Reborn Babies

A variety of media outlets are airing stories this week about the new phenomenon of frighteningly life-like baby dolls that adult women are not only purchasing, they are collecting. These dolls, called Reborn Babies are priced well beyond your basic toy doll, some upwards of $1K. Because these dolls are life-sized, you can purchase all kinds of gear to keep it real. That way, you can care for your doll as if she were a real baby. Some even have birth dates, birth weights and adoption certificates. You can even have a custom made baby if money is no object. A few minutes on Google reveals an expensive hobby with fans, deals and adoptions. If you are lucky, you can even find one on eBay and of course you can find new friends on social media to share your passion.

The interview I saw yesterday on TV showed a woman who keeps a complete nursery in her home for her dolls. Another woman was filmed wearing her baby in a front pack and thrilled when strangers complimented her. One women proudly told the camera that she had over 30 of these dolls ranging in ages up to toddler-size.

What is the reason behind this expensive new movement? The interviews culled information bits from the women like relaxation, replacement and even just having the need to hold a baby again. These people are sincerely "collecting" and caring for their reborns as if they were real. They get fulfillment from holding the dolls. It is clear that a lot of time and money goes into their babies.

Scratch my head. All I thought about after first agreeing the dolls are incredibly well done is how much disposable income ladies were spending to parent the reborns. What could be done for others with this hefty chunk of change? What real life need could be met instead? My next thought was about how much time was devoted to caring about the dolls. How many church nurseries could use loving arms of adults holding real babies during church services? How many church toddler classes would welcome the participation of teachers who care about this age group? How many people in the community need some time from someone to help them with their real-life children?

I am not condemning the dolls or the purchasers. I am just wondering what would happen if the same dollars and energies were put into real-life human beings, what would the world look like? What real things could we accomplish for those in need?

Really, This Toy??

I make it a practice to stroll toy aisles and see what is given prominence for kids toys, especially since my kids have outgrown toys and the only toys I like to play with are the classic ones.

Last week, I came upon these uh, dolls. Take a look at their faces! What does this say to you? To me I see scars and darkness. Who plays with dolls? Not kids who enjoy scars, and many are actually trying to overcome a fear of darkness. Look at their eyes. Nothing... The vacant look on their faces has me wondering who would want to cuddle such an item? Who would want to play house with that as the "baby"?

What were the architects of this line of toys thinking when they sat around the boardroom table tossing around new concepts? "Hey! Let's create some freak rag doll playing off that whole vampire craze! We can get the really little kids with this." "Excellent! Put some scars on it and x out the eyes. We'll outsell American Girls by far with our price points."

The influence we have on children should be taken gravely. It is an honor to teach or parent a young mind. What we do or do not do can have life long impact. My desire is that what I put out there for my child's mind contributes to their imagination in secure and positive ways. Therefore, they did not accompany me to R rated movies, smoke-filled bars, tattoo parlors or the edge of a cliff. We did not read horror stories and were even careful with Bambi.

The toys we provided inspired creativity, dramatic play or problem solving. They did not do the thinking or branding for them, they did not provide any fodder for haunting thoughts. We also stayed away from too many tie-in toys. You know, where a hot kids movie inspires sleeping bags, PJs, back packs, characters, etc. Yes, there were some. Who can resist a Woody or a Buzz? But they were balanced with Legos, books and bikes, rocks and sticks.

Not only do I not want my kids to be flooded with commercialized characters everywhere (and thus become conditioned to fall for the theme toothpaste or bandaids), I do not want to put anything in front of their eyes that sends a message that body mutilation or anything else that is darkly marketed as attractive is a way of life. To me, this toy sells fear and darkness and is inappropriate.