?s about Corolle dolls..... (Vanilla 14" model)

[AnnieW625]

I am thinking of ordering this doll for DD1 for Christmas. We currently get the American Girl catalog, but at 4/1/2 I don't believe she needs an AG doll. I had always thought I would buy her a Bitty Baby, but she already has a couple of other baby dolls she likes to play with so I don't really see the need. I like that this doll has hair and looks like DD1. Is this the right doll for a 4 yr. old?

Corolle Vanilla w/brown hair:
http://www.amazon.com/Corolle-Vanilla-Brunette-inch-Collection/dp/B0014Z4KVU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1280875961&sr=8-2

I would also like to get some outfits like these, but the prices aren't great:
http://www.amazon.com/Corolle-Denim-Dress-fits-dolls/dp/B001TIPJTY/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1280876271&sr=8-13

http://www.amazon.com/Corolle-Classic-14-inch-Fashion-Smocked/dp/B0013YGV6O/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1280876328&sr=8-21

http://www.amazon.com/Corolle-Fashions-14-Inch-Flowered-Tunic/dp/B0032JTJSA/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1280876328&sr=8-27

Are there any Etsy sellers that make Corolle clothes that you could recommend?

[Seitvonzu]

i'm seriously looking at this doll too-- she is so pretty! we don't have one (and my child is going to be 3 at the holidays, so a little younger), but i think your intuition to wait on the American girl dolls are correct. the bitty baby might be redundant unless your child is very into babies. if you like the look of the AG baby stuff, i might get a few of the accesories (i really like the stroller or the diaper bag, but they are pricey) and skip the doll. if you have a similar sized doll, the outfits can sometimes be bought on sale and the quality and details (and amount of stuff that you get in an "outfit"-- clothes, shoes, toy, little book) make them a pretty good value.

the american girl doll is really for school age kids IMO. the books really add to the doll and all the little accesories are more appreciated by 7 and up. their is as specialness to these dolls that a 4 year old just can't appreciate and manage. (that is if them staying "special" and cared for is important to you, and i would think it is since the dolls are pretty expensive)

the corolle is a nice size and has hair and looks like a "little" girl (as opposed to the 10 year old look of the american girl dolls). i think i've almost talked myself into this myself....

in our house, clothes are KING (or princess or queen or pirate ;) . the corolle clothes are pricey, but SO MUCH nicer than anything you'll find in a toys r us or target ... doll clothes tend to be expensive (esp nicer ones). if you've ever tried to make them, you know why (they are a pain!)

go for it-- doll and outifts! :) (can you tell i love dolls and have no willpower when it comes to them?)

[egoldber]

I would definitely wait for an AG 18" doll until she is older. Since you have a store there it will be a fun experience for her to go and pick out a doll for herself at that time. :)

We have that Corolle doll. She is a beautiful doll and a great size. At that price, it is hard to go wrong. I would say not go crazy on clothes though. My kids are not that into the clothes. Also, Bitty Baby clothes fit her fine, though they are a little loose. But you can often find good deals on BB outfits.

[bubbaray]

We have a Corolle Vanilla 14" blonde doll (and 2 Calin with hair), along with the Bitty Twins (1 blonde, 1 brunette).

I think the 14" Vanilla or the BT are a good size for a 4yo. I prefer the face of the Vanilla and the body -- BT are a bit chubby for my liking. I much prefer the hair of the BT. BT cannot wear the Vanilla clothes, Vanilla can wear the BT clothes (but they are a bit big).

Overally, I would probably give the advantage to the BT, especially if you have 2 girls. You can only buy the BT (online at least) as a set (though you can pick 2 blondes, 2 brunettes or whatever). I have heard that at the AG stores you can get them in singles.

The Vanilla doll is nice, but I am disappointed in her hair. The BT hair has held up much better over the years. Granted, the BT are newer, but still -- Vanilla's hair was trashed in a few months.

ETA: Bitty Baby and Bitty Twins are the same size and can wear the same clothes. The main difference is the hair (ie., BB has none).

http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/static/bittytwins.jsp

[daniele_ut]

We have a Corolle Cailin that DD plays with a lot, but we were in NYC visiting my mom and DH wanted to get each of our kids something special on the trip, so we ended up with a Bitty Baby. I looked at all of the Corolle clothing IRL at FAO and it was all overpriced at $20 and up per outfit. They had a couple of generic doll clothing pieces but nothing overwhelming. I ended up buying the Mix and Match Layette at AGP http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/148327/uid/97 (http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/148327/uid/97)

I figured that $38 for 3 outfits was easier to swallow than $20 for one. I haven't given it to her yet, because she hasn't mastered the re-dressing part and i'm tired of helping for now!

[Seitvonzu]

i love the look of the mix and match bitty layette- do you think the quality is good? i've been mulling that one over,wishing it would go on sale :)

[KrisM]

DD got that doll for Christmas at 3.5. She really likes it. I watched ebay for clothes and ended up finding a lot of 8 outfits and a brunette doll for $80 shipped. The outfits get played with quite often and the doll is put away to either resell or give later. I haven't had any issue with the hair not brushing back into shape so far.

[AnnieW625]

I don't want to spend $95 plus clothes for the Bitty Twins. I wish you could buy them separately because I think they are the perfect sized doll for an under 7/8 yr. old. I wasn't planning on getting DD1 and AG doll until she is that age. If Josefina gets discontinued before that then I will get one for both girls because my girls have Hispanic/Mexican lineage (and give them to them at 7 or 8).

I think I'll order the Bitty trio of outfits/book, and get the Corolle 14" brunette doll. Thanks for the help ladies:)

[bubbaray]

Why don't you call the LA store and see if they will sell you one BT:

http://www.americangirl.com/stores/location_la.php

If you want the BT clothes, *I* think you should get the BT. I mean, we already had Vanilla when we got BTs, but I don't think I"d recommend getting Vanilla with the intent of using the BT clothes -- they fit, but they are big, KWIM?

[The Baby Daily]

Believe it or not I used to have a Corelle doll as a child and my daughter had them as her first dolls. They are a very nice first baby doll. They smell wonderful.

[AnnieW625]

Why don't you call the LA store and see if they will sell you one BT:

http://www.americangirl.com/stores/location_la.php

If you want the BT clothes, *I* think you should get the BT. I mean, we already had Vanilla when we got BTs, but I don't think I"d recommend getting Vanilla with the intent of using the BT clothes -- they fit, but they are big, KWIM?

I will call and see; hand't thought of that.

[egoldber]

You can buy one BT at a store. :)

[Seitvonzu]

i think of the bitty dolls as more "babyish" and their clothes sorta reflect that--even the twin clothes...they are also lots bigger. so i'd think i'd stick to the doll that goes with the clothes....unless you already have a doll and are looking for clothes (and then it's easier to "make it work")

[Melaine]

We really like the BTs....and I think the clothes are really cute. Their hair has stayed really nice, which I have to admit has surprised me. The girls really like them and I think they are a nice age for them. They play with their hair a lot, maybe because they can't even get a comb through their own hair. I haven't seen the Corolle doll IRL but she does look really pretty.

ETA: We had a really nice time getting the dolls at the AG store in Atlanta. They did sell them separately there also.

[Seitvonzu]

oh-- when i said the clothes were "babyish" i didn't mean to imply that they aren't SUPER CUTE, because, they really are :)

we have bitty baby clothes here and i really like them. i just think they have a "younger" look than the clothes designed for corolle "miss" dolls.

such fun choices for our kiddos, no?