To buy myself a doll.

[Yorkiecurls]

I have name changed. I think I might actually be going mad. I haven't told anyone this as I know they would fall about laughing but I am considering buying a baby doll. I'm 52, menopausal, my DC have grown up but have been here through lockdown, they have all got professional careers and aren't interested in having kids yet. I'm not lonely but have had a bit of a shit year as I've worked on a Covid ward throughout lockdown.
I so want to hold and cuddle a baby. I've taken to knitting baby clothes to give to the SCBU. I have a very spoilt dog and cat that are cuddled to bits. I have a lovely DH.
I don't know WTF is up with me.

I collect Playmobil fairies and display them on a crystal cake plate

Definitely go for it (although I personally would keep it at home). But you just seem to have so much love to give it seems a shame that you aren’t giving it to someone. I would definitely think about volunteering with children or animals, something that won’t take up too much of your time/cause you stress.

Well Thank you all so much. I am convinced! I love those Samantha ones and the Jellicat veg are so cute!
I never thought to volunteer to cuddle babies in the hospital! That's genius.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-35416537

These are supposed to bring luck.

Cuddling babies in hospital is lovely

I think if you start taking them out for walks in a pram people might look at you a bit funny...
But, it does no harm to anyone and if it’s simply to have in your home for when you’ve need a baby fix then who else cares.
Get one and enjoy it!

I've been tempted to buy one of those reborn chimpanzee dolls for years. Just so that I can push it around the village in a pram and enjoy the polite comments on my new baby!

Oh OP, your post made me so sad, it's such a sign of the predicament we're collectively finding ourselves in! FWIW, I've definitely heard of women with adult children wanting to cuddle tiny babies I have a 9 week old, happy to meet you for a coffee if you're in the West Midlands! LO has already had at least 3 illicit cuddles

Lots saying you’re not hurting anyone but could you be putting a lot of indirect pressure on your children?

I have my eye on this one! Just the right mix of 'my god that's a peculiar baby' to it.

I absolutely get it OP. I’m in my 40s and am the manager of a baby room in a nursery and I swear it’s exhausting......I keep going for the sheer joy of them and most of that is those little bodies curled in my arms. It’s a wonderful feeling and I think you’d love a baby.

BTW, I seriously want the Lego Hogwarts Castle... It's more than £400 though The fact that Lego have a whole range aimed at adults just goes to show that it must be really common for adults to enjoy children's toys. I also want to buy myself some Grimm's (eldest just flings his rainbow round the room, so he's not getting more).

I've also just remembered the church baby group I used to attend pre lockdown. There was a man there who didn't even try to hide the fact that he came to play with the kiddies brio trains. When such groups restart again, I'd be more than happy if someone offered to take my baby for a bit so I can chat and drink coffee play with the toddler. Might that be an idea?

Joking aside, once lockdown lifts I am going to set up a small mums group for mums with pnd or anxiety so that they can have coffee and a chat and a spare pair of hands if they need it. Could you get involved in setting like that, as well as getting a doll?

I'll sell you two real babies for a pint of Ben and Jerry's They're teething and I'm about ready to cry with them while rocking under the table

I collect vintage (g1) my little ponies
I’m 42 and it makes me happy (and costs me a fortune!)
I’m not hurting anyone else-and neither will you if you buy a doll
If it makes you happy then go for it-sod what anyone else thinks

Whatever makes you happy, it's a harmless thing to do.

Yanbu to buy one but will it really meet that need for you. I suspect babysitting, or volunteering at a new mums group or something like www.home-start.org.uk/home-visiting-volunteers might do the trick?

@Hugoslavia

I've been tempted to buy one of those reborn chimpanzee dolls for years. Just so that I can push it around the village in a pram and enjoy the polite comments on my new baby!

Buy whatever you want, who cares? If someone wants to laugh about it, then there’s the added bonus that you’ve cheered them up too!

@Yorkiecurls

Well Thank you all so much. I am convinced! I love those Samantha ones and the Jellicat veg are so cute! I never thought to volunteer to cuddle babies in the hospital! That's genius.

When my son was in SCBU there were a couple of babies that had been there for a long time and their parents were not able to visit often. I still get sad thinking about the two in my DS's room. They would have really benefited from cuddles and love.

@Dogsandbabies oh that really broke my heart

Local to me there is a lady who runs a playgroup as a business, no idea how much money she makes but the group is very very popular.

Aww bless you. My mums in her 60’s and flipping loves dolls.. she buys anything like that or soft toy related. You do you!

I love the jelly cat ones... I have my eye on a conker

Those Jellycat pot plants! I want one. Or actually four. Specifically four. They're amazing and cute and adorable and I'll NEVER KILL THEM.

I'm now wondering if it's bad form to ask for a couple for my birthday!

I still sleep with my Teddy. DH thinks it weird but I couldn’t care less.
I’d maybe not mention it to your friends though just in case they take the shine off it.

@Hugoslavia

I have my eye on this one! Just the right mix of 'my god that's a peculiar baby' to it.

OMG, that's cuter than any human baby I've ever seen!