Reborn Dolls: Toys or more?

Reborn dolls have featured in the news and on TV in recent months, and the focal point is where they belong; Are they merely toys, collectors items or are they more than that - can they replace a real baby?

These dolls are certainly not toys; they are not designed for children to play with and although they may be suitable for some ages, the price that the dolls can fetch should be a good indicator that they are more than a plaything. There are many commercial dolls that are better suited for this, that have been through rigourous testing processes to comply with standards. They will also usually come with an age rating, that you wont get with reborns, simply because they are designed for adults.

They are often referred to as unliving dolls, although some artists do their best to make them as lifelike as possible - the latest gadgets appearing in these baby dolls are hearbeat simulators and artifical breating. This can be an attractive addition to potential buyers, although it also makes others stand back and question the concepts; on one extreme there are those that treat the babies as a real offspring while the opposite are those that find the realism ghastly.

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The story of Jane, 32, USA

Jane first found reborn dolls after losing her baby of 3 weeks. She tells us “I was devasted after my baby died and i didnt know what i was going to do. While still grieving i found reborn dolls on the internet and immediatly ordered one - to this very day i would not go anywhere without it. She hasnt replaced Amy [her baby that passed away] but I often think of her as her sister.”

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The story of Sheila, 28, UK

Sheila tells us that she has 23 reborn dolls in her home, and she likes to change their clothes from time to time and that it brightens her room up. However, she cannot possibly think of them as more than collectible dolls as its not in her nature. Sheila says “I love my reborns but my love only goes as far as someone loves their car, or any other material belonging. Love to another person or child is entirely different”

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As a collectible item the price reflects the artistic skill, and techniques involved in making a reborn and its not wonder the rise in populatity is seeing a whole new wave of artists cropping up. This also brings new ideas to the table and improved techniques for creating them. There has recently been a rise in the number of ethnic reborn dolls created which can only be a good thing.

While there is nothing wrong in cherishing a reborn, there are some questions that need to be asked on the psychological factors involved. They are not replacements for children although they are often perceived this way and a TV program in the UK (channel 4) touched upon this by getting into the lives of women who did this. They wold often take the reborn out in prams, and carry them around wherever they went. Sadly, the program did not touch upon why the women did this, and what made them so attached to the doll.

A relative of mine has several reborn dolls now, and each one has a name, a history and their own reborn birth certificate. However, the line is drawn there and the dolls are never taken outside, or even moved from the room she keeps them in. There is no harm in this, but its only slightly less of an extreme. She says its because her children have grown up, and being on her own can get lonely. When she looks in the room of these dolls, she is reminded of all the family moments she cherishes and it always puts a smile on her face.

Please contact us if you carry your reborn doll around, and are willing to explain why you do this, perhaps you lost a child and this is a constant memory dedicated to him/her? or maybe you find them so adorable you cant help it?