Comments on: Hey, American Girl: Make a Doll with Down syndrome

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 21:49:10 +0000

Just found this post – right after I sent an email to American Girl requesting a doll for my granddaughter who has DS. Maybe eventually they will take up the challange!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 01:23:16 +0000

P.S. My sister’s entire face lights up when she smiles. How about AG re-creating that!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 01:20:06 +0000

Good for you! I wrote to AG years ago, when my now 16 year old was little, and asked for the very same thing; I received the same response. My older sister has Down’s and I would have bought three of these dolls had one been produced. My beloved sister lives overseas and I so rarely get to spend time with her now. I haven’t bought AG products for YEARS, but, like you, would definitely make a purchase or two if a Down’s child was created. I check the new doll each year in the hope that one day American Girl will get with the program.

By: Art’s imitation of life | Ordinary Afters...

Art’s imitation of life | Ordinary Afters... — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 17:01:17 +0000

[...] of my favorite bloggers had a recent post about AG dolls and in reading this post I was brought back in time for my own version of this [...]

By: Cole

Cole — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:46:52 +0000

A couple of years ago, also inspite of the plethora of half naked, crazy-haired dolls in my children’s possession I found myself wanting a doll for Abby that had Down syndrome. Every single doll that was marketed for that- creeped me out. And I didn’t want to buy what to me was a creepy looking doll and tell my daughter whom I routinely find and gush over how beautiful she is, that this doll represents her. At that same time Punky- that Irish cartoon about the girl who has Ds came out and that- that I was for. We got that and it now sits happily amongst the set of kids dvds that we never watch because we never watch DVDS. But it’s there and I enjoy the show. At that same time some of the other families on-line that we were friends with because of the connetion of Ds were having this Spanish Doll-maker adapt the eyes on these Waldorf-style dolls to represent Ds. The doll with “the eyes” just just as darling to me as the other dolls she made. So I put in my order. And it took a ridiculously long time because the woman had some health issues of her own, and you know they were coming from Spain and are personalized dolls- you choose some of the features/skin tone/hair/clothes etc.

Fast forward a year and a half later when our dolls came. For our oldest daughter I had asked to have the eyes blue and heart shaped- because she is both full of heart and wears her heart so openly. Check.

Pull out Abby’s doll and the eyes don’t look like the eyes of our friend’s dolls. Really, they look pretty similar to Maddie’s dolls eyes. I get the lesson in this now as I’m typing this and really this should be my own post rather than a response to yours.

In the meantime Abby had fallen in love with the Target version of the AG doll. She was quite specific in which she loved and who am I tell her it doesn’t represent her right? Now those two dolls are friends.

I don’t know if I’d buy a Ds AG…..regardless I’d like to see it happen.

By: Cheryl FIsher

Cheryl FIsher — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:06:02 +0000

Amy, I totally get this – and I’ve posted on FB recently the story of the woman who, in spite of American Girl dolls, has made dolls which look like our kids. Seriously! Scar, check. Hands, check. Toes, check. She has an assortment of hair/ eye and skin tone colours, too – and even boy dolls. They are currently being pre-marketed, with shipment due in early May. They run about $85 including shipping – much cheaper than the AG dolls, too. I saw this woman’s story online and immediately juimped at the chance to have a doll for Madeline who LOOKS like Madeline. I would encourage your to check her out – and promote her efforts like crazy. Yes, AG has a great marketing strategy and all… but they do NOT have a doll with Down Syndrome – and I highly doubt they ever will. The site is: dollsfordowns.org. (She’s on FB, too)