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Best American Girl Accessories

Updated September 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Windolls American Girl Doll Sleeping Bag & Clothes Accessories Set
Windolls
American Girl Doll Sleeping Bag & Clothes Accessories Set
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Pajama Party
Bottom Line

A comprehensive tie-dye pajama and sleeping bag set with a flying unicorn theme.

Pros

Set includes unicorn pajamas, a sleeping bag with a plush unicorn head, eye masks, pillows, and slippers. Made with a soft washable material. One-piece pajamas have rainbow wings and a Velcro opening. For ages 3 and older.

Cons

May be lacking in durability.

Best Bang for the Buck
K.T. Fancy American Doll Accessories Travel Play Set
K.T. Fancy
American Doll Accessories Travel Play Set
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Take a Trip
Bottom Line

A set of realistic purple travel accessories that can be packed in the included functional suitcase.

Pros

Includes a suitcase on wheels with a telescopic handle and latch for opening. Comes with doll-sized replicas of electronics, a passport, camera, dollar bills, tickets, unicorn neck pillow, and face mask. Has flower-shaped sunglasses.

Cons

Accessories may be too small.

The New York Doll Collection Bunk Bed for Twin Dolls
The New York Doll Collection
Bunk Bed for Twin Dolls
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Doll Sleepover
Bottom Line

A bunk bed with a simple but stylish design and a ladder to the top bunk.

Pros

Made of wood with a white finish and hearts on the footboards. Includes a white ladder with 4 rungs. The 2 beds fit 18-inch dolls and include pink and white comforters and pillows. Beds can be separated. Certified to meet safety regulations.

Cons

Wood may chip easily.

American Girl WellieWishers Carrot and Hutch Toy
American Girl
WellieWishers Carrot and Hutch Toy
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Pet Care
Bottom Line

A toy from a trusted brand featuring a doll’s animal companion and pet care accessories.

Pros

Comes with a light blue rabbit hutch with 3 caged sides and a door with a heart-shaped hole. Hutch features a ramp with footprints. Includes a fluffy rabbit, hanging water dispenser and food, carrots, and a water bowl.

Cons

Expensive for what is included.

Ecore Fun American Dolls Camping Tent Set
Ecore Fun
American Dolls Camping Tent Set
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Outdoor Adventures
Bottom Line

A stylish multicolored set for a doll sleeping under the stars that comes with a furry friend.

Pros

Spacious tent with doors that tie open and mesh windows. Fits 4 18-inch dolls. Comes with a matching sleeping bag with a zipper. Includes a zippered unicorn backpack, camera with sounds and flash, and dog on a leash.

Cons

Tent may not be sturdy.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Best American Girl accessories

American Girl reigns supreme as one of the best-selling dolls in the country. Kids find it easy to connect with the dolls and their stories because they’re based on real-life situations and experiences. If your kids already have an American Girl doll and want to grow their collection, it’s time to invest in some accessories.

If you can think of it, there’s a miniature version of it for your American girl doll to enjoy: outfits, pets, purses, hairbrushes, and even diminutive pieces of furniture. American Girl also has an extensive line of activity sets including arts and crafts projects, journals, and stationery, just to name a few. And other companies also manufacture accessories that are compatible with American Girl dolls. While clothes and shoes remain the most popular products, these companies also design furniture and multipurpose storage wardrobes.

Wondering which American Girl accessories are worth the investment? We've written this buying guide to round up popular categories, including some of our favorites, and share a few shopping tips to make your decision a simple one.

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If you misplace the assembly instructions for your American Girl furniture, you can visit the company’s website to download them as printable PDF files.

Key considerations

Inspiration

American Girl dolls were originally manufactured by the Pleasant Company beginning in 1986. In the 1990s, these dolls took the toy world by storm. Other dolls and toys have origin stories and general backgrounds, like Barbies or G.I. Joes, but American Girl dolls had next-level, never before seen narratives.

American Girl dolls emerged as characters who live during various periods of American history, ranging from the 1770s to World War II. They’re brought to life by way of curated book collections sold separately in bookstores. Each book chronicles the life of an American Girl in a coming-of-age story. The stories also function as historical vignettes, which were instrumental in reviving historical fiction, a rather hit-or-miss genre of children’s literature.

The American Girl line has now expanded to include additional historical characters as well as contemporary ones. More than anything, the company has emerged as something of a lifestyle brand in the toy industry because it now has dolls, accessories, books, and movies. There are also American Girl boutique stores that kids and their dolls can visit to engage in themed activities.

Age range

As far as overall appeal, the American Girl line can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. With that said, American Girl dolls and accessories are generally recommended for ages 8 and older. While the books and some accessories can be enjoyed by younger kids, most of them contain small components that could pose choking hazards.

Play

American Girl accessories can be appreciated in more than one way. Those purchased for general play can be enjoyed with any American Girl doll, not just the character for which it was designed. Many kids with modern-day dolls, for example, can dress them up in clothing from some of the historical dolls.

Other kids gravitate toward character-specific play in which they stick to the original accessories and clothing for their character, which pertain to a certain period and story. It’s not often you’ll find “new release” accessories, so many kids simply aim to acquire the entire collection for a doll instead.
 

If you’ve amassed an extensive collection of small American Girl accessories, consider investing in a cosmetics or tackle box to keep track of them.

Staff
BestReviews

Popular categories

Outfits

The best-selling American Girl accessories by far are outfits. As you’ll find, they’re rather involved and realistic, right down to socks, undergarments, and outerwear. Most outfits are sold as sets with a couple of coordinating accessories like hair bows, jewelry, shoes, and purses.

Mini toys

As American Girl characters are known to have hobbies and pastimes, there is a diverse range of mini toys and accessories. These include cameras, surfboards, play money, diaries, pinball machines, and pets. Those manufactured by American Girl are usually themed, while those made by third parties are more general in orientation.

Furniture

Many kids collect furniture for their American Girl dolls, especially since the dolls are not scaled for dollhouses or full-size playsets. Most of the furniture is designed around the home in which the American Girl character lives, though there are some pieces that exist in places they frequent in the accompanying stories. These include hair salons, classrooms, greenhouses, and bowling alleys. Third-party manufacturers often make beds, dressers, and chairs. They also make multipurpose chests that function as wardrobes as well as doll storage units.

Activity kits

Activity kits exist somewhat outside the American Girl world, but they are still faithful to the brand. These sets, including arts and crafts, journals, and DIY stationery, are designed with the American Girl branding and messaging and aim to be constructive, empowering, and positive. Because many sets can be enjoyed without assistance or supervision, they also foster independence.

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Did You Know?
If you use American Girl dolls and accessories as visual aids in the classroom, you’ll find supplemental teaching materials on the American Girl website. In addition to full-color teacher’s guides with discussion and writing prompts, you’ll also find printable activity booklets for your students.
Staff
BestReviews

Accessories


Storage wardrobe: Emily Rose Open Wardrobe
Store all of your American Girl outfits and accessories in this attractive storage unit designed for 18-inch dolls. It comes with two bins for loose items, as well as a rod with five hangers to display clothing.

Doll carrier:  Emily Rose Travel Closet Set
It’s easy to travel with your American Girl doll and a few accessories using this nifty rolling suitcase designed for 18-inch dolls. Simply pack your doll and travel essentials and you’re ready to go. It even has a compact bed for your American Girl to enjoy on the road.

American Girl book: Joss, Girl of the Year 2020
Introduce your kids to Joss Kendrick, American Girl of the year 2020. In this book by Erin Falligant, they’ll learn all about her escapades as a surfer girl who enters an exciting local video contest and find out if she catches the waves she’s after.


Outfits that fit your American Girl doll perfectly are those manufactured by the parent company. If you’re interested in expanding your doll’s wardrobe beyond that, be sure to buy clothing designed to fit 18-inch dolls.

Staff
BestReviews

American Girl accessory prices

American Girl accessories range in price from $30 to $300. Branded merchandise usually costs more than accessories manufactured by third-party companies.

Inexpensive

Entry-level accessories cost between $20 and $50 and mostly include multi-piece fashion sets or mini toys. Most activity sets also fall within this price bracket.

Mid-range

These American Girl accessories cost between $50 and $150. You’ll find a diverse assortment of deluxe fashion and toy sets in this range, as well as most branded furniture pieces.

Expensive

The most expensive American Girl accessories cost $200 to $300 and higher. They include limited-edition, branded furniture pieces. There is also handcrafted wooden or metal furniture made by third-party manufacturers near the top of this price range.

Tips

  • Invest in the book collection. While American Girl dolls and movies are engaging, encourage your kids to read the books. They’re usually geared toward independent readers between the ages of 7 and 12.
  • Visit the website. If you’re not sure what pieces are part of your American Girl’s collection, visit the company’s website. It shares a character-specific overview for each doll, so you can buy accessories accordingly.
  • Spot clean only. It’s recommended that you spot clean American Girl outfits and accessories with a diluted mixture of water and gentle soap or vinegar. If the pieces are heavily soiled, reach out to American Girl directly for more advanced cleaning instructions.
     
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American Girl dolls are inclusive and aim to capture the different life experiences of girls in America. Some kids gravitate toward characters they identify with, while others enjoy learning about characters whose lives are vastly different from theirs.

FAQ

Q. Do I have to use American Girl hair accessories, or can I use the same ones that my child uses?

A. American Girl hair accessories are specially designed to hold the dolls’ synthetic hair. Regular hair ties or clips, particularly those with metal parts, can damage or tear the doll’s hair. It’s also recommended that you brush your American Girl’s hair with the company’s dedicated doll brushes. Human hairbrushes are too coarse and brittle and could scratch the doll’s head or face.

Q. Why are branded American Girl accessories so expensive?

A. For one thing, the branding drives up the price, but it’s not without cause. The company has built a solid reputation for quality dolls and accessories for the better part of three decades. American Girl also stands behind its high-quality products and is known for its exceptional customer service. This extends from the corporate office right down to the in-person American Girl boutiques.

Q. Does American Girl sell accessories for their Bitty Baby doll collection?

A. Yes. These dolls are geared toward younger kids aged 18 months and older and are often sold as “first dolls.” For that reason, you’ll find that these accessories tend to be larger, with no fragile or small components. There are some accessories with interlocking or interactive pieces, though they’re designed to meet toy safety standards as well.
 

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