Fake Babies or Reborn Dolls?

With the advent of fake babies - otherwise known as reborn dolls, there have been many blog posts, news articles and opinions flying around online.

The dolls in the center of the controversy are so realistic, that some women are using them not just as collector items, but to fill an emotional void, whether they are unable to bear children, have children who have grown up and moved away, or who have lost a child.

In my experience as a reborn doll artist, the vast majority of my buyers have been doll collectors. Many have gone on to learn the art of reborning for themselves as it really is an incredible experience creating your own life like baby doll. There have been a few though, I believe would fall into the category of treating their dolls as fake babies. This is not to say they believe that the doll is real. It is in how the reborn doll is treated.

realistic reborn dolls

My own grandmother cherished her fake baby that I had made for her. She slept with it and literally took care of it until she passed away. She was so attached that there had been some discussion as to whether she should be buried with her. She like to pretend it was real. She liked to fool people who came to visit in the nursing home. She enjoyed showing off her reborn baby to the nurses and the other residents. Many residents at the home she was in expressed a desire to have fake babies of their own.

I had another client unable to bear children who spent as much time choosing her reborn doll as you would adopting a real child. It had to be perfect in her eyes. The way the child she would never have, might look. Such stories, while sad, are certainly hurting no one if the doll brings them comfort, who is to say that is wrong?

realistic reborn dolls

When you hand a reborn doll to many women, and even some men, including a male reporter that came to interview me, they instinctually rock the baby while holding it. Because of the way the dolls are weighted, they feel real. You need to support their heads, like you would a real infant. I have had buyers tell me that even their teenaged sons held the doll like a real baby. Reborn dolls consistently bring about an emotional response to almost everyone, whether good or bad.

Are fake babies causing damage in some way?

Not unless rocking a baby doll, dressing it and caring for it are damaging behaviors. Even with all the sensationalized press about the women who collect reborn dolls for emotional reason, I have yet to see or read an instance of them believing the doll was real.

Fake babies on TV

Unlike real babies, reborn dolls aren't real! They don't cry, don't require feedings or diapers or naps and do not grow up. They are the perfect addition to movies or TV programs requiring the use of a baby for some scenes. Unless you look closely, if they are well done of course, you would be very hard-pressed to tell the difference. I would expect more and more to be used in upcoming films with the amount of talented artists now creating them.

Fake babies as therapy dolls

Again, I have spoken with many artists who have sold or donated their dolls to nursing homes to be used as therapy babies for the residents. This has gone over very well, so well in fact that in some homes the reborn babies get 'stolen' from one resident to the other. I think there is an innate need to be needed.

realistic reborn dolls

Reborn dolls would seem to have more uses than to just look pretty in a collector's showcase. We'd love hear your thoughts, and how you feel about the term 'fake baby'.

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What Other Visitors Have Said about Fake Babies

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

How do I start making a reborn doll?
I am sooo amazed by the whole reborn baby thing. I have a 2 year old myself and as lovely she is I do really miss her as a small baby and I would love ...

I really want a reborn baby doll !!!!
These may be just dolls to some people but to others it may be a some what of a comfort as they may want one of these reborn dolls if they have lost ...

I love "fake babies"
I'm 12 years old. For my birthday last year my mom got me a reborn doll kit, from Secrist Dolls. It was the Taffy preemie starter kit. I immediately ...

I would love one a fake baby !
I keep asking my mum if I can have one but they are too expensive !! but I say they are giving real babies away in china for nothing and in east sussex ...

Fake Babies (What I think it really should mean)
Ohh... it's so cute! A first glance at them and you know what to say. A fake baby is an adorable addition to any home, little girl's heart or someone'...

If You Dont Like Reborn Dolls then Stay Away From Them
I just found out about reborn babies today and I think they are beautiful as an art and they serve a purpose for some lonely women. If a women chooses ...

Reborn dolls could help with grieving
I had a beautiful daughter and she passed from crib death. I have never gotten over her beautiful eyes and her look at me when I nursed her. Somehow ...

I would love to have a reborn baby! :)
I think reborn babies are a good way for women who can't have kids accept that they can't have kids. The reason I think that is because I have had 2 ...

Reborn babies are not fake!
I make and love my reborns, but I don't like to call them fake. They are real reborn dolls . I don't like the term "fake babies" .

Fake babies? I'm missing my babies!
I love fake babies . I lost my children to dcfs,because of a breakedown I had.
I wish I had 5 fake babies so I won't feel baby-less. but,I can not afford ...

pure love for reborn dolls
I think it's real awesome, I would like to own a reborn doll for myself .
I can't have children anymore for myself, but I am going
to have babies for ...

I LOVE REBORNS
I totally love these reborn dolls . I have two of my own and I think they are adorable. I am only young but I dress them in cute clothing I take them ...

Collecting reborn dolls-Great ideas!
I have collected a variety of dolls over the years, so I will admit to having a soft spot for these beautiful works of art. I have only stumbled upon reborn ...

my fake babies
I have 8 Ashton Drake dolls and have reborned 6 of them they cost me £100 each and I've had them for 3 years now. I think that fake babies are great ...

Emotional Voids were MEANT to be filled !
Some people eat too much, some smoke, some drink... the world is full of vices we can use to fill "emotional voids". Isn't that a basic life goal? To fill ...

Yes love it I have my own fake baby!
Yes I love fake babies because you don't have to pick them up all the time.

Adorable reborn dolls!!!
I personally don't own any reborn dolls , but I'm surrounded by REAL babies. My neighbors have a few of these (their children are grown) and they bought ...

Reborn Dolls are Wonderful For those with Additional Needs
Ever since my sister was a child she has loved babies. This was often a trait I had wished she had not developed as she will never be physically or mentally ...

Fake babies :@
Reborn babies are not fakes. I have 2 myself, and I do not confuse them with real babies, I just think they are amazing and that the artists are talented....

Reborning is not about fake babies
I am a reborn artist and find it offensive that this page states them as fake babies-they are simply an art, a hobby, a peaceful way of life. Here is ...

My first Reborn
I am new at the art of Reborning and I find myself fascinated, almost obsessed with the World of Reborns. I want to be the best I can and produce realistic ...

It's not a "Fake Baby", it's a REAL Doll :-)
The title "Fake Baby" just rubs me the wrong way. It sounds cheap, in my opinion, and does not do justice to the talents and skills that go into creating ...

Fake Babies?
Hmmm do people call men who collect antique cars... fake cars, or how about fake models. Come on already. This is rediculous. Its a hobby. Its a comfort ...

My fake babies helped me to finally be a mom
After several years of struggle to become pregnant, I finally gave up, and had a deep depression. I also made dolls and they meant so much to me. To cuddle ...

thoughts on fake babies..
Hello, I am Karrie Lapointe the artist behind "Living Dolls". I have been reborning for about 2 years now. My experience with this form of art has been ...

Fake baby is not a good description for lifelike dolls
Personally, I feel that the term fake baby is completely wrong for this art form. I don't really like the term Reborn Baby either. I feel that they ...

Collector & Reborn Artist's thoughts on fake babies
Personally, I really find the term ' fake babies ' to be demeaning and insulting. It IS a real baby doll, that is made to be lifelike.

As an artist,...

I consider reborn baby dolls to be the zenith of doll-making. Not rated yet

I consider reborn baby dolls to be the zenith of doll-making, so the term "fake babies" is rather crude. "Faux baby" doesn't particularly bother me ...

Creating reborn dolls Not rated yet
I have one child, a daughter in her mid forties, who is childless by choice. I finally quit buying her a doll at Christmas when she, at the age of eight,...

fake babies and reborn dolls Not rated yet
I think these reborn dolls are the most wonderful things! I dont have one, but now i think i want one! I saw the little baby native american doll named ...

My Fake baby Not rated yet
Hello all,
I have a feeding fake baby ( the mouth is open). I am delighted with my fake baby . I do all the things that can be done with real ...

Ed Wood - Accu Vista on Fake Babies Not rated yet
I have opened a 3D Scanning Studio in Springfield, MA. It is basically 3D photography but so much more. One of my services is to scan a child and create ...

"Fake-Babies", yes, but the Art is Alive!! Not rated yet
I am a young artist who first saw Reborn dolls in an MSN online article a few years ago. I found the realistic baby dolls to be amazingly painted and ...

Reborn Artist Not rated yet
I think in such a time when people are dealing with a life crisis, stress, tv violence, drug and alcohol problems ... and much more... it is so refreshing ...

reborn dolls or fake babies? Not rated yet
I think reborn dolls are cute and my sister does too. Very realistic.

Fake Babies?I like them.. Not rated yet
I am 13 and I am getting a reborn doll for christmas...I am naming her Hunter. She already means the world to me and I would never sell her to anyone!...

Fake Baby is an offensive term Not rated yet
I don't have much to say on the subject. I personally, find the term , for some reason, I don't know just why, I find it OFFENSIVE...

To me, it is like ...

Not Fake babies Not rated yet
THEY ARE NOT FAKE BABIES!!!
They are just like bubbys and should be treated like so.
So what is they don't cry or move we love them and that is all that ...

Reborn Babies? Not rated yet
I love reborning a play doll into a life-like realistic baby. It is very therapeutic for me as an artist as well as the doll's new mommy. I find it ...

I don't care for the term fake baby Not rated yet

I don't like the term "fake baby" either. When I hear that term I almost feel insulted because reborning is an art form....and there is nothing fake ...

My Article on the subject of fake babies Not rated yet
Please have a look at my article on this very subject! I was tired of all the negatives as well, so I just had to write it! Good responses so far!

Imitations ...

"Fake Baby, ugh" Not rated yet
I for one absolutely HATE the term "fake baby". This is a DOLL, not a "fake" infant. It frustrates me to no end to have people refer to the reborn dolls ...

"Fake babies" -- the term makes me cringe! Not rated yet
I'm a longtime reborner...over 6 years. When the term "fake" babies materialized, basically because of a British video, it literally turned my stomach....

Fake babies vs real babies...lol Not rated yet
I love my babies, they never cry, poop or need to be fed. I know when I buy them clothing the size will never change...I collect reborns and I make ...

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