Playing with baby dolls is not just for children anymore. Thousands of women are taking home lifelike newborn baby dolls and calling them their own. The dolls, called “reborns”, are meticulously designed by artists to look and feel just like a real newborn baby and can sell for over $1,000.
Many of the women who buy the dolls could not have children of their own or have grown children out of the house and miss having a baby around. The “reborns” are often taken for walks in strollers, clothed in real baby clothes, and doted over as if they were the real thing.
A recent ABC News article reported on the baby doll phenomenon from a convention for reborn fans in Illinois. ABC spoke with Lachelle Moore, who has both children and grandchildren of her own, about her love of reborns. Moore said, “What’s so wonderful about reborns is that they’re forever babies. They don’t give you any trouble. There’s no college tuition, no dirty diapers...just the good part of motherhood.” Moore added a $1,400 reborn to her collection of 36 dolls during the convention.
Women at the convention often referred to holding the dolls as providing “cuddle therapy” and there may be some truth to the phrase. Studies have proven that women experience a chemical emotional rush when holding a newborn baby. Sue Varma, a psychiatrist from the NYU School of Medicine, said “I would not be surprised to learn that if a women is holding a fake baby, that she would have the same chemical, hormonal reactions as if she was holding a real baby.”
It is not surprising that some people might find the idea of collecting these pricey fake newborns to be a little odd and possibly unhealthy. Linda Moore describes it as a hobby she has chosen that does no harm to anyone.
What do you think of the recent report about women collecting these fake babies?
Do you think this is just a harmless hobby that helps fill a void in some women?
I feel sad for these women. They obviously have a lot of love to give but their relationships do not fullfill them or the people around them don't give them the attention they need. I can understand the escape from reality... I sometimes do it with books.
ann818marie::
on Jan 11, 2009
There is a difference between collecting dolls and treating dolls like they are your children. It;'s like the crazy cat lady but a little creepier. Sounds like there is a void in these women's lives. There are plenty of kids out there that could use a mentor, tutor, or foster parent.
WVMom00::
on Jan 11, 2009
I have a friend that makes these babies. She loves creating them, she brings them in and shows all of us at work the newest one and she has made babies for co-workers as gifts, she has donated for high school auctions. She does not carry them around like they are real. The dolls are beautiful and very life-like looking. I can understand wanting to collect them and I wouldn't mind having babies that looked similar to my children when they were babies but not to dress up and carry around. Sounds like these people have some issues they need help with.
gswprchick::
on Jan 11, 2009
I don't understand this. I agree that it is WAY creepier than the crazy cat lady
jbtmommy::
on Jan 12, 2009
Some of these babies are really sweet, but I have seen others that I am not sure what the person was thinking when they created the baby! However, reborn's can be a positive coping device as well as a way to remember how positively beautiful your own child was as a baby. Initially, I thought this was creepy too. Upon further thought, I do see the therapeutic value in creating. I watched a segment on TV about a woman who miscarried many times and found peace from creating the babies for other's to love.
AnAmericanHousewife::
on Jan 12, 2009
Collecting as a hobby is fine but dressing them up, cuddling them, walking them in strollers and taking them out as if it were a real child? They have some serious issues! It reminds me of the horror book/movie about the plague where all the children died and no more were born and women were dressing up kittens and pretending they were babies.
Freaky.
Angelbeck80::
on Jan 14, 2009
I use to collect angel figurines when I was a teenager. It was just cause I liked them. Thought they were beautiful. I think it's just the same for those that collect dolls.
Cassiesul84::
on Jan 15, 2009
This is just weird...it reminds me of the stepford wives. Maybe they could call them the stepford babies!
EMELLE::
on Jan 15, 2009
While I think it's a tetch bit creepy, there is no harm in it. Hey, I put sweaters on my dogs and people think I am crazy.
ayesha16::
on Jan 15, 2009
I think it is wierd and it might be harmful because if the women really treats it like a real baby, she would be depressed and sad, if something happened to the doll.
