I have discovered a perfect, under-the-radar gift that works for both kids who are into dolls and their millennial moms: A mini American Girl doll that costs only $25.
These mini-dolls are not front and center on the American Girl website, prominently advertised in the American Girl catalogue, or immediately visible when you shop in person at an American Girl store. It was only after touring the brand’s New York City flagship for another story, and looking at nearly every single product on display, that I noticed a perfect 6.5-inch replica of Kirsten and did a double take. For about one fifth of the price of a full-size 18-inch American Girl doll (which typically costs between $115 and $135) you can get a mini Molly, Samantha, Addy, Melody, or any of the nine other historical dolls that were popular in the late ’80s and all through the ’90s, plus a tiny abridged version of their autobiographical book. In addition to the mini historical dolls, the brand sells a mini version of the original Pleasant Company Molly doll. It’s marketed as a toy for Courtney, the 18-inch historical doll from 1986, the year American Girl debuted — a charming feedback loop for millennial parents.
It turns out the mini-dolls have actually been around for nearly 30 years; the first ones launched in 1995. Each mini-doll comes packaged in a scaled-down version of the classic red American Girl box (and, thus, would fit perfectly into a stocking). The minis aren’t as detailed as their larger counterparts, but the quality is impressive, with realistic dresses, sweaters, tights, boots, and eyeglasses. And though American Girl doesn’t sell extra accessories or clothing for the mini-dolls, you can find a bunch of retired dolls (there have been several special editions) and outfits on eBay, Poshmark, and Etsy.
I myself had a Molly doll as a kid, so I am particularly primed to swoon over the two mini Mollys. But for Christmas this year, I am giving my 4-year-old niece the mini version of Julie, a basketball-playing ’70s tween, as well as a girl-size pair of Julie’s pajamas. If she ends up getting a full-size American Girl doll when she’s older, the mini Julie can become that doll’s doll. For adults like me who had one of the historical American Girl dolls as a kid, it’s hard to imagine a better gift. And because the mini-dolls are not a well-known product for the brand, they’re not only unexpected but an easy way to scratch the American Girl itch.
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