American Girl Doll Review {Holiday Gift Idea}

By Contributor Allison Baltzersen

AMERICAN GIRL – SAIGE

Be still my – err, I mean my daughter’s – soul!  A few weeks ago, we received the American Girl holiday catalog and were asked to choose one doll to review.  We sat down as a family (my husband included) and discussed each doll with the same level of intensity Jefferson had negotiating the borders of the Louisiana Purchase.  The decision was NOT easy because there are so many gorgeous dolls, animals and accessories to consider, including the newly expanded Bitty Baby collection.  But in the end, our daughter decided (primarily because the doll is pictured with a horse in the catalog – hint hint to her grandparents) that Saige, Girl of the Year 2013, was just the right doll for her.

When Saige arrived, we ceremoniously unraveled her packaging and stood her up.  What I immediately noticed was the beautiful craftsmanship.  Compared to other (cheaper) dolls, the American Girl doll has well-tailored clothing and boots, thick hair and extremely smooth-moving joints.  She stands unassisted, sits unassisted and has eyes that open and close depending on body positioning.

After a thorough exam, Goose welcomed Saige into her playroom with a proper tea party, an aggressive hair brushing (all hair is still intact!) and plenty of hugs.  Saige held her own – standing, sitting and lying down as directed.  After seeing a few cheaper dolls come and go through our house, I can absolutely see the value in an American Girl doll.  You get what you pay for.

And American Girl isn’t just about owning a doll.  It’s a culture.  In the same way that 40 year old men get misty eyed walking into a professional sporting arena to watch their favorite team play, little girls feel the same magic walking into an American Girl store.  Besides simply buying a doll and taking it home, little girls can take their American Girl dolls to lunch, to the salon, to special cultural events, and even get portraits taken together.  Speaking of pictures, American Girl is offering a special from October 14 to December 31, 2013: customers who make a purchase with American Girl in store or online will receive a thank you gift (a promo code for a free 20-page, American Girl-themed hardcover photo book (valued at $29.99), redeemable at Shutterfly.com.

Disclosure: I received a sample of a product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all views and opinions stated on this post are 100% my own.

Allison Baltzersen is a mother of two baby girls and blogs about her bumblings through green parenting over at Funny Shade of Green.