Author: Ella
I was shopping for clothes for my infant daughter and there was a woman carrying a tiny baby in a blanket. She was swaying gently and looking at baby clothes. I could only see the baby’s head but I knew it was a newborn. I wondered if the woman holding the baby was it’s grandmother. She looked so proud and was just beaming. So I asked her how old the baby was… She said “Well, actually, it’s a reborn.” As she is showing me an adorable looking newborn boy, I said “What does it mean to be “reborn?”
It was a doll.
Yes, it was a doll. She was carrying and shopping for a doll. She has 5 “reborn” babies. They all have names. Her husband helps her pick names for them. In fact, earlier that day when they were at the mall, he was pushing the stroller for “Jonathan”. He is 6 lb 4 oz and wears a size newborn. His siblings include 2 preemies and the largest baby she has is over 8lbs and wears a size 3 months. That one will “wear you out” after carrying it for a while. She rotates which one goes shopping with her. Don’t worry, she has a car seat. She also has 4 grown children who tell her that someone is going to lock her up one day. She says she just never lost the “mommy instinct” and the dolls give her comfort. They sleep in a crib in her bedroom. She figures that there are people in the world with much worse habits so she’s OK. Her husband does not think she’s crazy either. She said the dolls are real big in the UK and you can see them on the web. I got to hold her “baby”. She offered and I felt obligated and a little weird. The reborn doll was remarkably life-like. Click here to see more pictures of dolls similar to what I saw.
I didn’t know whether to feel sad for her, because she wants a baby to care for, or to be happy for her because she is doing what brings her joy and comfort. She seemed extremely nice and “normal” besides the fact that she was swaying a fake baby…
I tend to lean toward the old saying “to each their own” and for me this would fit into that category. At what point though, is a behavior that gives one comfort too much?
ew- that is all I can say
I saw a lady on Dr. Phil, and she had TONS of Reborns…I kind of with you on the “to each their own” but these dolls just freak me out. LOL
I agree with the “to each his own” but that’s just crazy. When you start treating an inanimate object like a human being….there’s just something not quite right about that I don’t care how “normal” she appeared to be. I’m pretty sure I would’ve backed away slowwwlllyyyy when I saw exactly what she was carrying. LOL
Think it’s a little odd. But, I would think this is a little bit certifiable seeing someone out in public and listening to the elaborate details would be a bit unnerving. Almost scary, if I had an infant…Someone with that much passion for a “reborn” would make me a little cautious that my infant could be abducted. So sad we think tend to think this way in the world we live in.
She has snapped somewhere deep inside
This is seriously SICK!! I have never heard of “reborn babies”! For a grown lady to be walking around…in public….swaying & all googly eyed over a fake baby…..drawing attention to herself & the”baby”—humm, seems a little odd, more like psycho. I would have looked at that lady like she was a complete fool & ran like hell—-obviously she has some major issues! Eeeek, that just freaks me out. Now, this is all I will be looking for—freaks with fake babies. GREAT!!
While I would never consider getting one myself (two real ones are enough, thank you), I think it’s more of a hobby. Older women tend to be more the type to have these, and maybe even women who aren’t/weren’t able to have children.
I think it just fills some kind of void. Maybe there’s a severe case of “empty nest syndrome”, who knows.
For them, it’s something to hang onto, buy things for and take care of. But from what I understand, it’s not like they’re breastfeeding them or whipping up bottles or anything. THAT would be just a tad bit out there, for me..
But the thing is, they get all the cuteness, cuddliness, and “companionship”, if you will, without any real responsibility.
I, personally, don’t -and wouldn’t- look down on someone and call them a freak for this.
But I guess that’s just me. I’m not juvenile, nor am I judgmental.
Live and let live.
“I could only see the baby’s head but I knew it was a newborn.”
I’m wondering why you thought the woman could have been the Grandmother of the “baby”, if you already knew it was a reborn.
And also why you proceeded to asked how old it was? Just to get a reaction? Or just to have something to post?
Not trying to be smart with you or insulting, I’m just curious.
Sorry, I misread! I apologize.
There is NOTHING wrong with women who collect reborns… They may be like I am as I am a mother of 4 and can not have anymore… So I create Reborns for people to adopt. To each their own is right and if she is content and happy then I am sure she doesn’t give a rats booty what any of you would think about her…
i myself feel if i could have a reborn baby of my own i would shower it with love as myself had 2 etopic pregnancies and can no longer have children it would fulfil my need to mother a child again they are adorable and lifelike and if there is anyone out there would like me to give a newborn baby a loving home my heart is open and home is open to one of these babies one day i would love to have one of my own to cherish elleblair@live.com
OMG I just looked this up after seeing re borns mentioned on a wife swap episode! The lady that is on it has them she has a husband and 3 real kids… wonder if it is your shopper?? Too funny…..
I saw the BBC show on this, called “Fake Baby” The two women featured were nuts. One was an emotionally unstable woman in her 50’s who had never gotten over her the loss of her grandson, whom she helped raise, and whom her daughter moved away to New Zealand with when the boy was a toddler. She had her reborn designed to look like the grandson’s infant photos. The other was a woman in her 30’s who wore bows in her hair and spent a fortune on this “hobby” She seemed very materialistic to me, and very much the kind of person who could not handle anything being out of order.
Collecting dolls is one thing, treating them like an 8 yr old would is a psychological problem.
i know this is an old post but 1st off when i was a little girl my grandmother got me in to Collecting dolls glass dolls and when she died when i was 16 i got some of those dolls and still have those glass dolls to this day i have 6 reborns and 1 on the way i am a Collector there is nothing wrong with Collecting dolls. to call every one who has a reborn nutts is wrong i do not take mine out and about i just enjoy them as a Collector but have u know i have had 4 misscarriages 1 son i had to barrie i have had urtaus cancer im only 29 years old they had to take my urtaus out and tubes ETC i cant have children of my own adopting would be out of the Question so i love to pick the reborns up and hold them of course but mind you its not why i did it i do it because im a Collector also mind you look at marie osmond who makes dolls do u call her a crazy nutt or how about guys who collect cars and toys are they crazy so why would i be a crazy nutt for haven dolls ? HMMM
ok thanks
Reborn dolls are a delight for many people and can be an exciting experience to the entire family. This is the main reason why these dolls are selling like hot cakes in all countries and gain more and more exposure by the day.
The main difference between the reborn babies and other dolls is their similarity with real babies. No one can easily find any difference in the appearance, size, open nostrils, fingers, nails, or eyes, between a lifelike doll and an original baby. Even weight of the baby is same to that of original baby. Usually, the dress of the dolls is right with the current trend with all baby outfits. There has even been cases where policeman have mistaken a reborn for the real thing.
I wouldn’t call this a fad, but there is definitely something strong going on with collecting reborn baby dolls, and classic dolls like these in general. This is interesting, considering how these realistic dolls earned their name.