Post by DarcyLongfellow on Dec 18, 2012 21:34:16 GMT -5
DD got a Bitty Baby from MIL for Christmas when she was 17 months old. They're a lot sturdier, though.
I have two AG dolls from when in was a girl (Samantha and Kirsten :-) ). They're DD's of course, but they're still at my parents' house. She's an extremely sweet and gentle three year old, but she's still a three year old. She might be ready in a year, but I might wait until I can read the books to her to get her excited about the dolls.
Right now, her barbie dolls' hair still turns into a rat's nest. I don't want that to happen to the AG dolls!!
Mine got theirs (both Girls of the Year) at 4 (maybe DD 2 was almost 4). Those years the girls if the Year were just such perfect fits of my girls (looked like them & had similar interests). DD2 is getting another one, her first Historical (Caroline) this Christmas at almost 6. She got a Bitty baby, stroller & highchair at almost 2. DD1 says "one is enough" when asked if she wanted another one but she wants furniture so she's getting a table & chairs this Christmas.
DD has a bitty twin (the bitty baby with hair basically) that she loves and takes really good care of.
She has been begging for McKenna (the girl of the year) - same as CarolBrady, McKenna is just a really good fit for my DD. McKenna is currently hanging out in a big red box in my bedroom closet. DD isn't getting her for Christmas. Maybe as a gift from baby when he is born - we'll see. Or maybe it will just appear one day. I haven't decided yet when she'll get her, but at some point between now (just turned 4) and her 5th birthday, I imagine I"ll cave.
Post by ilikedonuts on Dec 18, 2012 21:47:15 GMT -5
DD will get a Bitty Baby for her 2nd birthday. Probably the Bitty Twins for her 3 or 4th birthday and an AG girl for her 5th or 6th birthday as long as she takes decent care of her toys. Can you tell I'm a major AG fan? haha
But I will say that I have two of my old dolls (Molly and Kirsten) so DD will start with those as gifts so they are already well planned with (but still in great condition).
Yesterday we took DD to the AG store and bought her Bitty Baby for her birthday.I'm so excited for her. When she's around 6 or 7 I want to get her Rebecca.
American Girl dolls first came out when I was in elementary school and were hugely popular but I was never into them or any other dolls at all. I still sort of don't "get" dolls. (I probably should have been a boy mom.) So I don't have any plans to hand down dolls or deliberately introduce them to her.
If she reallyreallyreally wants one when she is older we'll think about it. They are so pricey though, I just have a hard time imagining spending so much on a doll. I'm sure that will change if I have a six year old pleading for one though.
Post by UnderProtest on Dec 18, 2012 23:02:50 GMT -5
My daughter got a bitty baby for her first birthday and her twin brother just likes to poke its eyes. She has no interest in it.
I do plan to get my daughter one of the historical dolls at some point. Probably when she is 5 or so and we can go to the store and make it a special day/trip.
Story: American Girl dolls were just coming out when I was in elementary school, but I never had one. I went to one of the stores while in Chicago a couple years ago and told my mom how cool they were. Her comment was too bad they weren't around when I was growing up. I told her they were and her best friend's really annoying kid had one. Guess what I got for my next birthday??? Yup, I got Kit for my 29th birthday.
Awhile back, I pulled out all my own American Girl books and we were reading one chapter a night at bedtime. Part-way through my collection, DD got an AG catalog in the mail. And DH gave it to her. DD quickly connected the dots and that was that. She was hooked.
Honestly though, even though it is a huge commercial racket, the products are quality and keep DD quite entertained. I would much rather buy a doll and some accessories than an electronic gadget and $20/pop games for it.
Yesterday we took DD to the AG store and bought her Bitty Baby for her birthday.I'm so excited for her. When she's around 6 or 7 I want to get her Rebecca.
Post by sewpinkgal on Dec 18, 2012 23:17:07 GMT -5
If I ever have a girl, I hope she wants an AG doll. I remember drooling over that catalogue as a kid and asking my mom every year for one. Never happened as they were just too expensive. This is one of those things that I think I would enjoy buying one for one of my kids as much as I'd hope they'd enjoy playing with it.
As it stands right now though, I'm looking at a future of action figures and building stuff.
Post by carolinagirl831 on Dec 18, 2012 23:28:56 GMT -5
I think 5 is a good age. I had Samantha. I loved her I have tons of clothes and accessories because my grandma went crazy . I still have all of it! I am looking forward to taking my little girl around age 5 to the store and have the entire experience. I think the historical characters are actually educational. I read all the books when I was little. I loved them!
Post by mollybrown on Dec 18, 2012 23:34:10 GMT -5
I plan to give my daughter her doll at 5. I bought one during that sale a few weeks ago, so it was only marginally more expensive than lots of other dolls. I'd never even heard of American Girl dolls until I was an adult, so they don't have a special place in my heart or anything. It is highly unlikely that I would ever have bought one full price, unless it was like the top thing on her wish list.
I love loved my AG doll (Kirsten) when I was a kid. I played with her for years and years, so even though she was $$$ I think I got my (parent's) money's worth. I got her later, at like 8 or 9 I think. If I had a daughter, I would get her one at 6 I think. I agree they're expensive, but they are quality toys that come with a good learning experience. I must have read Kirsten's books a hundred times. Plus I think encouraging a child's imagination is much more worthwhile and rewarding than a video game.
Sad side note, I expected to keep the doll for my kids, but my parents gave Kirsten, my sister's Addy, and their mountain of accessories away to someone at my church when I was 16 :@ WITHOUT ASKING. I saw the girl at church and was like "I have the same doll!" and my Mom said "Oh that is YOUR doll." So parents of girls, please don't give their stuff away. I'm still super bitter about it. They were my things, KWIM? But that was par for the course for my parents. They also gave away/sold my flute, telescope, and Breyer horses without asking
As a kid, the doll and accessories were Christmas presents from my grandparents. Since my mom loves them so much, I figure it'll. be a good gift for dd. so that she quits buying her things like ruffled velvet Christmas dresses...
DD got her first one for her 5th birthday. She is getting "Caroline" for Christmas, since it is the only thing she has asked for since it came out. She is starting to get into the books more now (she is 6 1/2) and has some of the little collectable dolls (around $15 from Amazon) They are crazy over priced, but I like the concept of the historical dolls.
Oh gosh, I hope I don't have to deal with this for a while. We visited some friends this summer and their oldest was all about the dolls. She also had just gotten the bed and bedding for her doll along with some other fun stuff. Then she also showed us the matching outfits she had for her doll.
Post by SusanBAnthony on Dec 19, 2012 8:22:23 GMT -5
My mom bought DD ne of the knock offs from pottery barn. She says they are advertised as for age 3 and up, and are fully washable (which I guess the AG ones aren't).
Dd loves dolls, so I think it will be a hit regardless. Will it get destroyed? Maybe, but I have no problem buying her a real AG doll when she is 6 or 7, so if this one gets ruined, oh well. So I would probably give her a 60$ one when she is two or three and hold off on the second one, so you have a non-ruined one to give her later.
DD is getting a bitty baby for Christmas. She is very nice to babies and very gentle. She looves her baby dolls in general and takes very good care of them.
I also got one 60% off last week. I think next Christmas (she will be 3y9m) or for her 4th bday I will give it to her.