new item in the mail). In my opinion, you get what you pay for. Yes, the dolls and accessories are a hit to the checkbook, but the customer service and overall quality more than makes up for it.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I took this advice with my then 4 yo. Bought her a cheap Target doll and that doll looked like crap in a couple months.,DD took care of it and even so the Target's doll hair is a matted mess. It looks like a big ball of hair on her head.

At 5, I bought DD "Julie" then the next year she received "Lainie" . She takes very good care of her AG dolls and this is a kid who takes care of nothing.,
Last year at 8 we took a trip to the AG store in Chicago. She still talks about it over a year later.

The cheap dolls can be an option but they are a 1/3 of the price for a reason.
I think the OP made the right decision.
AG things are pricey but such a nice wholesome play option for little girls.

I agree with this 100%! My daughter has a lot of AG dolls, some even came from consignment shops that are now retired dolls (Samantha and Nellie, both were in AMAZING IMMACULUTE condition when purchased from the consignment shop) and still they look great, my daughter takes good care of her dolls. Before she even got one I stressed the importance of NOT cutting their hair, not putting nail polish on them, being gentle with their clothes etc etc. She loves them and she got her first when she was 4 and she is now going to be 8. We had an issue with her first doll (Kit) in which its eye stayed closed. When we went to AG Place in NYC for her birthday they took it and fixed it free of charge, shipped it back to us too, didnt cost us a penny. That is service and thats why you pay so much for them, because they truly were meant to last long and if there is a problem they are quick to help remedy the situation.

 

[figment3258]

We have given so much money to ag too but I love it! My girls play for hours with their dolls. This Christmas I bought my dd 10 kit dd 6 Julie and dd 11 Months bitty baby mostly because my older girls asked to get her that all of them love their dolls worth every penny. Been a long to customer there and will be for many more years.

 

[caribear]

My DD10 got Kit for Christmas when she was 8 years old...along with her scooter and Gracie. They came out of the box for 2-3 days....and then she never touched them again! I was disappointed, but she has never been too into dolls.....so they are sitting in their boxes in the top of DD's closet....in pristine condition. I really need to get them on Ebay/Craiglist and get some money back. I thought she would like the doll because she reads the AG books. We then went to the AG store in GA when we were there last summer...and she enjoyed looking around, but still was not inspired to play with her doll when we got home. I loved dolls when I was younger. My mom is currently cleaning out her house to put it on the market and she found my 4 Cabbage Patch dolls....asked me what she should do with them. Wish DD wanted to play with them!!

 

[aprilgail2]

My DD10 got Kit for Christmas when she was 8 years old...along with her scooter and Gracie. They came out of the box for 2-3 days....and then she never touched them again! I was disappointed, but she has never been too into dolls.....so they are sitting in their boxes in the top of DD's closet....in pristine condition. I really need to get them on Ebay/Craiglist and get some money back. I thought she would like the doll because she reads the AG books. We then went to the AG store in GA when we were there last summer...and she enjoyed looking around, but still was not inspired to play with her doll when we got home. I loved dolls when I was younger. My mom is currently cleaning out her house to put it on the market and she found my 4 Cabbage Patch dolls....asked me what she should do with them. Wish DD wanted to play with them!!

Same with mine- by 9 years old she was out of the american girl stage and never touched the dolls again. She liked going to the american girl doll store but only once when she was a bout 6 did she ask to buy anything there- oh well, different kids into different things.

 

[MyKidsMom1820]

Two friends at work gave their daughters the 18" doll from Kmart/Walmart/Target. They bought them from two different stores. I just can't remember exactly which ones. They look like AG dolls. The point is, their girls love their dolls and they cost a LOT less. Under about 7 or 8, the kids have no clue whether it's a real AG doll or not so why spend the money?

You're dealing with very young kids who really don't know what they want, especially your two youngest ones.

I disagree. My dd was really into the stories of the girls, and at 6 had read all of Mollys books before we got the doll, if she received a knock off, she would have been disappointed.