About a month ago, I took the kids to the American Girl store. My oldest daughter adores their dolls, and I thought it would be fun to get a boy one for my son. But when I saw the price tags, I knew I needed a DIY, budget-friendly option.
My sweet girl is currently working hard to earn a “mini-me” doll, but last year she bought one with blonde hair and blue eyes that looked more like her brother. So, we decided to turn that old doll into a boy doll—and she gave it to her brother for his birthday. He loved it!
Here’s what we did:
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Removed the lipstick with nail polish remover and a Q-tip.
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Got a haircut—thanks to my sister-in-law at her salon.
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Dressed him up in old Build-A-Bear clothes (a little big, but adorable!). Preemie or newborn clothes would probably fit even better.
The end result? A cheap, cute, and fun project that saved us a lot of money and created a special memory.
If your kids love dolls, but the price tag feels overwhelming, don’t be afraid to get creative. Sometimes the best toys are the ones that come with a little imagination and love.
Thanks for this! I have a petition on change.org for companies that make 18" dolls to start making boy versions! IN the mean time, I plan to take your ideas and create a doll for my son who really wants one. Thanks!
https://www.change.org/p/companies-that-make-18-dolls-make-and-sell-18-boy-dolls?recruiter=9347825&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_facebook_responsive&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-custom_msg&fb_ref=Default#