First comes love, then comes marriage, and then a realistically designed, artificial infant in a baby carriage. These artificial infants, known as “Reborns,” earned their title through the rigorous process of creating each one. In the present day, Reborns are sold everywhere, but it’s unclear who exactly would be needing them.
According to popular Reborn youtuber, TorisRebornBabies, Reborns first popularized in the 1990s, corresponding to Toy company Galoob’s release of “Baby Face Dolls.” These dolls were composed of vinyl, a fleshy and malleable material for them to make lively expressions. These dolls revolutionized the baby doll market, influencing companies to create similar dolls to compete. Each of the vinyl babies provided the perfect canvases to take realism to the next level. Reborn artists adorned faces with blemishes, freckles, and veins.
The Reborn market exists to this day, but it is purely a remnant of the toy-selling craze in the 2000s to early 2010s. This craze was generally influenced by social media but had a slew of factors that corresponded to create a new age, toy-renaissance.
This allowed for a different market where more than just adults with money could afford these dolls. Children could collect the realistic babies on their own, treating them like real ones. The availability of these dolls in physical, chain companies also increased.
With that change, there was also a rise in demand among women who were infertile or could not conceive. The Reborns provided them with peace, whether it came from the hollow-hole of loss (miscarriage) or the fact that there wasn’t a child in their home.
For the women who miscarry, Postpartum depression (PPD) is still prevalent. PPD is a mood disorder that is almost always associated with the hormonal changes pregnant women undergo. It leaves many women struggling with intense feelings. Reborn dolls can offer care and company for both these women and growing children.
Whether it is used as a coping mechanism, a decoration, a toy, or all of the above, it’s notable to consider who would benefit most from these fleshy dolls. Some Reborns are meant to sit on a shelf, but for others, they might seem to be more suitable in the hands of a child or the arms of bereaved mothers.
These lifelike dolls are more than just decorative, they offer children the opportunity to nurture through imaginative play.
For children, Reborns allow them to feel and love without the hazard of a real newborn. A child’s pre-cognitive development is crucial for their livelihood. Playing with Reborns allows children to practice caregiving skills freely, learning to be gentle with their environment.
The bottom line is that Reborns are more than just collectibles dolls, they pose a wealth of possibilities. Reborns can be tools for emotional comfort, development, and are durable as can be. If these Reborn dolls are supposed to be like real children, it would be frowned upon to leave them in a dark, enclosed space for years on end.
