I know, I know. ANYTHING and EVERYTHING
American Girl would make a great holiday gift for girls! I don't know of any little girl (and a few big girls like me!) who would say no to any of American Girl's dolls, doll clothes, accessories, playsets or books. But let's get real: unless your last name is Gates or Zuckerberg or Hilton, you probably won't be able to get everything in the catalog, so you've got to make some tough choices.
That's where the
American Girl Gift Guide can help. No one knows their products like they do, so they've done the searching for you and come up with a list of
Top Gifts for Girls. But you know your girl best, so American Girl also has tools to help parents search for the perfect present. You can search by interests, age and price. You can check out the top-rated customer items and award-winning products. You can even have your daughter create a wish list and gift registry, and share it with family and friends.
If you're still overwhelmed by the choices, check out my top American Girl gift ideas below, or my
2011 American Girl Gift Guide!
For Girls who've been Really, Really Good
Here are some great ideas for the One Big Gift that she runs to open first. Pay attention, mom & dad, or grandma or Godfather Drosselmeyer!
 | Of course, the best American Girl doll for your child is the one she wants -- I recommend reading a few of the historical novels to get a feel for which historical character she likes best. But I have to put in a word for the 2012 Doll of the Year, McKenna ($105), because she's only around for 2012. And also because she has the shiniest, neatest, easiest-to-comb, never-tangles hair. Trust me, that will be important after 4 years of playing with the doll and brushing her hair! |
 | Yes, I know McKenna's Loft Bed Set ($225) is backordered till 2013, but there's a reason -- because it's simply the coolest doll bed ever. It'ts every girl's dream bed, and if your daughter can't have the real thing, I'm sure she'd be happy to wait a couple of months to get it for her doll. |
 | The new Winter Chalet ($150) is an adorable doll house, filled with neat details and special touches. I like that it's not too huge and bulky, so it doesn't need to be in a huge playroom or bedroom. |
 | If you're lucky enough to live near an American Girl Place store, give your little girl the gift of an experience and a memory with a Day Out at American Girl! You can have lunch at the American Girl Cafe, have her doll's hair done at the Doll Hair Salon, or have her photo taken with her doll to look like she's on the cover of the American Girl Magazine. The stores carry special souvenir items that aren't available in the catalog or online, so at the end of the day you can pick up a small memento of a very special day together. |
For Every American Girl
If your girl already has an American Girl, these gifts will make great additions to her collection. These are great gifts from aunts, uncles and parents.
 | The holidays will feel even more special when her doll is all dressed up for the occasion! Either the Purple Party Outfit ($36)or the Rosy Red Outfit ($36) are sure to get your little girl in a festive mood. |
 | I love how American Girl has clothes and accessories that match a wide range of girls' interests, from soccer to ballet to music to snowboarding. If you have a fearless snowboarder on your hands, it will be a lot easier to easier to her drag home from a day of carving the slopes if she knows she can continue her snowboarding adventures with her American Girl doll. With this adorable Snowboard Outfit ($34) and Snowboard Gear ($38) set, she'll have all she needs to feed her imagination.
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 | American Girl dolls are just as well traveled as their owners -- they have been to grandma's house, friend's sleepovers, summers by the beach and everywhere around the globe! The Starry Doll Carrier ($58) is a great way to keep your daughter's American Girl doll and clothes organized and in one place wherever she travels. |
For Bookworms
Here are some gifts to feed a budding hobby. or get girls excited to read. These are great for your daughter's best friends and cousins!
.jpg) | Girls love American Girl Magazine, and a subscription ($22.95 for 1 year) is the gift that keeps on giving all throughout the year. |
 | Whether your travel plans will take you halfway around the world or halfway around the block, the world can be your daughter's oyster with the Doll Travel activity kit ($21.95). It has a bunch of doll-sized travel accessories like maps and passports so she and her American Girl doll can travel anywhere they want!
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 | The Caroline boxed set ($39) is the perfect way to travel back in time and see what life was like during the War of 1812. Girls can follow the adventures of American Girl's newest historical character, Caroline Abbott and be inspired by the courage and spirit of a girl who's not so very different from them. The boxed set even includes a board game for girls to play. |
Stocking Stuffers
Yes, you can find American Girl gifts for under $25, under $15, even under $10!
 | Every doll needs a pair of City Sunglasses ($8) to shield her from the paparazzi. |
 | A girl -- even if she's a doll -- can never have too many pairs of shoes, and they're certainly small enough to fit in even the tiniest stocking or advent calendar. Even Imelda Marcos would covet these Silver Heels ($12)!
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 | The Bored No More! quiz book ($9.99) is the perfect way to entertain girls at a sleepover, in a car or on a plane. That's just one of the dozens of American Girl activity books to choose from -- check them all out! |
One last tip: always, always check the Sale section of the American Girl website -- they have some incredible deals! Happy shopping!
Win American Girl Stickers
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive an assortment of
American Girl stickers (approx. value $15-$20).
Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which American Girl product you would most like to give as a present this holiday season.
Bonus Entries
1) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (5 entries)
2) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)
3) Pin this giveaway on your Pinterest board (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).
4) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and tell me which item on my American Girl gift guide you would most like to give/receive (1 entry)
5) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this (1 entry):
RT @bonggafinds Check out the Bonggamom Finds Holiday Gift Guide for 2012: gifts for all ages & stages (plus giveaways!) http://ow.ly/fezLR
6) Follow @shop_psychobaby on Twitter and tweet this (1 entry):
RT @bonggafinds Enter to win an American Girl craft sticker pack! Giveaway ends 12/11 at http://ow.ly/fqe4X #giveaways
The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on Dec 10, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on Dec 11 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.
Disclosure: I have reviewed select items in this gift guide in the past. Inclusion in this guide was based solely on my personal preferences; no review samples or compensation were received for this gift guide post. Giveaway prize is provided at my own expense. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
