Need help deciding on a gift for DD3

[vettechick99]

We are expecting DD#2 in about 6w. DD3 is so excited and is going to be a great big sister. I don't foresee many jealousy issues. I think our big issue is her wanting to help more and not being able to. So DH and I thought about getting her a doll from "the baby" to make it an easier transition. Having her own doll to take care of since she can't help all that much with the baby.

I'm having a hard time deciding what kind of doll. She's got some baby dolls that she doesn't play with much, so I'm hesitant to get another. So we thought about getting her an American Doll. But that's not really baby-like. She can play with it, but not "take care of it".

What do you think? Also, if we do go the baby doll route, are there life-like dolls out there that are favs among toddlers?

 

[smschex]

American Girl makes a baby doll named Bitty Baby and also boy/girl twin baby dolls, the Bitty twins. She has lots of clothes and accessories to keep a big sister busy taking care of her own baby. We gave one to our oldest daughter when her brother was born. That was 16 years ago and we just packed her away because youngest daughter has finally outgrown baby dolls.

 

[browneyes106]

I think the doll idea is a good for your daughter.

 

[Louise-Montreal]

I was just going to suggest the same thing. Check out the site and see if there is anything that might tickle your fancy. I could drop a healthy hunk of change there myself!
http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/thumbnail/id/130/uid/96

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

While I think the idea of a baby doll is very sweet, I think buying your child something they already have and don't play with is a little odd. My parents liked to buy the kind of gifts they wanted me to like, rather than the kind I did like, a bothered me a lot.

If you think she'd like to play with the baby dolls she has, what about baby doll props? A stroller or a cradle or a baby carrier?

Or what about something that emphasizes what a "big girl" she is -- if she'd like an AG doll, that might be it, or something else entirely.

 

[vettechick99]

Awesome! I didn't know they made one. They are expensive. I hope Baby#2 has some savings.

 

[Sparx]

I was going to suggest a Bitty Baby too. I know American Girl has a "doll hospital" in case the dolls get broken or torn too. I think AG would be your best bet with a higher quality doll that she can still play with without worrying about really damaging it.

 

[crz4mm2]

Awesome! I didn't know they made one. They are expensive. I hope Baby#2 has some savings.

DD brought DS (who was 7 when she was born) a dinosaur in an egg (the egg zipped around the dinosaur).
He was THRILLED! Said "how did SHE know just what I wanted???"

Good luck deciding. I am sure she will be a big help!

 

[vettechick99]

While I think the idea of a baby doll is very sweet, I think buying your child something they already have and don't play with is a little odd. My parents liked to buy the kind of gifts they wanted me to like, rather than the kind I did like, a bothered me a lot.

If you think she'd like to play with the baby dolls she has, what about baby doll props? A stroller or a cradle or a baby carrier?

Or what about something that emphasizes what a "big girl" she is -- if she'd like an AG doll, that might be it, or something else entirely.

Well it would be odd if she already had several high-quality dolls. The ones she has are kinda cheapies - nothing special. I wonder if getting her one that does stuff and comes with accessories would intrigue her. That's kind of why I'm here asking.

She does have a stroller that she loves to push around (or did until the wheel fell off). So if we get her a baby, she'll need to get another stroller. I see AG has one for the bargain price of $38. Heck, if I'm spending $120 on the doll and some clothes, what's another $40?

I do like the idea of a "big girl" present. That's why this is hard!

 

[krcit]

Honestly, I would get her a cute babydoll and stroller set from Target. If she likes playing with it then you can always upgrade.

Congrats on the upcoming birth!! My first 2 kids are 3 and 1/2 years apart and my favorite picture is us all standing by the big stork on the fron lawn. I'm holding the baby, Dh is standing next to me and my 3 year old is standing with her arms crossed and an expression like "who invited this kid to my party?" Now they are 12 and 15 and things are slightly better

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

My daughter, who is now 12, loved her Bitty Baby. Santa brought it the year she was 2. It's the only baby doll that she didn't want to part with when we cleaned out her little kid toys. I think it would be a lovely keepsake for your daughter.

On the other hand, my son was born when my daughter was 3-1/2. We bought a stuffed teddy bear for her to give her baby brother on the day he was born. Unknown to her, baby brother also had a gift for her. She loved to draw, so the baby gave her a Magna Doodle. It was something she could play with while at the hospital, but would also enjoy at home.

Whatever you decide, it will be a fun, special gesture that your older daughter will always remember.

 

[poohfriend77]

We did the same thing for our first DD when our 2nd was born. The new baby gave her a "chou chou baby" that cries, makes sleep sounds, sucks a pacifier, etc. It was definitely a big hit at our house! Just remember to turn the switch off if she sleeps with it. I'll get up for my real baby in the middle of the night, but I do NOT want to hear from a doll at 2 a.m.

 

[jduff]

My daughter is 11 and still plays with her Bitty Baby (she actually plays with it more than the 10 American Girl dolls that she has!).

Another idea for a "Big Sis" gift...My daughter was 3 years and 4 months old when my son was born. I bought her a Cinderella nightgown/bathrobe set that she had been "longing" for at the Disney Store. I wrapped it up and then it was given to her before she went to bed that night (the night her baby brother was born-my first night in the hospital and her first night away from me-ever!). She loved it and, even at that young age, it made her feel so special!

 

[DVCLiz]

My daughter is 11 and still plays with her Bitty Baby (she actually plays with it more than the 10 American Girl dolls that she has!).

Another idea for a "Big Sis" gift...My daughter was 3 years and 4 months old when my son was born. I bought her a Cinderella nightgown/bathrobe set that she had been "longing" for at the Disney Store. I wrapped it up and then it was given to her before she went to bed that night (the night her baby brother was born-my first night in the hospital and her first night away from me-ever!). She loved it and, even at that young age, it made her feel so special!

DD21 got Bitty Baby as a big sister present "from" DD16 when DD16 was born. She was much loved and last week when we cleaned out the garage of all the old toys the American Girl dolls were one of the only things saved. We love all the AG dolls and accessories!


I bought the little wicker case with the powder, etc. Both girls loved that and played with it for years.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

How about a Cabbage Patch Kid? They come with birth certificates just like real babies and you could pick out one that has similar features to your daughter (hair color, eye color).

I'm a huge fan of CPKs!

 

[janette]

I like Lee Middleton Dolls, they are realistic and the stuffed body / weight hold carry like a baby. The bigger ones can wear newborn clothes so she could dress her baby in her sister's clothes.

 

[si-am]

Since you live in GA, maybe you could take a road trip to Babyland General.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm having a hard time deciding what kind of doll. She's got some baby dolls that she doesn't play with much, so I'm hesitant to get another. So we thought about getting her an American Doll. But that's not really baby-like. She can play with it, but not "take care of it".

I vote for Bitty Baby.

 

[ZeitgeistDuck]

My MIL is a doll sculptor for Lee Middleton and other doll companies. Lee Middleton has really nice quality play babies- so does Marie Osmand's company... Charisma, I think.

Anyway, despite all this access to high quality dolls my DD didn't really ever play with them, except enjoying pushing them around in a stroller.

I bought her a soft, rag doll Sleeping Beauty at a Moms to Moms sale, and that's been her 'baby' ever since. She's 5 and she still sleeps with it every night, kisses her, takes her everywhere. I saw some similar ones at WDW last time we were there, so I know Disney still makes them in a variety of princesses and faries.

 

[emer95]

We did the same thing when my younger daughter was born. We gave my older daughter, who was only 18 months old, a gift of a baby doll "From" her new baby sister. It was just a cheapy doll since my DD was still a baby herself. I thought it would be a wonderful, sentimental, treasured doll that we would save forever. A few months later, my older DD tried to flush the doll down the toilet and it needed to be thrown away. Thankfully that was not symbolic of the relationship between my girls. They are 9 and 11 now and love each other very much.