American Girl Doll - Bitty Baby?

The bigger dolls have a recommended older age. My daughter (5) has both but the American Girl doll's hair has surely seen better days.

I would suggest bitty baby first. At 3 they are still really interested in babies and the bitty baby is STILL the one my five year old plays with more.

And the hair free bitty baby is a great starter.

We got our little one a bitty baby when she was around three. We waited to get our daughter her first full size doll until she was 6. There are so many cute accessories to go with the Bitty Baby, have fun!! They are also much easier to carry around and play with for the little ones. I think they need to be older to understand ho w to take care of the full sized doll's hair.

We purchased a bitty twin for our 3 year olds birthday. There are many to choose from and we picked one to look like her. The grandparents purchased the matching outfits for her and her doll which she just loved. However, she is more of an animal lover than doll lover so her excitement quickly faded. She will be 5 in September and is just now starting to show interest in playing with dolls. Your little one may be different and ready to have a doll that she plays with. Oh, we did purchase the stroller and crib too. She absolutely loved putting her animals in those. They were a huge hit.

the bitty twins will give her so much fun ! go with those. Honestly the regular size dolls are not that fun for under 8 yrs old, and not much fun for over that age either. The twins though, my daughter played with them constantly. She got a boy and a girl and they had many adventures together and still do (she will be 8 at the end of summer)

At three, I'd go with Bitty Baby. When she gets older (like six or seven), then go for the larger doll.

My daughter had a Bitty Baby and that was one well made doll. I have family all over the country, so it was convenient for them to buy outfits and accessories and have them shipped directly to our house.

I love the American Girl line. My daughter is now in middle school and American Girls has so many books that have helped her - things from taking care of her hair to studying and getting organized.

It's a good investment - I've packed away her Bitty Baby and clothes and hope that one day she will give them to her daughter!

To be honest, I was very upset when my MIL purchased the bitty baby for my 4 year old daughter. The American girl doll line is an expensive line. I don't think 3 years old is old enough to appreciate or understand how to properly take care of such an expensive doll. Why does it have to be this particular brand? There are plenty of dolls at the local toy store that cost 1/4 as much and they can take the beating a 3 year old will give it. (coloring on it, chewing on it, draging it around by the hair, leaving it on the floor etc) Even the most careful and considerate 3 year old child still is too young ( i think).

I think you should get the bitty baby.... We got it for my daughter when she was 2, it is her favorite doll.... I liked the idea I was able to design it around my daughters looks.... Her baby goes everywhere with us... I however wouldn't buy clothes or the accessories, my daughter never keeps clothes on any of her dolls, lol! Have fun shopping for your little girl!!

I'm totally with Tina G. Your daughter is 3, why are spending so much money for the brand name? She will love any doll you get her.

I would hold off on the American girl doll. As a mom of two girls, proud owners of four American girl dolls, I can tell you she's too young to really appreciate a $98.00 doll. One of our dolls, I bought my oldest when she was 6, (now a teenager), now has a "haircut". Very sad. It can be a very special present for an older child who knows what they're getting, and getting it at age three would kind of ruin that. Go for bitty baby. I also have an etsy website where I sell hand sewn aprons, art smocks, and home items. I'd be glad to make you doll clothes, bedding, or lots of little girl stuff on my site. Www.maryoglesby.etsy.com thanks!

Both of our girls got the bitty baby when they were young. Last year, when my girls were 4 and 5, we did a test run with Target's line of knock off dolls. Well, within a matter of months, the clothes were ripped and the hair was horribly tangled. So, we're waiting a little while longer for my girls to be able to take care of the dolls properly. I will say, that even now, my girls still love their bitty babies.