Reborn babies (or reborn dolls) are crafted to look and feel a human infant as realistically as possible. Their appearance is very similar to that of real babies. Certain reborn creators allow customers to personalize their doll, usually using a photo to replicate a particular infant.
The reborn doll was born in the United States in the late 1990s to satisfy the demand for realistic dolls among collectors. Over the past few years, realistic looking baby dolls have made quite a market because of the lifelike details they offer like skin, wrinkles, and even fingernails.
Their materials and construction vary depending on quality and purpose — whether they’re for collectors, children, or therapeutic use. Here’s what they are typically made of:
Vinyl
Vinyl has become the most widely used material for reborn babies. The resemblance to traditional dolls is quite high, but it allows to achieve the realistic effect we are talking about. The head, arms and legs are the ones made of this material, which is a plastic of a very high quality and with a color reminiscent of skin.
To achieve realism, each artist can choose to add different details. For example, redness, veins or any other mark that real skin has and dolls do not. As it is a handcrafted work, each piece is unique.
The vinyl skin feels just like a baby’s when cuddled or snuggled, making it a good choice for those who intend to play with it, as it is highly resistant to wear and tear. Vinyl dolls will often be a lot more affordable than the silicone ones, you can buy it for a fraction of the price of silicone reborn babies.
Silicone
The second option regarding the material of a reborn baby is silicone. To distinguish them from the previous ones, they are usually called silicone babies or silicone reborn babies, since the general term refers to vinyl. In this material, the entire body of the doll is made of silicone, hence its touch is almost like that of our skin. Their weight also rises quite a bit accordingly.
When it comes to moving them, the movement is like that of babies; the head falls backwards and the limbs do not remain fixed as in the vinyl ones. Therefore, silicone reborn babies do not allow the postures we mentioned before, precisely because of the freedom of movement of legs and arms. Other advantages are the possibility of bathing them and that they are very cuddly. It is important to know how to take care of them!
This material is intended for collectors rather than for play. However, this similarity to baby skin comes at a cost. It is highly vulnerable to wear and tear. These dolls are also very expensive ranging from $200 to over $1000.
Things to Keep in Mind When Buying Reborn Babies
There are other factors that people need to consider while buying reborn babies.
1. Cost
Dolls made from silicone usually more costly than those made from vinyl, therefore the prices tend to be higher per doll. Better quality can be ensured when the prices are high.
2. Durability
Silicone dolls are more subject to wear and tear and require careful handling. They can tear more easily especially at their joints. These dolls are not recommended for use with children unless specifically advised by each creator.
3.Maintenance
As mentioned before, silicone dolls are very delicate. This material needs to be looked after very carefully. They need to be bathed and powdered with baby powder once a week to reduce breakage. If you are considering buying one of these silicone dolls, make sure you have the time to care for it as you would a real baby.