American Girl Dolls... seriously?

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5893

DD's secular grandmother just expressed a desire to buy DD an American Girl Doll (DD is only 1 but grandmother wants her to have it for the future in case she's not around anymore...) When I was a kid these were things you looked at in catalogs, nobody owned one. I understand now it's more of a thing to have. The price has also gone up by about 25% since my days. So anyway, now that kids are actually playing with $100 dolls, I can't help but wonder... what's the deal?! What makes these dolls worth 5x as much as the rest, what makes people actually buy into that, and will it send my daughter the wrong message to have such a fancy thing when we're really simple people? Personally I'd rather have $100 to spend on her next few pairs of shoes. Or $100 worth of stocks or bonds to hold until her wedding/college/whatever. But then I thought if the grandma wants this, why should my daughter be deprived of all the finer things in life just because her parents made some self-sacrificing choices? She won't have much, especially once the doting aging grandma is off the scene... But honestly, ordering a $100 doll for a 1-year-old when my total grocery budget for the month is less than $200 totally goes against my grain.

On a different note, anyone know if you can buy a gift certificate for a doll so the kid can choose which one she likes when she's old enough? I know you can get gift cards for a $ value but I'm sure the price of the dolls will go up more in the next 5 years. (What is the target/appropriate age for them anyway? Frankly I bet DD would have a blast with the bitty baby ones right now and for the next several years. But I know grandma means the classy big-girl ones...)

And on a different different note, I am slightly crushed to see that they've discontinued my favorite history dolls that I loved reading about and looking at in the catalog when I was a kid. So sad to see that I could get hippie Julie for DD but not Felicity or Kirsten or Samantha... BDE! (Addy's still a go, I guess it would be un-PC to drop her?)

Haha, they retired the history dolls? Terrible.

I say to let Grandma buy your baby a fancy grown-up doll, because that is what will give her pleasure. It will be something very unusual and special for your daughter as she grows older. For now, you can just display it, and when she is older and can understand that it's a special gift from Grandma, she can play with it.

Somehow you will manage to buy shoes, but your daughter may not get the chance to have a quality doll like this. And you don't want her to grow up with this kind of thing on a regular basis. That's what will make this gift special.

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 17 2011 Posts: 5976

I would get the doll itself rather than the gift certificate and put it away. If you are concerned about grandma not being around the doll itself would mean more. The doll of choice among my daughter's friends seems to be Rebecca. I bought my daughter a Rebecca doll recently at the American Girl Doll store. I think I paid $119.00 for the doll and her book and some accessories. It was a grand day for my daughter.

I know some people who have gotten the dolls off ebay for a bit less.

Diamond Member Joined: Jan 14 2011 Posts: 2732

its not about the cost, its about having a special gift from her grandmother. your DD will appreciate it and feel connected to her grandmother when she is a little older, and you cannot have that same effect with a pair of shoes or any other practical purchase. she doesn't need to play with it now, you can put it away until she's five or six. I think its a great gift from a grandparent.

A couple of my kids saved their money for the doll.
They are sturdy dolls, well crafted. They aren't meant to be played with in the same way that a baby doll is made.
If this is what your mother/mil wants it, and you have no objections on moral grounds, why not? What is the big deal? They are nice, generally they are modestly dressed, and they are historical. Lots of info with them.

If grandma is still around - and G-d willing she will be - when she is old enough to play with it, well and good. Grandma can then present it to her. If she isn't it is a good way to bring grandma into her life.
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Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

I'm slowly learning that if a gift is offered, then that specific thing is being offered. NOT the cash value in things that you may want or need. Take it.

Silver Member Joined: Mar 24 2011 Posts: 591

Let her get it but don't let your dd play with it like it's some regular doll. It's more of a doll to dress up and display on a shelf then to stick in a buggy and run around with.

Silver Member Joined: Jan 09 2011 Posts: 891

samantha is the doll I wanted very badly for years but my parents could not afford it and my grandparents werent really in the picture. I think it is a beautiful gist for a grandmother to give to a grandchild- my nieces each have one from their grandparents and they treasure them dearly. let her show her love to her grandchild by doing this for her. put the doll safely away until she is 5-6 years old and can understand that the doll must be treated well because it is a. a sensitive, costly item and b. it is a special gift from grandma that we want to keep beautiful. let her enjoy it! and btw, she can also get a doll that looks like your daughter (thye let you choose the coloring of the doll to match the one you want)..I dont know of any little girl who wouldnt want that!

Diamond Member Joined: Sep 17 2009 Posts: 3961

I had Samantha growing up. I was really sad to see that they don't make the original dolls anymore. I'd let her grandmother buy it for her. I wish I had something like that from my grandmother.

Beginner Joined: Jan 09 2011 Posts: 6

Although AG has retired some historical dolls, they have come out with new ones of different eras. This includes "Rebecca Rubin" http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/static/rebeccadoll.jsp

Gold Member Joined: Apr 16 2005 Posts: 1943

Gold Member Joined: Apr 16 2005 Posts: 1943

American Girl dolls are recommended for ages 8 and up, so you might be holding on to the doll for quite a while if you want to follow the recommendations.

Executive Member Joined: Aug 25 2011 Posts: 305

I remember my sister had many of these dolls growing up
I passed by the store in the city a few weeks ago and the line was down the block and around the corner!!

DD had one given as a gift and hated it (stiff body, "scary eyes not her color ")
she sold it to a classmate for 1$ ( I thought it was a sweet gesture as the girl really wanted one but could not afford)
The girl insisted on giving the $1 the parents called me to make sure Very Happy

I'm happy the dolly found a home.
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You may want to bring to her attention that 1) the dolls are meant for children 8yo and up, and that 2) what's popular in the world of childrens toys can change quickly. (Does anyone remember Cabbage Patch Kids or Furby?) If she wants to give your daughter something of lasting memory and concerned she may not be there, why not something that has "longer shelf life" like books (she can even sign messages for your daughter), or accessory?

I still have my addy doll. also it could be an investment some of the outfits that I have are going for 50$ on ebay.

it is expensive if dd wants I am getting a 30$ doll from target or a galli girl.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5893

It was never really a question of whether to accept the gift. I agree it will please gmil and will be nice for the kid to have something nice. Hashkafically these are worlds better than Barbie! And the books are very sweet. I'm just trying to understand how enough people are willing to spend that much, that it has become a trend.

I also thought Rebecca would be the obvious choice (especially since gmil is the type of person who's all for Jewish pride except when it comes to keeping Torah... Sigh) but I personally think the hair and clothes that it comes with are kind of ugly. Samantha had a GORGEOUS wardrobe, that's the one I always ogled as a kid. And I favored Felicity's hair and coloring. Good ol days... I would choose one that looks most like dd except they don't make one! Maybe I'll look for Samantha on eBay?

Gold Member Joined: Jan 03 2011 Posts: 1503

I loved my samantha Very Happy

You can't really compare the price to a regular dolls price. It's not meant to be another nice doll, it's more for show and dressing up.
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Gold Member Joined: Oct 10 2010 Posts: 1058

It was my dream to get a Samantha doll, and it still is! Somebody please tell my husband that is what I want for afikomen. kthanxbye

Platinum Member Joined: Apr 12 2010 Posts: 5778