OP here: thank you for all the replies! i especially appreciate everyone who posted whose child picked dolls of other colors/ethnicities. I just want my brown skinned, brown eyed, brown haired daughter to love her own body and see it as beautiful and perfect. Growing up (I'm 37), I had no choice in dolls; all had pale white skin and rosy cheeks. There was some brown hair, but nothing close to the deep brown-black of my own. I would have loved to have known that my coloring was good enough to be a doll.... but obviously, from the responses to my post, I am clearly bringing my own baggage into this!

i will let DD buy whichever doll she chooses! And, at 6, she will take extremely good care of it; I have no concerns about her "ruining" it.

It is a big expense, which is why I was looking for an occasion to give it to her; I didn't want her to think we can just waltz in an buy a $100 doll... we celebrate Eid, which is in the summer, and that seemed very far away... and her birthday is in the winter, so I picked KG graduation, but she just wants it so very badly... Kids grow up so quickly these days and there is such an emphasis on getting your first electronic thing, that I am quite happy for her to immerse herself in doll playing... This will be her very first doll ever - she's never liked them before.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is Asian also (Chinese-American) and I bought her an Ivy doll which I found off of E-bay. I thought she looked more Chinese than some of the design-your-own options (some of which other PPs have posted above). Also, I liked that she came with her own story (GOOD LUCK, IVY) which had this historical/cultural info that I like about the old dolls. (Like another poste mentioned, I like these dolls for the historical stories and their educational tie-in.) My daughter is 7 and in 1st grade and she got her Ivy doll at Christmas this year. We have not bought any other accessories or anything, but my daughter really wants to be able to brush her hair, so she was saving up her money to buy the $8 "wig comb" which supposedly is the only one you are supposed to use to brush the dolls' hair. (?)

PS It kind of burned me up that there was no Asian-American doll anymore other than finding the Ivy one on E-bay. What the heck? My daughter is AMERICAN so why isn't there an AMERICAN Girl DOLL for her? That is what made me go to E-Bay. Normally, I'd never have done anything like this. DD probably wouldn't have even cared but it was I who was pretty ticked off about it, once I thought more about it. Grrr, stupid overpriced company that doesn't even have an option for my AMERICAN girl. Maybe I feel this way b/c we adopted her from China so yeah, I was pretty peeved that there some company where there was basically a message: "You are not an American girl if we don't have an AMERICAN GIRL doll that looks like you." Shrug, I don't know.

There was a big controversy when AG discontinued Ivy in 2014. She was the only Asian historical doll. And just Julie's sidekick at that. AG can and should do better[/i].

I am the PP above you and I agree [u]100%. [i][b]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Also, we are south Asian by ethnicity, and DD rally wants a blonde blue-eyes doll, which makes me a little uneasy - she says blonde hair is so pretty...
Thoughts on whether I should let her pick or instead pick a doll that looks more like her...

My DD is also Asian. There are no Asian AG dolls - which kind of made me not want to get my DD one. She ended up initially choosing blonde with blue eyes (she says the same about this being so pretty) but settled on a very dark skinned doll with very curly hair. I just let her choose. My only issue was that I was buying only one - they are expensive. You can get accessories that work elsewhere for far less money.

There is an Asian AG doll!

http://www.americangirl.com/shop/black-brown-hair-bangs-brown-eyes-f1273

That doll does not look Asian.

You can choose and change absolutely everything to make it look more like you. In real life, the doll does look more Asian.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is Asian also (Chinese-American) and I bought her an Ivy doll which I found off of E-bay. I thought she looked more Chinese than some of the design-your-own options (some of which other PPs have posted above). Also, I liked that she came with her own story (GOOD LUCK, IVY) which had this historical/cultural info that I like about the old dolls. (Like another poste mentioned, I like these dolls for the historical stories and their educational tie-in.) My daughter is 7 and in 1st grade and she got her Ivy doll at Christmas this year. We have not bought any other accessories or anything, but my daughter really wants to be able to brush her hair, so she was saving up her money to buy the $8 "wig comb" which supposedly is the only one you are supposed to use to brush the dolls' hair. (?)

PS It kind of burned me up that there was no Asian-American doll anymore other than finding the Ivy one on E-bay. What the heck? My daughter is AMERICAN so why isn't there an AMERICAN Girl DOLL for her? That is what made me go to E-Bay. Normally, I'd never have done anything like this. DD probably wouldn't have even cared but it was I who was pretty ticked off about it, once I thought more about it. Grrr, stupid overpriced company that doesn't even have an option for my AMERICAN girl. Maybe I feel this way b/c we adopted her from China so yeah, I was pretty peeved that there some company where there was basically a message: "You are not an American girl if we don't have an AMERICAN GIRL doll that looks like you." Shrug, I don't know.

There was a big controversy when AG discontinued Ivy in 2014. She was the only Asian historical doll. And just Julie's sidekick at that. AG can and should do better.

Sigh...I had really wanted to get my daughter an AG doll because I never had one growing up. And of course she cares nothing for dolls!

I say let her pick anything she wants

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kindergarten? NO. These dolls are for 8 and up. Buy her the historical books and read them to her. She'll settle on one of the historical characters and then wish and wish, and "save her pennies" and then for her birthday, you can get her the the doll and all friends/relatives can get her various accessories. That's a great way to do it, imo.

You buy her a doll now and she'll thrash it and it won't be special like if you did it the other way.

I don't think you have a K girl. It's a big thing starting around K, not at 8. I can't imagine any of the girls I see carrying their dolls to parties trashing them. They are seriously in love with their dolls.

OP -- it's her doll, I would let your DD pick out what she wants. Although you don't need to make an appointment, I would try to get to the store at non-peak times, such as right when it opens. It can get pretty crowded on weekends.

+1

HUGE in my DD's K class. None seem to be abused that I can see. Certainly not my DD's - she cherishes it.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is Asian also (Chinese-American) and I bought her an Ivy doll which I found off of E-bay. I thought she looked more Chinese than some of the design-your-own options (some of which other PPs have posted above). Also, I liked that she came with her own story (GOOD LUCK, IVY) which had this historical/cultural info that I like about the old dolls. (Like another poste mentioned, I like these dolls for the historical stories and their educational tie-in.) My daughter is 7 and in 1st grade and she got her Ivy doll at Christmas this year. We have not bought any other accessories or anything, but my daughter really wants to be able to brush her hair, so she was saving up her money to buy the $8 "wig comb" which supposedly is the only one you are supposed to use to brush the dolls' hair. (?)

PS It kind of burned me up that there was no Asian-American doll anymore other than finding the Ivy one on E-bay. What the heck? My daughter is AMERICAN so why isn't there an AMERICAN Girl DOLL for her? That is what made me go to E-Bay. Normally, I'd never have done anything like this. DD probably wouldn't have even cared but it was I who was pretty ticked off about it, once I thought more about it. Grrr, stupid overpriced company that doesn't even have an option for my AMERICAN girl. Maybe I feel this way b/c we adopted her from China so yeah, I was pretty peeved that there some company where there was basically a message: "You are not an American girl if we don't have an AMERICAN GIRL doll that looks like you." Shrug, I don't know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Also, we are south Asian by ethnicity, and DD rally wants a blonde blue-eyes doll, which makes me a little uneasy - she says blonde hair is so pretty...
Thoughts on whether I should let her pick or instead pick a doll that looks more like her...

My DD is also Asian. There are no Asian AG dolls - which kind of made me not want to get my DD one. She ended up initially choosing blonde with blue eyes (she says the same about this being so pretty) but settled on a very dark skinned doll with very curly hair. I just let her choose. My only issue was that I was buying only one - they are expensive. You can get accessories that work elsewhere for far less money.

There is an Asian AG doll!

http://www.americangirl.com/shop/black-brown-hair-bangs-brown-eyes-f1273

That doll does not look Asian.

+1

My daughter is Asian also (Chinese-American) and I bought her an Ivy doll which I found off of E-bay. I thought she looked more Chinese than some of the design-your-own options (some of which other PPs have posted above). Also, I liked that she came with her own story (GOOD LUCK, IVY) which had this historical/cultural info that I like about the old dolls. (Like another poste mentioned, I like these dolls for the historical stories and their educational tie-in.) My daughter is 7 and in 1st grade and she got her Ivy doll at Christmas this year. We have not bought any other accessories or anything, but my daughter really wants to be able to brush her hair, so she was saving up her money to buy the $8 "wig comb" which supposedly is the only one you are supposed to use to brush the dolls' hair. (?)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Also, we are south Asian by ethnicity, and DD rally wants a blonde blue-eyes doll, which makes me a little uneasy - she says blonde hair is so pretty...
Thoughts on whether I should let her pick or instead pick a doll that looks more like her...

My DD is also Asian. There are no Asian AG dolls - which kind of made me not want to get my DD one. She ended up initially choosing blonde with blue eyes (she says the same about this being so pretty) but settled on a very dark skinned doll with very curly hair. I just let her choose. My only issue was that I was buying only one - they are expensive. You can get accessories that work elsewhere for far less money.

There is an Asian AG doll!

http://www.americangirl.com/shop/black-brown-hair-bangs-brown-eyes-f1273

That doll does not look Asian.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Also, we are south Asian by ethnicity, and DD rally wants a blonde blue-eyes doll, which makes me a little uneasy - she says blonde hair is so pretty...
Thoughts on whether I should let her pick or instead pick a doll that looks more like her...

My DD is also Asian. There are no Asian AG dolls - which kind of made me not want to get my DD one. She ended up initially choosing blonde with blue eyes (she says the same about this being so pretty) but settled on a very dark skinned doll with very curly hair. I just let her choose. My only issue was that I was buying only one - they are expensive. You can get accessories that work elsewhere for far less money.

There is an Asian AG doll!

http://www.americangirl.com/shop/black-brown-hair-bangs-brown-eyes-f1273

My blonde, blue-eyed daughter desperately wanted Molly, the dark-haired one with glasses. Let her choose her favorite!

I think it's a fun idea to do it over spring break. Take her to the AG store, have a meal there (reservations are a must) and make a day of it.

You can make an appointment with a personal shopper (it's free), and she will walk you through all the options. It is a much less chaotic process if you use a personal shopper. You don't have to wait in line and she will unpackage the doll, comb her hair, etc. We also scheduled a lunch after we bought the doll. It was a nice day and an experience my daughter still talks about several years ago.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got one in K. She has treated it responsibly and still loves her and plays with her often.

+1. I was going to wait but my sister gave me the wide advice that if you buy it at 8, she'll play with it for maybe a year, whereas f you buy it at 5, she'll play with it for like 4 years. My daughter has taken good care of the one she got at age 5. She's now almost 9 and the girls don't play with them nearly as much as they did at 6 or 7, when it was a big item for playdates. I generally follow the rule that expensive items like that need to wait for birthdays or Christmas, to minize the mid-year begging for items, but I know other people like to follow a different approach (and it's hard for kids with birthdays near the holidays as a year can be a long time to wait for that special something).

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got one in K. She has treated it responsibly and still loves her and plays with her often.

+1. I was going to wait but my sister gave me the wide advice that if you buy it at 8, she'll play with it for maybe a year, whereas f you buy it at 5, she'll play with it for like 4 years. My daughter has taken good care of the one she got at age 5. She's now almost 9 and the girls don't play with them nearly as much as they did at 6 or 7, when it was a big item for playdates. I generally follow the rule that expensive items like that need to wait for birthdays or Christmas, to minize the mid-year begging for items, but I know other people like to follow a different approach (and it's hard for kids with birthdays near the holidays as a year can be a long time to wait for that special something).