Caring for Baby Set (2021-2023)
Apr 3, 2021 17:00:56 GMT -5
Post by bingandnelsonfan on Apr 3, 2021 17:00:56 GMT -5
Mod note: The set pictured in this review was released in 2021 and retired in 2023. An identically named set, with a brown-skinned baby and otherwise identical components, was released in 2022, and as of February 2024, that set is on clearance and also appears to be retired. A new set, called the Little Bitty Baby Layette & High Chair Set, was released in 2023 and appears to have some similar components including a re-colored high chair.
Caring for Baby - $48.00
This set was released as preorder at the beginning of March, but it was not officially available until March 31, 2021.
We preordered within hours of it being released online, and we have been so nervous that it would arrive and be low quality or something disappointing. Not at all. It's amazing! I compared the new baby with the old Baby Polly (or baby from "Baby and Stroller" set), so there are a lot of photos and thoughts on that.
A quick note about the photo on the box: that's a bad photo! The bottle is not purple, it's clear (as shown in all the online stock photos). And Baby does have lip paint, even though the box shows her very desaturated.
So, let's get on with the fun and take a close look at this new baby and her accessories -- as well as comparing her to the original AG "Baby Polly" (or the baby from the retired "Baby and Stroller" set).
The Baby
Okay, here are a bunch of photos of the new baby. It's precious, and once the pink flowered outfit is removed would make just as wonderful a baby boy for your 18" doll. Unlike the previous doll-sized babies from American Girl, this baby is all vinyl (rather than having a cloth body). It's not hard plastic like a Wellie Wisher, rather the harder (but still soft) vinyl, which I think is more similar to some of the modern mini dolls. Baby sits up super well and has adorable posture. When laying straight, Baby measures 7-7/8" inches long.
While the stock photos make this baby appear to be AG's classic medium skin tone, it is not. Comparing it to a Logan doll (2017 make, #10 vinyl tone), this is that exact tone. It's very dark painted hair, rather like the 1990s Caucasian Bitty Baby with Brown Hair. Baby also has dark brown painted eyes. Because of the darker coloring on the features, this baby looks equally good when held with a medium-skin tone doll, so there's a lot of scope for character building in your doll world. (Baby looks adorable with Nanea!)
Comparing the new baby to Baby Polly (or the baby from the old JLY "Baby and Stroller" set) was quite interesting. The new baby is slightly darker in tone, though our Baby Polly above is rather pale (she's not as dark as Logan).
New Baby has almost the same head, though it's slightly closer in style to the modified Bitty Baby.
The hands/arms and feet/legs are the very same mold and size on the new Baby as Baby Polly.
The hard vinyl body is slimmer than the old-style cloth body of Baby Polly, though you can still pinch the new diapers onto Baby Polly as shown in photos above.
The face paint, though very different in coloring, is the very same -- down to the number of eyelashes.
Baby's Outfit
This is one cute outfit for your baby girl! She's got a cloth headband with a large bow on it, matching pink-and-white striped pants, and a flowered shirt.
The photos above show the new outfit next to the sleeper onesie that came on the baby from "Baby and Stroller" set. The striped pants have an elastic waist and just pull up onto Baby. The flowered shirt velcros up the back. Interestingly, none of the pieces are tagged or marked in any way.
The photos above show Baby Polly wearing the new outfit, and the new Baby wearing the onesie from "Baby and Stroller". While the new pieces are a little snug on Baby Polly due to the cloth body (pants slightly short at the waist), she still looks adorable in them and wears them without issue. In the same way, the older onesie is a bit roomy on the new Baby, but it also looks precious!
High Chair and Accessories
The accessories from this set are so cute and much nicer quality than we'd expected. The high chair comes with the legs off (they snap in permanently), and as a whole piece it feels like the thick solid (almost soft) plastic of the old 1990s Fisher Price doll house pieces and the like. It's quite sturdy. The food tray clips on, but it is easily removable, so you can have it on or off.
The baby bottle is clear plastic with baby green handles and a purple star decal. The 18" dolls can hold this super well (especially the Tenney/Logan hand style), which makes it fun for them to feed Baby. Check out the later photos in this entry to see some dolls holding the bottle.
The food bowl and spoon are pink and white plastic -- not the best quality, not the worst. Cute.
The pumpkin baby food is removable from the bowl, and it's very weighty and a nice piece.
The other accessories are really cute, too. Our favorite piece is definitely the container of baby wipes! The box itself is blue and white plastic, and the lid clips shut. Inside are three polyester cloth baby wipes that are completely separate and removable.
Next there are two pink polyester diapers (seen in photos above on both the older and newer style babies) with velcro closures, and a polyester bib for baby. While these aren't anything special in material or quality, they're cute and perfectly adequate for this small baby.
The changing pad is a bit of a disappointment, but nothing to knock stars away from the set as a whole. It's shiny nylon-like material and has a piece of velcro to keep it folded. It's a bit short for Baby, but for a play thing is likely to be enjoyed.
The Babysitting Guide book is printed on coated paper and has fully-readable pages inside.
Babies Sitting in the Chair
This chair couldn't be a cuter piece for either the older or newer style babies! Photo above shows Baby Polly in the new outfit and sitting in the chair. Even with the cloth body, she sits in there very well.
Next up, these photos show the new Baby (in the old onesie) enjoying the chair.
And finally, just to finish up with this adorable set -- some photos showing 18" dolls (Bunty and Eliot were only too happy to help with this) standing with the chair and the babies to show the scale of the pieces.
All in all, we're thrilled with this set. It's a definite bargain at $48.00 with such a great amount of nice pieces. Looking forward to enjoying some photo shoots with all the fun accessories!
Caring for Baby - $48.00
This set was released as preorder at the beginning of March, but it was not officially available until March 31, 2021.
We preordered within hours of it being released online, and we have been so nervous that it would arrive and be low quality or something disappointing. Not at all. It's amazing! I compared the new baby with the old Baby Polly (or baby from "Baby and Stroller" set), so there are a lot of photos and thoughts on that.
A quick note about the photo on the box: that's a bad photo! The bottle is not purple, it's clear (as shown in all the online stock photos). And Baby does have lip paint, even though the box shows her very desaturated.
So, let's get on with the fun and take a close look at this new baby and her accessories -- as well as comparing her to the original AG "Baby Polly" (or the baby from the retired "Baby and Stroller" set).
The Baby
Okay, here are a bunch of photos of the new baby. It's precious, and once the pink flowered outfit is removed would make just as wonderful a baby boy for your 18" doll. Unlike the previous doll-sized babies from American Girl, this baby is all vinyl (rather than having a cloth body). It's not hard plastic like a Wellie Wisher, rather the harder (but still soft) vinyl, which I think is more similar to some of the modern mini dolls. Baby sits up super well and has adorable posture. When laying straight, Baby measures 7-7/8" inches long.
While the stock photos make this baby appear to be AG's classic medium skin tone, it is not. Comparing it to a Logan doll (2017 make, #10 vinyl tone), this is that exact tone. It's very dark painted hair, rather like the 1990s Caucasian Bitty Baby with Brown Hair. Baby also has dark brown painted eyes. Because of the darker coloring on the features, this baby looks equally good when held with a medium-skin tone doll, so there's a lot of scope for character building in your doll world. (Baby looks adorable with Nanea!)
Comparing the new baby to Baby Polly (or the baby from the old JLY "Baby and Stroller" set) was quite interesting. The new baby is slightly darker in tone, though our Baby Polly above is rather pale (she's not as dark as Logan).
New Baby has almost the same head, though it's slightly closer in style to the modified Bitty Baby.
The hands/arms and feet/legs are the very same mold and size on the new Baby as Baby Polly.
The hard vinyl body is slimmer than the old-style cloth body of Baby Polly, though you can still pinch the new diapers onto Baby Polly as shown in photos above.
The face paint, though very different in coloring, is the very same -- down to the number of eyelashes.
Baby's Outfit
This is one cute outfit for your baby girl! She's got a cloth headband with a large bow on it, matching pink-and-white striped pants, and a flowered shirt.
The photos above show the new outfit next to the sleeper onesie that came on the baby from "Baby and Stroller" set. The striped pants have an elastic waist and just pull up onto Baby. The flowered shirt velcros up the back. Interestingly, none of the pieces are tagged or marked in any way.
The photos above show Baby Polly wearing the new outfit, and the new Baby wearing the onesie from "Baby and Stroller". While the new pieces are a little snug on Baby Polly due to the cloth body (pants slightly short at the waist), she still looks adorable in them and wears them without issue. In the same way, the older onesie is a bit roomy on the new Baby, but it also looks precious!
High Chair and Accessories
The accessories from this set are so cute and much nicer quality than we'd expected. The high chair comes with the legs off (they snap in permanently), and as a whole piece it feels like the thick solid (almost soft) plastic of the old 1990s Fisher Price doll house pieces and the like. It's quite sturdy. The food tray clips on, but it is easily removable, so you can have it on or off.
The baby bottle is clear plastic with baby green handles and a purple star decal. The 18" dolls can hold this super well (especially the Tenney/Logan hand style), which makes it fun for them to feed Baby. Check out the later photos in this entry to see some dolls holding the bottle.
The food bowl and spoon are pink and white plastic -- not the best quality, not the worst. Cute.
The pumpkin baby food is removable from the bowl, and it's very weighty and a nice piece.
The other accessories are really cute, too. Our favorite piece is definitely the container of baby wipes! The box itself is blue and white plastic, and the lid clips shut. Inside are three polyester cloth baby wipes that are completely separate and removable.
Next there are two pink polyester diapers (seen in photos above on both the older and newer style babies) with velcro closures, and a polyester bib for baby. While these aren't anything special in material or quality, they're cute and perfectly adequate for this small baby.
The changing pad is a bit of a disappointment, but nothing to knock stars away from the set as a whole. It's shiny nylon-like material and has a piece of velcro to keep it folded. It's a bit short for Baby, but for a play thing is likely to be enjoyed.
The Babysitting Guide book is printed on coated paper and has fully-readable pages inside.
Babies Sitting in the Chair
This chair couldn't be a cuter piece for either the older or newer style babies! Photo above shows Baby Polly in the new outfit and sitting in the chair. Even with the cloth body, she sits in there very well.
Next up, these photos show the new Baby (in the old onesie) enjoying the chair.
And finally, just to finish up with this adorable set -- some photos showing 18" dolls (Bunty and Eliot were only too happy to help with this) standing with the chair and the babies to show the scale of the pieces.
All in all, we're thrilled with this set. It's a definite bargain at $48.00 with such a great amount of nice pieces. Looking forward to enjoying some photo shoots with all the fun accessories!