AIBU to ask about Reborn dolls (ashton drake)

[fourandahalfkids]

Good afternoon. I know this is quite a controversial subject. Some people hate them, some think they are scary, some think they are weird. But I am after some advice from people who might know about them.
My dd is going to be 14 in the summer. She is quite young for her age. Developmentally and educationally she is on a par with her peers she just still likes to play with dolls. She recieved a cheap Chinese made doll off Ebay from a family relative last birthday and she loves it and is asking for another one this year.
We dont have hundreds of pounds to spend so I have been looking for a decent one for around £150.
I came across the Ashton drake site and have narrowed it down to 3. Savana (2014 photo comp winner), little peanut and Annabelle hugs (monkey girl).
Does anyone have any experience of buying dolls from Ashton Drake? What are your thoughts please?

I know there will be some who say that she is far too old to be buying dolls for but I'm happy while she still wants to , her best friend also shares her passion for reborn dolls and designer friend dolls so she's not alone in this. Teenagers grow up so fast these days and I honestly thought she would leave the dolls behind soon after joining secondary school but she just isn't ready to let go of her childhood yet and I really dont mind that at all.

Thank you .

[gamerchick]

I got one for my daughter years ago. It was about 80 quid ish. It had a breathing function and sat in my arms just like a baby. To the point I ended up putting it back in its box when I wondered if it needed a cardie.

[ToothFairyNemesis]

I like them but not the monkey doll, it reminds me of people keeping real monkeys as pets and dressing them up which is wrong.

[luckyrabbits]

Savana (2014 photo comp winner) is the most attractive, really don't like the monkey

[howlatthetrees]

I like the savanna one the most

[WelcomeToGreenvale]

Look into ball-jointed dolls, there's a huge community and they're cooler than reborns.

[RJnomore1]

I don’t know them but I looked and savana, she is gorgeous, almost persuaded me to buy one!

Definitely not the monkey one please. That’s creepy.

[FunTimes2020]

How lovely that your DD takes pleasure with dolls, why not? She may also really enjoy a "proper" doll's house, a lot of adults do.

[thebearwentoverthebumble]

I thinks it's good. I was the same and I was obsessed with dolls. I still did the 'normal' teenage stuff but none of my friends went home and looked at dolls or dressed them up. 14 is still so young. They don't all have to grow up fast. I'd love an Ashton drake! And I'm 33 and have a real baby now!

[fourandahalfkids]

@luckyrabbits she was my first choice. Dh likes the monkey. Older dd said to get her little peanut.

[Butterbeeeen]

Try Shelly's reborn dolls. They are based in Teesside I believe but have a website. We got one for our DD a few years ago and am slightly embarrassed to admit she has become part of the family and even has a stocking at xmas. Very life like and only £120 I think. Her friend has little peanut and I wasnt impressed at all.

[fourandahalfkids]

@WelcomeToGreenvale thank you I will take a look. Not familiar with those tbh.

[fourandahalfkids]

@FunTimes2020 thank you. She has visions of turning one of her cupboardswith a sloped roof (built into the dorma) into a house for her design a friend dolls.

[fourandahalfkids]

@thebearwentoverthebumble that's good to hear. Her 2 older sisters grew out of them before secondary so it's nice to hear it's not so unusual.

[ShSpecialFriends]

We have little peanut! She's called Paisley in our house. She's nice enough, but not my favourite. My daughter loves her though!

[ToothFairyNemesis]

The Shelley’s website dolls look much nicer. The reviews on amazon for savannah and little peanut are not very good.

[Lobsterquadrille2]

I bought myself a large-ish doll from Hamleys when I passed my chartered accountancy exams .... I was 24. She's called Alice and sits in my bookcase. I like Savanna, OP and I'm afraid that I agree with PPs about the monkey.

[Soubriquet]

I really want a life like reborn but I can’t justify spending ££££ on them

The most life like I’ve seen was £1500

[ViciousJackdaw]

Annabelle Hugs makes me want to cry. The poor bloody thing isn't even a monkey, it's an orangutan. They're part of Bradford Exchange (Princess Di plates and shit) so I'd imagine the quality is shoddy to say the least.

[Mammyloveswine]

Oh I love Annabelle! But I live orangutans! Savanna is lovely too!

[deste]

People sell the really expensive ones on Ebay, might be worth a look and that would leave money to buy nice baby clothes for it.

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

The monkey ones are really creepy. I don’t know anything about these - just clicked from trending - but I think the Shelly dolls looks better than the Ashton ones to my completely untrained eye.

[Butterbeeeen]

For reference we have the Shelleys Princess Sasha.

[MittensTheSerpent]

So weird...

[DanceWithYourBalloon]

I'm not a fan of the dolls as I think they are too real looking for their own good!

However I think it's nice for kids to stay a bit childish and innocent. It's sad seeing teenagers coated in makeup and duckfacing all over insta.

Also some people collect Lego, others stamps. What's the difference with dolls?

[Laiste]

Oh my god the reborn pig!!!!!