“Reborn babies” are disconcertingly life-like baby dolls carefully crafted in vinyl, which have become swiftly popular mainly with collectors, but also with nostalgic grandparents and grieving parents.Made and collected by an online community of enthusiasts, they are painted several times to create the mottled color of newborn skin, have mohair hair and eyelashes, and are weighted to make them feel as heavy as human babies.
Fans of the hobby, who call it “reborning”, are mostly women and increasingly guarded about discussing it since media reports highlighted their purchase by bereaved parents, prompting some to portray the hobby as macabre.
Reborners say their hobby began in the United States in the early 1990s, with dolls becoming more and more realistic over time. Media coverage helped spread the idea to other countries.Let’s explore why reborn dolls are so popular around the world, and what are they used for？
To ease sadness
While there has been no specific research on the phenomenon of women owning lifelike reborn baby doll boy, I am glad to weigh in on the psychological underpinnings.
People often have a negative reaction when they hear about these lifelike babies, sometimes called “reborn” babies or “memory” babies.
It’s typical to think something is weird or creepy when it’s unknown, far from the norm, or common only to a different culture.
But there are cases when it is quite understandable for someone struggling with feelings of loss — possibly an empty-nester, a childless woman, or someone who has lost a baby — to fill the void with a realistic doll baby.
It’s natural for people to find ways of preserving memories of those they love — from making photo albums, to visiting gravesites to keeping an urn of ashes on the mantel. Everyone tries to vanquish death and the ravages of time.
But, can an inanimate doll — one so realistic as to look alive — really replace a living being? In many ways, such a notion feels like a page from the Stepford Wives or Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It’s a disturbing thought to have something un-alive take the place of a real human — which is why such a conceit is often the basis for fantasy or horror tales.
Why do unfortunate people buy reborn dolls?
The reality, however, is that people often face sorrowful issues in their lives. In many cases, they use denial to cope with the loss and the resulting anxiety.
This happens to empty-nesters, who may feel they no longer have children to take care of and struggle with what identity they now have left. It also may happen to childless women, whether they have chosen to remain child-free or are childless through happenstance. They may be OK with this until they hit menopause, when they realize there is no going back, and they will never have a natural child. At which point the finality of the door being shut to possible children may bring a flood of sadness.
And some are unfortunate enough to have lost a child — one of the most devastating things that can happen in any life.
Denial is one of the most prominent defense mechanisms. It’s not that these doll-owners think the doll is a real baby, but it affords them moments when they are comforted and can pretend they have a real baby, to themselves and to the world.
What does the mind do when faced with a loss and a void so enormous?
Denial is one of the most prominent defense mechanisms. It’s not that these doll-owners think the doll is a real baby, but it affords them moments when they are comforted and can pretend they have a real baby, to themselves and to the world.
This is different from insisting the doll baby is real. It provides moments of relief and reprieve, when they can escape the stark reality of their loss, and instead have those familiar feelings of coddling a baby, cooing over it, and all those other nice moments that temporarily undo the harsh reality.
I would be concerned, however, if someone who lost a baby grew too attached to their doll baby. This could indicate their grief is not actually getting resolved. Having this kind of doll risks being almost too literal and concrete for them.
In some ways, purchasing such a doll is similar to replacing a beloved deceased pet with a new pet, or even fostering a child. I have heard stories of women who need to be needed, and who prefer monkeys as pets. Monkeys have great intelligence and many human qualities. They can be held and carried like a baby, and even dressed in real clothes. Like a baby, they are totally dependent. Unlike a baby, they stay that way. These are also ways of trying to cope with loss and undo the feelings of abandonment that come with it. These methods come with real responsibility and commitment.
To relieve the anxiety
A growing trend of life-like ‘Reborn’ dolls are helping women to cope with anxiety.
Reborn dolls are hyper-realistic baby dolls that look like real babies, but they are made of vinyl and silicone.
At present, they are used and cared for by many people, fundamentally women, as if they were a real child.
They dress them, bathe them, give them a bottle, buy them real clothes and take them out for a walk.
West Norfolk women spoke to the Lynn News about why they have started collecting Reborns, named so because of their realistic qualities.
There are a range of reasons why women choose to buy reborn doll. Some women have struggled to cope after a miscarriage or stillbirth, and the doll allows them to have a “baby experience” after a traumatic loss.
Others simply find that holding the dolls is soothing and allows them to “cope with anxiety”.
To treat Alzheimer’s disease
A helpful, non-drug way to calm and soothe agitated seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia is to give them a soft, lifelike reborn baby doll to cuddle.
These therapy dolls can even be effective in calming someone with severe agitation or other significant behavioral challenges.
We explain why therapy dolls can work, share tips for introducing a doll to your older adult, discuss why some find this idea controversial, and suggest inexpensive dolls that older adults may enjoy.
Why therapy dolls for dementia work?
Therapy dolls can help seniors feel useful and needed and give them something positive to focus on.
Similar to the effect of soft toys like stuffed animals, hugging something soft helps someone with dementia feel comforted and soothed.
Another reason therapy dolls are helpful is that they can bring back happy memories of early parenthood for both women and men.
Many older adults enjoy rocking and cuddling their doll. Some even adopt the baby as their own and make caring for it part of their daily routine.
Having a child to care for can also ease feelings of isolation and sadness.
After all, when interacting with real babies, many people find their spirits lifted and their nerves calmed.
How to introduce reborn doll therapy?
The best approach is to casually introduce the doll to your older adult and let them decide if they like it or not.
If they have no interest in the doll or get upset, don’t make an issue out of it.
Even if someone isn’t interested in the moment, they may change their minds in the future so you could try again in a few weeks or months.
A few tips:
1.Don’t act like the doll is a doll, refer to it as a baby and treat it like a real child.
2.Get a lifelike doll, but one that doesn’t cry – that might be upsetting.
3.Don’t force it, allow your senior to get to know the doll slowl.
Accompanying children to grow
Reborn dolls are most common among adults mostly mothers and other women. Most of the reborn artists and collectors believe that lifelike baby dolls are not appropriate for children as there are chances that they may spoil and harm those delicate realistic baby dolls and they are only be kept by adults and collectors. But I completely disagree; they are not only for adults but also shared with children.
Nowadays lots of adult women are adapting reborn baby dolls to take care of them. Most of us in realistic doll community know that such lifelike baby dolls can bring happiness and joy to the desolate and lonely adults but the thing we are unaware off is that the lifelike baby dolls are beneficial for children in many ways.
The doll is one of the important parts of the childhood memory of every girl. Playing with a lifelike baby doll in young ages could be helpful in improving social skills. If your daughter loves to play with her dolls and look after them then a reborn boy doll is a perfect gift for her.
The benefits are not only restricted to girls, but even your son can also benefit from keeping a lifelike baby doll. Boys also enjoy playing with dolls and benefiting in a number of ways which we will discuss in this article. Here are the reasons why every child should have a lifelike baby doll.
Developmental skills
It is well known that children’s playing with a lifelike baby doll help improves developmental skills. When your children interact and play with a reborn doll boy, it enables your children to understand them in a better way. Your children would be able to create a warm and friendly relationship with them. Keeping a reborn baby doll will develop the ability of tolerance, creative thinking, and emotional intelligence.
Have you ever seen a child playing with a doll? Children use to mimic the way adult care for their babies and it requires thinking ability related to other’s needs like when a baby required be feeding, dressing, comforting, cleaning and keeping comfy. While carrying and holding lifelike baby dolls in arms your children will practice how to love and care for others.
Fine motor and self-help learning
Playing with a lifelike baby doll is an excellent way for your child to learn how all the things work on his/her own. While dressing and undressing a lifelike baby doll, your child will learn to do it for self. Children would learn the working of zippers and buttons. Many other activities with make reborn doll including feeding and bathing will help your child in learning these activities for her/herself. Gift your children a reborn baby doll and see how quickly your children motivate and learn from them.
22 Inch cheap reborn doll kits girl reborn toddler doll for sale(New Soft Silicone Viny Baby)
How to make a baby reborn doll novelereborns？
Most major faiths agree that humans were created in the image of God. And this belief has led to several artists trying to create reborn baby dolls in the image of man, thus giving rise to the huge reborn doll industry.Dolls started as toys for kids, though they have now grown to become much more than…
Continue Reading How to make a baby reborn doll novelereborns？
How to sculpt a reborn doll?
Most major faiths agree that humans were created in the image of God. And this belief has led to several artists trying to create reborn baby dolls in the image of man, thus giving rise to the huge reborn doll industry.Reborn toddler doll for sale started as toys for kids, though they have now grown to…
How to look after a reborn doll?
The responsibility of caring for your reborn dolls comes with owning it. Reborns are more than your average doll and as such, they should be treated differently. Remember, a reborn silicone doll is essentially a piece of art that someone spent plenty of time and energy adding layers of paint, rooting hairs, and finishing to make it your…
Why do people like reborn doll?
Reborn dolls have taken over the world in the last decade. Starting from the year 2002, reborn doll silicones went viral to the point of getting sold at an insanely big amount and surprisingly enough, people bought them. Reborn dolls are basically made with vinyl. These are highly realistic baby dolls which look like real human babies. The point…
How to have fun with a reborn doll?
The reborn doll hobby involves more than just collecting the cutest, most realistic reborn baby doll you can find. To really enjoy everything this unique hobby has to offer, you should spend some time pampering and playing with them. After all, what good is collecting dolls if you aren’t going to play with them? Having a morning routine with…
What you need to take care of your reborn baby doll？
Reborn baby dolls are more than your average doll, and as such, they should be treated differently. remember, a reborn doll is essentially a piece of art that someone spent countless hours perfecting; therefore, it should be treated as such. Unfortunately, this is a mistake that many newcomers to the hobby are forced to learn the hard way. Depending…
Continue Reading What you need to take care of your reborn baby doll？