DH didn’t get DD anything but got his nieces

Many men are fucking stupid and incapable and need stuff spelling out to them. I would assume your husband is one of these rather than an arsehole.

I'm on team husband here. My husband would not have a clue what doll to get for our daughter, or anyone else's kid, but would go somewhere to buy one if given very specific instructions (and ideally a photo) of what to get. Doesn't make him a crap dad. It sounds like the SIL in the OP did give him explicit directions. I suppose he could have called the OP and asked if their daughter would like one.

I wouldn’t spend $135 on a doll not including the different taxes on a child who already has plenty of dolls and that includes my own daughter.

I also wouldn’t spend twice that since I wouldn’t feel comfortable getting such an expensive gift for one child and not the other when they are that young.

As other posters pointed out, nowhere does it say that their daughter even asked for an American Girl doll.

For an expensive Christmas present? Yes I generally get them things they want!

I'm assuming the dad knows his 6 year old daughter won't care about it when she already has loads of dolls.

Fair enough I suppose.

I always had a really good idea of what my DC were into and loved surprising them with things at that very young age.

As a mum of several daughters and sons if this is all you want to gripe about then I doubt your marriage will last.

Oh, a magnet and some American sweeties. Doesn't that just warm the ❤️?

On the face of it, I'm not convinced the issues of favouritism or thoughtlessness lies entirely with the husband in this scenario.

OP doesn't appear upset that her husband returned with a derisory present for their son, just that their daughter has been short-changed compared to her cousins.

Not when the item costs £££s and the child can tell you what they want.

I hate buying stuff overseas just for the sake of it. I would not assume my daughter wanted an American doll. And my hubby would have no idea what to buy without direction from me.

The real issue is you are your hubby have poor communication. Or is money tight at the moment - maybe he was not keen to spend the money or thinks your daughter has enough dolls.

He did get her a gift, just not a ridiculous over-priced one.

Re: spending "hundreds" - Im assuming op has the budget and knows her DDs likes, with her being the mum and not a random MNer.

Ive bought my DC gifts costing a fair bit without them specifically needing to give me a brand name 🤷‍♀️ thought that was fairly normal for a parent when the child is very young if its affordable.

I’m with him on this. He was picking up presents for Christmas his sister had asked him to get and was paying for. Your title implies that he bought gifts for his nieces of his own bat but left out his own children. That’s not what happened. He went on an errand at his sisters request. I travel for business regularly. If I brought my kids back an expensive gift every time I went I’d be bankrupt. Your DD already has loads of dolls. If my DD already had loads of dolls I can’t imagine wanting to bring another into the house.

I just don't understand how "man doesn't buy doll that daughter hasn't asked for" can be such an issue.

Maybe every time I went into Currys to look at washing machines I should have bought a new game for the kids just because. How dare I go to a shop and not buy anything for them, right?

He is equally her parent though, he should be able to do some of the emotional labour around their shared child’s potential Christmas gifts rather than having to be explicitly told.

He did bring back some sweets you can only easily get in the US and a magnet so it’s not that he didn’t get them anything at all.

OP chose to add later.

Or he might have thought “what a massive waste of money”

And it didn’t occur to him to check with you whether your own daughters might want one, after his sister suggested the idea? What a wet wipe.

When it's a £150-200 toy for a 6 year-old? Yes. I don't have to get it from their mouth but I make very sure that I'm buying the gift they'll treasure most and certainly make sure that I'm not just getting them whatever their cousin is getting while I'm in the shop.

Would you be happy if your DH spent £100+ pounds on a single doll without telling you and having not discussed it earlier?

He might not have meant to be an arse (as a pp suggests) but it shows his clear lack of thought and regard for his daughter. I’d be annoyed.

When they’re hundreds of pounds, yes.

What did he get your son, @Emsieo ?

It would seem even odder to me if he came back with a gift for your daughter in addition to his nieces but hee haw for his other child.

If my DH spaffed that much on a doll "just because" despite the fact our DD already had lots of dolls, we'd have bigger problems.

Sounds like he can only do something when given instructions…