The first device to carry American Girl Dolls specifically was the "Doll Travel Set" by Pleasant Company. It featured a wicker carrying basket with a fabric covering around the outside, one small garment bag and one small accessory bag.
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| The Doll Travel Set by Pleasant Company, photo credit |
I can't think of many notable carriers for a while after this one, which was released in 1991 and retired in 2000, almost 9 years! The discontinuing of this product was pretty much the start of Mattel's takeover of the line, however, another carrying device wouldn't be released for 6 years.
Next the Original Doll Tote was created. This lavender tote had the space for two dolls and a big zippered pocket built into the bottom of the tote for accessories. It was introduced in 2006 and retired in 2011. These totes do have a tendency, like the original basket, to be kept in production for a long time. The criticism I have with this tote is that it is highly unlikely that the bottom will stay flat when filled with belongings, thus resulting in the dolls laying on their sides, which could be disastrous if they fall into or are layed down on some icky substance on a counter or other surface. Additionally, while the dolls are slightly more protected than they would be in the basket above, there is only room for two dolls if one sits on top of the other, the space here is actually very small and one doll's legs always have to go over the other, this has been present in all doll totes created since this one. A tote with truly enough room would probably be a few inches longer, and also very large and difficult for children to carry and maneuver. However, as an adult collector, I have considered the possibility of creating my own tote where the dolls can sit feet to feet, it could be an interesting project.
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| The original Doll Tote, holds two dolls, photo credit |
Then, in 2007, our non-tote or basket carrying device was introduced. The doll carrier pack was a backpack that had a pocket on the front with straps that went over the doll's shoulders to hold it in place, and the doll could then be carried around, along with other things inside the backpack. This design is simple, however I worry about all the damage that could happen to that doll's head and arms. The most valuable parts of the doll, her face and hair, are really exposed and something could easily brush against it and scratch the face or even worse. But it is adorable, and I can understand why this design was chosen.
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| This is, really, just a backpack with the doll pocket on the front, but it works for carrying nonetheless. photo credit |
In 2009 the iconic Starry Doll carrier was introduced (iconic really because I saw it in every catalog as a child when I got into American Girl) . It's got a little cutout for the face, and straps to hold it. Not backpack straps really, just one long strap to go over one shoulder. Inside there is a belt that clips closed to hold the doll in place, two mesh pockets and two flap pockets for accessories, and the third pannel folds into the second panel. This carrier is one of two designs that I have the most issues with. Firstly, the cutout window has NOTHING over it. No plastic, nothing, just a direct hole to your doll's precious face for anything from tree branches to mischievous siblings to accidental scrapings to come and scratch it all up. This could have been done for several reasons, maybe plastic was too expensive or their study groups didn't ask for it enough, but for a $100+ doll, you'd think they would have something there to protect the doll's face. Of course you could modify this, but it cost $58, for that price it should protect the entire doll, including the face. Other than that this is a decent carrier, because everything else is covered pretty well. The accessory pockets feel a little nonsensical, but they don't seem to interfere with the functionality of the carrier like the doll tote zippered area does. I want to get one and modify it so badly, this was later retired in 2013.
Next comes the almighty, the iconic, Starry two doll tote! Introduced in 2011 and retired in 2013, I own two starry two doll totes, one from my sister and one from me. This is one of the best carrying designs, and I have been disheartened by all options provided since this item's retirement. It's a pink tote, similar to the doll tote design, but with four pockets on the outside of the bag that each close with velcro. The inside of the bag is grey and there is a velcro latch over the center. These things can be PACKED, and each pocket can hold a lot of accessories. This is because the pockets go all the way up against one another, so you can put stuff all around the sides, and even towards the back where the dolls sit. Mine are a little over 5 years old and there is some fraying of the material, but they have held up super well and are incredibly useful. I may be biased because this is the carrier I got as a child, but I think that if you purchase any doll carrier, it should be this one to start. It's just perfectly suited to all carrying needs, my only qualms being that of course the protection it offers to doll heads is minimal. I've had many hats and glasses get knocked off and hair get tussled, but of course having your doll's hair in a travel ready style like braids or a ponytail and removing accessories like hats and glasses prior to traveling can help minimize those instances.
The iconic Starry two-doll tote, photo credit
In 2012 a new, short lived carrying device came onto the scene, the Backpack doll carrier. This doesn't look like an average backpack, but it has two pink straps and an almost cylindrical design to put the doll into. I believe the doll goes in that pocket with the pink trim, and there is a zippered area for clothes and other accessories behind it. This design is okay, but it was never very popular and was retired in 2014. I don't have too many qualms besides the fact that there's nothing to keep the doll from being pushed out from the bottom of the bag, if that happened, and that there are just so many better carriers already available at this point.
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| photo credit |
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| A "berry" version of this carrier was also available, but it has now been retired as well. |
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| Photo credit |
In 2016, the "sparkle doll tote" was released. Similar to the Doll and pet carrier, AG now carried the belief that squares were a good shape to transport dolls in (they're not really). This design plays off of the doll and pet carrier, but there isn't the back compartment like there was in the previous carrier. Retail cost is $48, and there's even a little loop on the front door for a hairbrush. However they are still claiming that a second doll can fit in here, and yes, it can, if you want to put that doll upside down! It looks like a lunchbox too, and in my opinion this is just a downgrade from what we had previously. I have not seen any photos online of someone putting two dolls into one of these things.
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| From AG website, it seriously looks like a lunchbox. |
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| If you put a second doll with the legs over the first doll's head, you can fit two dolls in! |
In 2018, the two doll tote was revamped to a different design, and I have qualms with it. I own this version of the two doll tote:
The print of which was later changed to this:
There is one long pocket on the inside on one side, and two smaller pockets inside on the other side. There are also large elastic loops to hold the dolls in place. I dislike this design, but I have to admit it is growing on me. Really, this tote is obviously trying to save material due to the sloped bottom instead of having a right angle, and you can't set it down anywhere unless you're going to lean it up against a wall. Additionally, it is cramped! You already have two dolls with one's legs on top of one another, but then all of the accessory pockets are internal, so there's even less space! Now the big elastic loops at first I wasn't a fan of, but they've really grown on me. There's a security in having the doll physically attached to the tote, so if something happens the doll can't slide out of the carrier completely as could potentially happen with previous two doll tote designs. This two doll tote I have has served me well, and I am thankful to have been given it by my sister, who had it when she was little. It's my least favorite design but it's not as bad as it could be.
The best doll carriers protect your doll in every way, head to toe, with no shortcuts. I think the berry backpack doll carrier is probably one of the best designs for a single doll so far, with the pink two doll tote still reigning supreme. These dolls are precious, and the devices we use to carry them should reflect that by fully protecting the doll.
