This is not the first time I’ve heard of this problem.

I do have a friend who had a leg break off Emerson. She was able to get it replaced. The doll she got for her other twin hasn’t had any issues.

We have three Wellie Wishers — Willa, Camille and Emerson — and they’ve held up really well. My daughter’s actually working toward earning Ashlyn right now. I’d say they get regular use.

It’s clear AG knows it’s a problem. I wonder if it was a certain production batch? I certainly understand your trepidation.

AG’s dolls usually hold up really well. My daughter’s playing with my Samantha from years and years ago.

Hi, Megan.

I think it all depends on your daughter. I think my daughter would have enjoyed a Bitty Baby more than a Wellie Wisher at the age of 2. Play at that age is much more about mimicking than imaginative.

My daughter is now 5 and plays with them much more often than in the beginning. She’s starting to read the books on her own, and uses them as a jumping off point for imaginative pay. She also still plays with her baby doll (not American Girl), so I think you’d still get use out of the Bitty Baby as your daughter grows.

As far as the actual doll goes, I think the biggest issue would be the hair. We have both Willa and Camille. Willa’s hair is curly and easily tangles. Camille’s straight hair is easier to manage.

Hi there, I wanted to follow-up on this post. I know you wrote a while ago, but my daughter is turning two. She likes the Welliewisher show and I am reading the books to her. I’m about to have a baby so deciding on Bitty Baby or getting the Camille doll. Thoughts?

You certainly can enjoy the dolls without the books, but I think the overall experience is better with the books.

Hi, Chelsea.

It definitely depends on the child. The target age is technically 5, but I think it depends on the child’s maturity. When we gave my daughter Willa, we told her that Willa was her special doll just like Mommy’s Samantha doll. We gave her a special home on a shelf so that she wouldn’t get tossed in the cradle with her other dolls. Though she’s on a shelf, my daughter has full access to her and plays with her often. But she also plays differently with her because she knows she is special. In the end, we don’t really care how hard she plays with her, because dolls are meant for playing.

I think your 2-year-old will love her tremendously. American Girl also has Bitty Baby dolls for the same price that have hair painted/molded on if that’s a concern. She might like being a momma to her own baby.