Reborn baby dolls
Reborn dolls are hand crafted dolls to look like real newborn babies.
Reborn Doll refers to a (vinyl) baby doll, that has been artistically customized by repainting and enhancement to resemble a human baby. The process of creating a these reborn dolls is referred to as: reborning.
Technique 'reborning'
The technique of Reborning has evolved a lot over the past five years, as hobbyists and reborn doll artists have refined their painting techniques and added technical enhancements, such as a heartbeat simulator. More recently special reborn doll kits are available, and mechanical enhancements are seen such a battery powered breathing mechanism to simulate the breathing movements of a sleeping baby.
Just like human babies, reborn dolls come in every conceivable shape size and color - nowadays there are Caucasian, Asian and African American reborn dolls.
Creating reborn babies
The technique of 'reborning' a normal vinyl doll typically involves the following processes.
- The vinyl doll is taken apart and the factory paint is removed.
- A color wash is applied to the doll body parts inside and out to create realistic baby skin tones.
- The exterior is painted using various techniques, to add the appearance of translucent skin tones and effects such as veins, blotching, and "milk-spots" to resemble the skin of a real newborn baby.
- Hair and eyelashes -usually of fine mohair- are applied using rooting tools or felting needles.
- The original vinyl body is replaced with a soft stuffed and weighted body.
- A magnet may be attached inside the mouth for attaching a magnetic pacifier. Additional enhancements may include a magnetically attached "umbilical cord", a battery powered heartbeat simulator, breathing simulator and heat packs.
- Once completed the reborn doll is no longer suitable as a child's toy.
Reborn artists & nurseries
Renowned reborn artists are: Elly Knoops, Adrie Stoete, Sheila Michael, Denise Farmer, Helen Jalland, Kim van de Wetering, Reva Schick, Marissa May, Comfy Clouds Nursery, Eva Helland, Rachel Tams, Sam Norman, Samantha Leslie, Sanne Sabilla, Tinkerbell Nursery, Vikki Ebberling, Sebilla Bos.
| 
