Reborn Babies: Adorable or Eerie?

Reborn babies are swiftly gaining popularity and may be the most realistic dolls ever. They are a new assortment of cute, cuddly, breathing babies and some people are concerned that they might be just a little too authentic and lifelike. The term "reborn" is used to make a distinction between these custom made baby dolls and those bulk-produced in a factory. Reborn babies have been called fake babies and they are the ultimate in exclusive baby dolls.

These handmade vinyl dolls are igniting controversy because some of the people buying reborn babies are bereaved parents as they are looking to sense something of what they lost in losing their deceased infants. Grandparents are also purchasing them because their grandchildren have grown up and use the reborn babies as replacements. Women who want to experience the sensation of being a new mom are also purchasing the reborn babies. Adult women actively collect these dolls as a hobby. However, a reborn baby's skin is cold unless you buy a heat pack for it. This is causing some people to call it morose or morbid, associating it to holding dead babies.

The reborning process could take several weeks to finish and it is very extensive.

The procedure of creating a reborn baby normally involves the following procedures:

The doll is taken apart and factory paint is removed.

A purple color wash is put on to the inside of each vinyl part to give the appearance of genuine baby skin under tones.

The exterior is painted using various methods to add to the appearance of transparent skin tones, with effects such as blotching, veins, and spots of milk to look like the skin of a newborn baby. Each artist creates their own method and colors for each baby.

Hair and barely there eyelashes, usually fine colored mohair or human hair, are applied using rooting instruments and felting needles strand by strand, which can take up to over 30 hours per head. This will give the sense of a delicate newborn or sometimes a full head of fine baby hair. Most of the time, the inside of the skull is sealed so that the new mom can wash and style the reborn baby's hair. If the baby is awake, the reborn baby will have a new pair of eyes. The reborn baby will receive its first manicure and pedicure and a little moisture application may be added to the lips, eyes and inside the nose to make the baby more realistic. The reborn will have its nose opened so as the creator says, it can breath.

The original vinyl body is soft stuffed and hand sewn to imitate the proportions of a real baby. It is weighted realistically to feel very cuddly, and weigh about the same as a real baby. It is then attached to the torso. The limbs and head are weighted so they will even flop and the new mom will have to hold the baby's head, just like a real baby. Some babies will come with unique traits such as spongy tummies and bottoms. The creators make some with stomach and/or back plates and with spines. A battery powered heartbeat simulator can also be added so you can hear the reborn baby's heartbeat. A breathing simulator can also be purchased and also a magnetically attached umbilical cord. You can also have a magnet affixed inside the mouth for attaching a magnetic pacifier. The reborn baby can also come with umbilical cord and cord clamps and their own birth certificates.

Once completed, the reborn doll is no longer appropriate as a child's play doll.

The reborn babies appear to be quite magnificent and charming; however there are many different sides to this story. These reborn babies can sell for up to $1,000 depending on the features and they are so lifelike that they can persistently fool people. When a type of doll can motivate a police officer to shatter a car window in an endeavor to save what looked like an unconscious newborn, it has got to be very realistic. This happened in Australia earlier this year with a reborn baby inside a car.

Also, it seems that many moms of reborn babies have a tough time telling the difference between these dolls and real babies. They cuddle them, rock them, change their diaper and take them with them in strollers and carriers while shopping. Many moms enjoy the upbeat interest they get from being in public with a well-mannered infant.

Other people feel the reborn babies have justifiable healing uses. Ian James, a doctor at the Centre for the Health of the Elderly at Newcastle General Hospital in the U.K., said that embracing the dolls helps calm elderly residents, helping them feel serene and become quiet.

The reborn babies sell predominantly to adult women collectors, particularly online from sites like Nikki's Reborn Angels, Reborns by Juana, Reborn Babies In Bloom Nursery and also on EBay. As a note, the London department store Harrods, who has "Everything for Everybody Everywhere" will not sell the reborn babies because they are too lifelike for their store, according to Reuters.

I have to admit that from the photos and websites I have researched, reborn babies look and feel astonishingly similar to the real thing. The reborn babies never grow out of their clothes, they never dirty themselves, they always look beautiful, they never shed tears and they are loved just like a normal baby. What more could a new mother ask for?