I’m a reborn mum, AMA

[Chloefairydust]

There’s a lot of misunderstanding and judgment regarding the hobby. Just wanted to see if anyone had any questions. I have one reborn doll, that looks realistic and weighs the same as an average newborn. I like to buy cute outfits to dress her up in. I find it incredibly soothing to hold and rock her in the evening. And sometimes like to take her out in the pram. I don’t see her as a real baby, I’m aware it’s a doll. She is a piece of art, much talent goes into sculpting and painting the reborn baby dolls. She is also a therapy doll, I suffer anxiety and the doll helps me. I work in a nursing home where I see the benefits of doll therapy with dementia patients. I’m also exploring getting into the painting side of the hobby…. Ask me anything? …

I would like to ask if you would feel hurt on behalf of your reborn if someone was to say it was ugly or called it a thing.

Do you breast or bottle feed and how often

Do you think it’s similar to men who have those fake doll wives?

Why do some of them look, I am sorry to say this, horrendous? They have a blue tinge fgs!!!

thank you for this thread btw, you’re right there is a lot of judgment about this. It’s odd - I feel judgy of it but I can’t really articulate why! It’s odd to think of an adult playing with dolls, but then I enjoy Lego, so I suppose I’m also playing with toys and finding it relaxing. There’s no real reason why something you enjoyed as a child shouldn’t still be enjoyable as an adult.

which leads me to my next question - did you really like dolls when you were young, like more than average?

Hi OP. Why are these dolls called 'reborns'?

I just want to say I think you sound lovely OP and I am happy you have found something that gives you comfort and joy.

Not sure why some posters are asking rude questions when your hobby isnt harming anyone!

I don't think anyone is asking rude questions @FitFat . The whole point of AMA is that people can ask questions that they feel that they don't normally get to ask. As she's a reborn.owner, I'm sure that the OP is aware of the kind of questions that will come along. It's a very niche hobby which she will know many find a bit odd

I can totally understand the comfort of cuddling and nursing a reborn.

I can't quite get alongside taking it out in a pram. I remember the inconvenience of it too much! And the fear of leaving him somewhere!

Did you psych yourself up the first time you went out? Do you walk out from home, so your neighbours see you?

If you were to get an expensive silicone one (having saved up or as a gift) what would happen with your current doll? Would you keep her? Would you sell her? Would she be a sibling? In that case would you need to get a different aged silicone one??

I love how you say you like to nurture the doll but then shove it in the wardrobe when you don't want to play with it anymore.

Have you been to the doctor about your anxiety?
I have ASD, have you ever looked at the possibility that you might too? The reason I ask is that a lot of my hobbies/special interests are looked at as being for children.

That's what most people do with a hobby, if it's a solitary kind of one.

I bet we've all rocked an empty pushchair back and forth at sometime, either because we forgot our toddler had got out, or just because rocking is self soothing and calming .

OP herself may not be harming anyone, but the reborn industry on a whole has had negative impacts on real people. Such as those who go out and stockpile formula when there have been shortages for their dolls, make it up into bottles to pretend to feed them and then tip it down the sink. Real babies were going without while dolls had plenty.

Obviously, as with anything, there are extremists, OP if you're part of the reborn community, do you discourage this behaviour? Do you agree with buying formula?

I understand completely. I would love one but they are so expensive. There is definitely something comforting snd lovely about holding a baby.
A good few years ago I worked in a school that did a project with dolls. They were the same size as a baby but could be programmed to cry when they needed feeding or a nappy change or just because babies cry. Staff were encouraged to try them for the weekend before the project began and it was surprisingly realistic down to being woken up in the night and then carefully trying to put them down to sleep again.
I imagine the Reborns to be like that without the waking up!
There are a lot of judgmental people here - you sound lovely Op

Also the painting side sounds interesting! I've had a go at painting my sons Warhammer people and it's totally relaxing.

All of you asking how she can “nurture” an inanimate object, I think you’re missing the point. She is roleplaying nurturing behaviour with the doll. If she were a child it would be called playing pretend.

I don’t mean this as a negative- there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, just like there’s nothing wrong with an adult with a colouring-in book and a box of crayons, but this is very much an adult playing pretend with a very expensive doll.

I have thought about getting a reborn type cat, if there is such a thing.

I can quite picture myself snuggling in front of the TV with it on my lap.

Without the risk of treading in sick, the smell of a litter tray, and all that stuff.

I’d like a reborn David Hasselhoff so I could take him out to the woods and ride him while my husband is at work.

Do you do stuff for mothers and babies? Specifically, would you go to the baby cinema?

I would love to go for an 11am showing of a new film with free coffee and cake while my children are at school. Maybe I should get one of these dolls?

I was going to ask this!

Also, does the doll have a name? If so, what is she called?

I make Lego sets, which a lot of people think is odd. Much more expensive than your doll. The actual building of them isn’t what seems to make people think it’s odd, but I like to ‘set them up’ with the mini figures acting out situations. It’s just fun.

Can we see your baby doll? 😊

I have ASD, so I've never been good at, or even able to, imagine playing with a doll as if it is a baby. But my mum LOVED it. She almost bought a reborn doll. And I've worked with dementia patients who got so much peace and comfort out of nursing dolls. It is deeply instinctual about it for a lot of people.

I would like to be your friend

To be honest I find it a bit weird - not the having it but the taking it out and the nurturing etc. I can understand the connection you feel and the soothingness of it though as my elderly mum has a robotic dementia dog who I am strangely very fond of and will have on my lap and stroke it etc and feel a level of affection for it even though I’ve got a real live dog at home. If it helps with your anxiety then that’s great but it’s important to keep a handle on the reality that it is not real.

There certainly is. You can get them on Amazon.