Best Quality American Girl-Like Doll?

[ccather]

My almost 5 YO is doll obsessed....I mean...Ob.Sessed. She was eyeballing the American Girl catalogue pretty hard and, frankly so was I. Are there's good quality alternatives out there that are that size/type of doll?

She's going to play pretty hard with her, changing clothes constantly, dragging her every where. I don't know that I can watch that happen to a $100 doll. Her older sister has a Bitty Baby and I can't watch the play with that poor baby. On one hand it's great that she plays so much with Bitty...but sometimes I just want to tuck Bitty away some place safe so she'd get some peace!

Any thoughts or recommendations? (If I did AG dolls, I'd probably get a just like me type doll.)

[buddyleebaby]

We have four actual AG dolls and one "our generation" doll from target. The our generation doll gets just as much play and has held up well.

http://www.target.com/p/our-generation-18-deluxe-poseable-doll-with-book-evelyn-and-in-the-limelight/-/A-13408415#prodSlot=medium_1_5&term=my

I bought it on sale for around 25 dollars a year or two ago.

[katerinasmom]

We got a Journey Girls Doll from Toys R Us for my 5 year old who was obsessed with her sister's AG doll. She loves it.

ETA link to Journey Girls Doll
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10860509

[MaiseyDog]

We have an "Our Generation" doll from target and an actual AG doll. Both have held up well from a body standpoint, but the hair on the OG doll is a complete rats nest. I don't see DDs handling the hair differnently between the two dolls, but the AG doll's hair is much easier to brush and keep looking nice.

[MMMommy]

I remember reading some reviews that said the TRU Journey Girls had better quality hair than the Target Our Generation dolls. I think the Journey Girls are actually quite pretty with cute outfits.

[doberbrat]

this thread might help as well
http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=444485

I personally ended up getting the dollie and me from Kohls which isnt reviewed in that article. I think I paid $14ish and thats the price point I was looking for for my almost 3yo.

[ccather]

Thanks everyone!