Reborn dolls have been the topic of a number of TV shows recently. (Dr. Phil, The View, Fox News and more!) They are also being referred to as, "Fake Babies". A reborn doll is a vinyl baby doll or an unassembled vinyl kit that has been artistically "altered" to look like a real newborn baby. These lifelike baby dolls have taken the doll world by storm!
Basic Reborning Methods Image by smillymichelle via FlickrIf using a vinyl doll, it is taken apart and all factory paint is removed. If using a vinyl doll kit, you start with a "blank" slate. The vinyl is painted (usually with Genesis heat-set paints or artist acrylics) using various techniques to give the appearance of real baby skin with effects such as veins, blotching, and even milia "milk-spots". Hair and eyelashes, usually fine mohair such as angora is rooted into the vinyl using felting needles which can take up to 30+ hours per head! Collectors have varied tastes so some reborn dolls have very even complected skin while others have "mottled" skin with scratches or other blemishes.
The vinyl limbs are filled with fine glass beads to add weight and using glass allows the doll to be shipped overseas.
The original vinyl body is replaced with a higher quality jointed body which is stuffed and weighted to feel more realistic. I like to weight the body a bit more on the soft, floppy side and the head is weighted so that it needs support. There are now a variety of bodies available, such as doe-suede, flannel, and an assortment of colors to fit the skincolor of the doll.
A magnet is sometimes installed inside the mouth for attaching a magnetic pacifier. Additional accessories are sometimes available including, but not limited to; magnetic "umbilical cord", magnetic hair bows, heartbeat simulator, breathing simulator, and heat packs.
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