American Girl Doll - Topeka,KS

My daughter got one last year for Christmas from my mom. She has NEVER been in to dolls, but she got one and I'm so glad she did. She loves that doll. I think it's something she'll treat well forever and keep always. Her friends all have them too. So while some people say no, they are pricey, I say yes...go for it!

This gets asked periodically. My daughters have had them since they were 4/5ish and I have to say they've been worth the price. They play with them a ton and it's lasted 2-3 years so far.

All three of my daughters each have several AG dolls. They are beautiful and worth the exorbitant amount of money they command. We have had knock offs and they have been fine but, you get what you pay for! 5 year old is too young for these dolls imo. My girls earned, were gifted or saved their money and bought their own dolls. The historical dolls are their favorites, as is the movies and books. Can't put a price on learning! They will be keepsakes in the end.

Target has some knock-off ones. I'd try that first, and if she really loves it, then you can get her the AG doll if you really want to. One thing that really disappointed me about the AG dolls (my girls each have one) is that they're made in China! You'd think with a price tag like that, they'd be made in America... but no. The quality isn't as great as you'd think for the price. My older daughter has one with curly hair, and even though she treats the doll well, uses the hair pick from AG to comb the doll's hair - the hair still looks kind of ratty after only a year. It's disappointing.

My 15yo just boxed up her dolls, lovingly I might add. She bought her first one after saving her $2 per week allowance for a whole year. She was 8. The 2nd was a hand-me-down and the next two were holiday presents from us. We bought one more because it was a historical doll that reflected our heritage and her name. She was already 13 when she got the last one so it was more of a nod to the meaning it held. The dolls are well made and she intends to keep hers forever (for her children?). She was also really into the minis. She was not into baby dolls, and other than a few Barbie dolls and Polly Pocket, this was all she had. The Barbie accessories and many of the PP dolls broke. None of the AG dolls or accessories did although a shoe or tiny accessory might have been vaccuumed. I think they are worth the money.

Totally worth it! I was happy though that my dad bought the dolls for Christmas last year. The hair is amazing with water and the AG doll brush. I get most of the clothes and accessories on eBay or at target, Walmart, and toys r us. All 18 inch doll clothes fit them, and those three stores have similar lines of dolls.

My daughter had been wanting one for the past 2 years....another victim of the mail :) I was extremely hesitant to spend that kind of money on a doll since she was only 4 at the time. My sister found the "My Generation" dolls at target for less than 1/2 the cost and that is what she gave her for her 4th birthday.

Two years later she still loves playing with the doll and accessories we've since added. She changes her outfits, does her hair, has tea parties, etc.
Alas, the darn catalog came in the mail a few weeks ago and once again she is totally in love with Kit Kittredge.

Santa has done her due diligence and won Mrs Kittredge on ebay for $75. This auction had the doll in brand new condition, still had the box and accessories. The seller's child had just gotten it last Christmas to add to her collection but quickly outgrew dolls so the Mom is selling off her collection.

Check ebay to see if you can find one reasonably priced. I also scored some accessories and outfits brand new still in their packages.

Peace and Blessings,
T. B

My sister had them and after collecting 3 lost interest. I would check Craigslist or Ebay before going to the real store.

My parents got our daughter a knock-off of AG to see if she really was interested. It turns out she wasn't. Ours prefers much smaller, baby dolls. I'm really glad we didn't spend the $100+ on a doll she wouldn't have appreciated. She just thought they were great in the catalog but when it comes to day-to-day play, she wants babies.

Our daughter rec'd one for Christmas last year from my parents. She was 6...

We have rules regarding her doll.

One when she's not playing with her she and her accessories must stay in the box. If, AG doll is found not in the box she is taken away for and depending on behavior she will be given back anytime between 1-5 days.
(I have only had to take her away twice)

Two, we purchase used accessories or off brand clothing. If you go to craft shows, or festivals usually there are at least 2-3 ladies who make the clothes. At one of our huge festivals I spent $30 and got four outfits for AG.

Personally, depends on your daughters responsibility level...its a commitment to take care of a doll like this. I would say 5 is too young.

My 8-year-old likes looking through the catalog, but I know she won't play with them. She's never been into dolls. So, I won't be getting her one.

My five-year-old hates anything girly, so I don't have to worry about that, lol.

My 5 year old got the Bitty Baby for her 4th Birthday and she loves that baby!! This year for her birthday she got the crib, stroller, travel seat, and front carrier for AG Baby. She has played with that stuff so much in the last two weeks that it was well worth all the money! She will not get the regular AG Doll until she is 8 years old. My almost 12 yr old wants the McKenna doll for Christmas this year.
I say it depends on your child. My youngest has always loved babies, but my middle could care less. I knew my youngest would play with it and make it worth the money. If you think she will only play with it for a couple weeks then opt for the one at Target, but if you think she will play with it for at least a year then opt for the AG Doll.

Lol...I love the beginning to this question.

My daughter only has one because she won it from the local bookstore...and that just happened a few weeks ago.

Funny thing is...the doll has sat on the top of my couch since the second day after owning it.

I will never buy one for my daughter. The only way she will get another or any accessories is if she saves up her own money to buy it. I just think its ridiculous to spend that amount on dolls.

Just wait until your daughter discovers Justice......

My soon to be 6 yr old has one. She received it as a gift. She loves it and she really isn't into dolls. However, she is into hair & fashion & all things girly so she enjoys doing her hair & changing her clothes. She currently only has two outfits. She mix-and-matches items from those two outfits though. I plan to go to Target and get her the knock off clothes & one of the knock off horses soon. She loves horses as well.

We have two of the Target brand. Now, yes, the AG catalog arrived at Grandma's and our 7 year old realizes that hers are not AG dolls and she wants the real McCoy. I believe Grandma is going to get her one for Christmas. I've seen responses on here previously that say that yes, they are worth the money and hold up well. Hopefully the hair is better than that of the Target knock-offs (tangles very easily)

My 3 year old is asking for one. She saw the new Caroline doll that looks like her, it even has the wavy/curly hair like she has instead of the usual straight blonde hair all the other dolls have. She has loved dolls since forever and treats them extremely well. We just got her the mini-doll and book set from Costco ($35 for the mini doll and full set of 6 books). She is taking such good care of that doll!
The hair even on the mini is really nice and isn't getting ratty like the other dolls she has. I have to admit that after all these years of saying the dolls were annoying I like how they are made and an impressed with the mini. I can't imagine the full sized dolls being nothing but better.
Maybe you can start with one of the minis of the one she likes and see how she likes it and takes care of it. My 3 year old understands that these dolls are very expensive so she has to earn the possibility of getting the big one. Part of earning the big one is starting with the mini.
The great thing about the American Girl Dolls is that you can get accessories and clothes for any generic 18" doll and if you are crafty in any way you have a huge choice of sewing, knitting or crochet patterns so you don't have to pay the huge prices for the AG brand items, just the doll.

My mom bought my daughter an American Girl doll for Christmas a couple years ago. She has added to her collection at birthdays and Christmases.

I do not participate. I think the clothes and accessories are WAY too expensive and have no problem telling my daughter that. We just got a new catalog in the mail and I'm happy to have her look through it, but when she wants a horse for over $100 I tell her flat out it's not reasonable and it's not going to happen. I've bought other brand clothes and accessories that fit 18" dolls, but no way would I get her the AG brand.

That being said, Grandma is getting her the horse for Christmas, and that's fine - my mom loves spoiling her, and that's Grandma's perogative, but the value of a dollar has to come from mom and dad and you have to draw the line somewhere.

I can't really answer...I have 3 boys. But, there is an American Girl store in the Oak Park Mall (Kansas City).

You could look on eBay or Craigslist to see if you can get a used AG. The hair may be the biggest problem, but all doll hair is problematic. With these dolls, "used" sometimes means "slightly used." It's worth a try.

You may think twice about the accessories, though. Clothes just as nice (and perhaps better quality) are available on eBay and perhaps Etsy, and it's much more fun to make furniture out of cardboard or whatever else you have at home than it is to lay out all the cash.

My daughters each have one. They were Christmas gifts. They are lovely, well made dolls, but I never got into buying all the accessories (WAY too expensive!)
And I got into the good habit of throwing those catalogs away before my girls could see them. They can't want what they don't see lol!!!

why not get the knock off one? my 6 year old has a knock off one and now hat she sees kids throwing around the brand name she claims hers is one?? what kid is going to research at that age to find out they have a kock off? go to target show her them and ask which she loves? says in american girl? or J. get her one and take it out of the box
i'm might buy one used eventually...maybe

My granddaughter also wanted an American girl doll. I would suggest that before you get the real one that you get a fake one. they sell a doll at michaels crafts that looks just like the American girl doll. they have several different ones (blond, brunette, and I think red hair) they are about $15. and look identical to the others. your daughter at 5 will not know the difference and you can judge whether she is old enough to take care of a $100 doll. you will have to buy outfits for it as it comes in a slip like thing not regular clothing. target sells a lot of outfits for their version of the American girl doll which fits the same dolls.

we got the michaels doll for my granddaughter when she turned 7. when she turned 9 my daughter trekked out to chicago and got the real one. she loves the first one as much as the real one.

I had considered getting the American Doll for my 6 year old until I discovered that with everything American Girl towts... they no longer make American Girl Dolls in AMERICA! Yup, you guessed it... they are now made in China! And... despite being made in China, the doll keeps increasing in price. I suspect the quality will go down if they haven't already. So... I just told my daughter exactly what I just said here... she seems fine with it (she is use to it -lol). Stuff like that just burns me up... I struggle to support a company that is hypocritical in their messages about being an American (girl).

Try to steer her to Target's "My Generation" dolls or Pottery Barn Kids version of AG dolls. They are much less expensive and every bit as good.

My Mom bought my daughter & niece AG dolls two years ago. My niece (age 6) is obsessed with hers, but my daughter (age 5) is indifferent to it...boy am I lucky!

We got my nieces that wanted dolls like that the version for Target. They didn't even notice a difference. There are so many things for those that you can get just cheaper!!!!!!

My daughter, went through a phase, of wanting one.
I told her we cannot afford it. Plus, girls have phases of liking something then not even liking it.
Then a couple of years ago for Christmas, a relative got her one and with all the accessories.
My daughter was about 8 then. She liked it and was happy.
But did she play with it everyday and forever?
No. She only played with it for a little while.
It is now in its box, all in perfect condition.
And it is not played with. At all.

As a Mom, do not get carried away or bust your budget for it... unless you know full well that the cost won't matter or that your 5 year old girl will love it for more than 1 week.
There are SO many toys/dolls/things, that kids would love to have.
So you need to gauge it... and see what you can afford or not. And that, the doll may get mishandled and/or not kept in a pristine condition.

We got my daughter the Target Our Generation Doll, which is the American Doll knock off. We bought it for her last Christmas and she still plays with it but not nearly as much as her Mommy & Me Doll with the missing patches of hair and snarly hair and scuffed up face that she has had since she was 2 years old. My daughter is 5.5 years old right now. She knows her doll is not an AG doll and she still calls it that. I figure if she wants the real thing she can save up her money and pay for part of it. You can buy a lot of the clothes and such at Target for the dolls.

Oh and one of her daycare friends got one for Christmas last year. Well she left it sitting around and the dog chewed up the arm. They had to take it to the American Girl "Clinic" and it cost about $30 to get it repaired.