Which American Girl Doll to Get?

[crgfsu1]

We are going to get an AG girl for my dd(6) but we are torn on who to get. So, give me your best sales pitch...who should it be?

She initially thought Julie, then is now gravitating to Kanani. My dh is considering getting 2 dolls - but should we get Julie & her best friend? Or could we go against the grain and not get Julies friend and get Kanani instead? Or should we get someone else?

Also - another question. The doll specific clothes (like Kit's Holiday outfit for example) are OK all dolls, right? They arent truly doll specific are they? Same questions for accessories. And - the clothes that are labeled for the AG girls (non-historical dolls) they fit the historical dolls right?

Finally - the Our Generation Doll CLOTHES at Target - they will fit the AG dolls, right?

OK - ready for some sales pitches

Thanks!
Cathy

 

[Angielynne]

Ok...my daughters have Kit, Elizabeth and Emily. If she can manage the hair, then I say go with Kanani if she really likes that one since she'll only be around until the end of the year and then you can't get her anymore, unless you'll be willing to pay out the nose on ebay. Any of the clothes are interchangeable with the dolls. Meaning that you can buy the my american girl doll clothes and they will work with the historicals and vice versa.

We have a couple our generation outfits, I think they were 2 piece pajamas, and they fit ok. They are a bit snug in the midsection, but they'll fit. I think it varies based on the outfit. So far we have clothes from Our generation, Dollie & me, American girl and some outfits that my mom has made them (she's a seamstress) and some that I've made (I'm just learning) and they all fit ok. I believe Walmart and toys r us also have a brand that fits.

As for the doll..I really would try and get a read on your dd to see which one she has her heart set on. Good luck and I'm sure she'll love whatever you choose!

 

[QVCshopper]

I also have a 6 year old daughter. Anyway, I would get her Kanani if she wants her, as she is only available until 12/31. Julie (and Ivy) should be around for a while. I would also probably get more of Kanani's accessories (love the water ice stand) instead of a second doll. I'd see how much she loves the one doll before getting two, but maybe that's just me.

Yes, the AG clothes will fit any 18" AG doll. So, Julie can wear Kit's dress and vice versa.

The Target Our Generation doll clothes fit, but they are not as good quality. Not bad, but not as good. AG has a sale on some clothes, books, accessories, etc. on Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving).

I would order soon to get the free shipping. I think you have until 11/6.

That all said, my DD is getting Julie this year. We already have Chrissa, Laney, Elizabeth, and Rebecca (who we won at the AG fashion show). I got the others through QVC, but they aren't selling them this year.

 

[Erin1700]

I would get Kanani. She is only there until the end of the year. She is beautiful! My DD10 always asks for the pajamas for each doll. We do have some homemade outfits that fit. No outfits from the Target brand but we do have some of the furniture from them. Works great!

 

[Megkel]

I have an almost 6 year old daughter who has gotten the "doll of the year" every year for her birthday since she was two. She received Kanani for her birthday in February and I really do not like the doll. She is pretty and everything an American Girl doll should be BUT her hair is SO long and curly. It gets in everything and it's always a mess. My daughter barely plays with her because of her hair. She is a nice doll for an older kid who wouldn't play "baby" with the doll and would like to dress up and comb her hair. She is not great for smaller kids who want to play with the doll as a baby.

We have Emily who is great and Clarissa is her favorite and those are perfect. They are a bit heavy to be carried around but she enjoys playing with them in her room and around the house. She carries her Bitty Baby everywhere and she has no hair lol

I would say it does depend on how your daughter would play with the doll. If she is more likely to want to carry it around with her get a Bitty Baby too. But if you are set on the big American Dolls I would say Julie is the best way to go

 

[SoonerSarah]

I have found that the Our Generation shoes don't fit the dolls, but we don't have more than 1 or 2 of those outfits. We have also purchased clothes from Constructive Playthings with good success. Some of the clothes are quite nice quality.

I'm mean, but I only let my girls get the Historical dolls. We have 2 bitty babies, 1 twin (MIL has the other twin), 1 Rebecca and 1 Julie. My 4 year old has the Julie...and I quite hate her hair. MIL has Samantha, Felicity and Elizabeth as well. She says she might get my oldest another doll for her birthday (MIL has bought all of the dolls), and if so, Lainey has said she wants Josefina.

I really wish I had gotten a Kirsten. Kirsten and Felicity were always my favorite books growing up.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have found that the Our Generation shoes don't fit the dolls, but we don't have more than 1 or 2 of those outfits. We have also purchased clothes from Constructive Playthings with good success. Some of the clothes are quite nice quality.

I'm mean, but I only let my girls get the Historical dolls. We have 2 bitty babies, 1 twin (MIL has the other twin), 1 Rebecca and 1 Julie. My 4 year old has the Julie...and I quite hate her hair. MIL has Samantha, Felicity and Elizabeth as well. She says she might get my oldest another doll for her birthday (MIL has bought all of the dolls), and if so, Lainey has said she wants Josefina.

I really wish I had gotten a Kirsten. Kirsten and Felicity were always my favorite books growing up.

And this is how my oldest picked her dolls - the girls she liked most from the books.

 

[disneychic2]

Am I missing something? When I went to buy an American Girl doll, I only found them for $100 - $150. Can you get them cheaper than that? If so, where? TIA

 

[dhardawa]

I would go with Kit or Julie because they have nice straight hair that stays looking nice. If there is any curl, the hair ends up a rats nest in no time, especially with younger children.

Personally, I wasn't impressed with Kanani at all. I bought two when she first came out and sent them back. The limbs were super loose, the outfit was very thin and super cheap, and overall she just wasn't the quality I had come to expect from AG. That hair was a nightmare too. It is too long and curly to ever stay looking nice unless you're giving it to a much older child.

 

[Becc1]

If it's between Kanani and Ivy (Julie's friend) I would go for Kanani since like PP's have said she is only available until the end of the year. You can always get her Ivy next year We've never gotten the friends together, although she now has Molly and Emily and Felicity and Elizabeth but we also have Lanie, and a my American Girl doll. Santa's bringing Kanani and my MIL got her Marie Grace for Christmas (she wants Cecile too but knows she has to wait until next year). But in the end I would make sure it is what yout DD wants. We have always just gotten whichever ones my DD wants and that includes outfits, my DD mixes and matches the outfits on all of her dolls anyway so it wouldn't matter if she got an outfit from a different dolls collection. The twins are great too but my DD really doesn't play with them too much she prefers the other dolls, we actually have triplets because she wanted another boy so we got one at the NYC store where you can get them individually. She used to play with her Bitty Baby alot but now she mostly just sleeps with her.

As for the Our Generation clothes, they do fit but are a bit snug in the midsection like someone said. The shoes are a little big but fit ok. I really love the Our Generation accessories though, we have several things including the bed, armoire, 2 horses and salon chair. Another option for the clothes is the Dollie and Me line at Sears, they have matching outfits for your girls and the dolls, they fit nicely and are very reasonably priced!

Good luck in making your decision, fair warning AG can be addictive

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Kanani is pretty. I just bought her for a raffle basket for my school. I also bought Julie for my DD. All together we have 4 AG dolls in the house right now. My older DD has Nicki (girl of the year) a just like me doll, an one other my Dad got her...can't think of the name, but she was one of Chrissy, doll of the year's friends 2 years ago. My younger DD has Kit & is getting Julie this year.

As others said if she loves Kanani, get her while you can. But the dolls with straight hair are MUCH easier to maintain. If I could do it again, I would buy only straight hair dolls.

There is a free shipping code that ends 11/6 promo code 172172

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I would not get a curly haired doll (Kanani included) for a girl under 10. DD got Lanie last year and the hair was frustrating for her at 10. The curls are easy to mess up.

If she likes Julie, I'd get Julie. Personally, I'd skip getting a second doll for now and get some "stuff" instead. (Couple changes of clothes, PJ's) The Target clothes fit AG, the one issue we've had is with some of the long sleeve items. Our Generation dolls' hands are folded/closed a bit- where AG has more of an open palm, if that makes any sense. The AG hands wouldn't always fit through OG long sleeve cuffs.

The Target accessories though- play food or sleepover set, etc- a lesser quality than some AG stuff- but lots of play value for the buck!

I'd also recommend some of the AG crafty books- Doll Parties, Doll School, etc. They are a great way to get her thinking of ways to make stuff to play with.

 

[allaboutaprincess]

I have an almost 6 year old daughter who has gotten the "doll of the year" every year for her birthday since she was two. She received Kanani for her birthday in February and I really do not like the doll. She is pretty and everything an American Girl doll should be BUT her hair is SO long and curly. It gets in everything and it's always a mess. My daughter barely plays with her because of her hair. She is a nice doll for an older kid who wouldn't play "baby" with the doll and would like to dress up and comb her hair. She is not great for smaller kids who want to play with the doll as a baby.

We have Emily who is great and Clarissa is her favorite and those are perfect. They are a bit heavy to be carried around but she enjoys playing with them in her room and around the house. She carries her Bitty Baby everywhere and she has no hair lol

I would say it does depend on how your daughter would play with the doll. If she is more likely to want to carry it around with her get a Bitty Baby too. But if you are set on the big American Dolls I would say Julie is the best way to go

I agree! My 6 year old has Kanani and her hair is a big mess! She hardly ever plays with her. She also has bitty baby and bitty baby twins that she loves! The hair on the bitty twins is so easy for her to work with.

 

[figment3258]

My dd bought kanani at the beginning of this year and loves her. Yes her hair can get out of control but if u brush in with a spray bottle of water it brush through no problem and then we always put her hair in a braid or something. All American girl doll cloths will fit all AG dolls. Yes the target stuff fits too but the quality is very poor IMO. Julie would be another great doll too. Just another word on kanani if u plan on getting her get her soon once hings sell out they will to get mor win towards the end of the year.. As of right now in stores u can only buy 3 items from her collection at a time. The shave ice stand is a great addition to our collection.

 

[goofyredraider]

I am getting ready to order Kanani.
My dd has Molly, Emily, Kit, Ruthie, Samantha, Nellie, Chrissa, & Lanie.
I wasn't planning on ordering another doll, but DH said I had to because he likes to give her a doll every year.

 

[TnTWalter]

this is her 4th doll. She has a just like me doll [she doesn't consider it an AG doll. LOL] and Felicity and Elizabeth. She has wanted Kanai since she saw it in a catalog last year. I got her the $179 package.

Kanai is a very popular doll it seems and she's retiring in December.

Julie's been around forever.

If you are thinking of 2 get those two in my opinion. Buy when there's free shipping.

FREE SHIPPING CODE...

AG19007 THROUGH 11/6/11

Accessories and clothing will be on sale [some but not all] on CYBER MONDAY but not the dolls!

I'm going to get her more outfits, etc. that day for her dolls. The cds and books were also good deals then too if I remember from last year.

Again get dolls now while there's a free ship code. It will go away soon.

Edited...the target shoes do not fit at all. Outfits are ok. But I'd just check out clearance section and/or wait for CYBER MON.

Trish

 

[bjscheel]

Looks like your daughter is blond/blue eyes (looking at your profile pic)- if you get Julie then she will also kind of look like her, so you will have a historical doll and sort of a Just Like Me doll.

My older DD got Kit because she and Kit both have blond hair, blue eyes, freckles, wear overalls, and write newspapers. If only Kit's hair was long and curly, they would be twins in looks and personality But she likes the easy care of Kit's hair. So younger DD got Kit's friend Ruthie because she has curly hair and likes fancier things, like DD.

I bought the metal brush that they recommend you use on the hair.

The Our Generation clothes do not fit as well, and I thought the shoes were too small, if I remember right. I have bought some outfits on eBay that were not any brand and they worked fine. We also have two grandmas that sew outfits for them!

I am going to check out that free shipping code- DD10 gets braces next week and wants some for Ruthie!

 

[SaraJayne]

Go with Kanani. She will be DD's 4th AG and she plays with all of them. She has Lindsey (very 1st Girl of the Year), Just Like Me (that looks just like Elizabeth), Lanie and will be getting Kanani for xmas.

If you think the hair will be a problem, just braid it and it should be fine.

 

[Harters2WDW]

My DD6 has Kanani and Kit and she LOVES Kanani. Now PPs are right in that her hair can be a nightmare. But, the lady AGD store told me to keep it in a side braid and that really seems to work out! Kit's hair, in contrast, is easy to deal with. My daughter sleeps with Kanani every night and just adores her! We did have to get the head reattached so it was tighter (they just took her in a backroom at AGD Store).

Good luck!

 

[zeferjen]

What are everyone's thoughts on the shaved ice shack? 5yo Dd got Kanani for her birthday and said she'd like the shack. It just seems like a lot of $$$ for a toy for a toy. I have already been her Cinderella's Castle from disney.com, so I would probably return one for the other. Or maybe one can be a grandparents' gift?