Psychologist Weighs In: Women Who Treat Reborn Dolls Like Real Babies!

Reborn dolls are handcrafted by skilled artists who replicate the skin, weight, and facial features of an infant with astonishing accuracy. Each doll requires between 30 to 60 hours of labor: painting in thin layers to mimic veins, hair individually rooted, nails varnished, and even mechanisms installed to simulate breathing or a heartbeat. These unique and ultra-realistic pieces can range in price from a few hundred to over 3000 euros. Originally created for movies, reborn babies later became popular among collectors. However, increasingly they are being used in everyday life as emotional support, especially after a miscarriage, perinatal loss, or infertility. Public reactions are mixed when a woman is seen pushing her reborn baby in a stroller in the park, feeding it a bottle in a shopping mall, or setting it in a swing.

In recent weeks, the phenomenon has escalated on social media. Reborn moms, who treat their dolls as real babies, have been asking for childcare spots or pediatric appointments, and even changing diapers in public restrooms while other mothers wait. Ads for reborn nannies were even posted on Leboncoin and other networks. We reached out to some, who quickly deleted their listings, seeing it as a chance to make easy money. Has the phenomenon become so unusual that it invites mockery online? According to Vincent Joly, a psychologist, these extreme examples are isolated cases: “No, reborn moms are not crazy“, he insists.

He first reminds us that “humans are playful creatures” and that in adulthood, “we no longer allow ourselves to play with toys”, although it is perfectly acceptable for an adult to spend hours on a gaming console. He compares reborn babies to the wax or collector dolls our grandparents might have displayed around a table: “for many people, the reborn baby is a collection phenomenon quite similar to that”. What shocks people is that “the staging takes place in public spaces”, though “most people are very capable of keeping the play appropriate.” He believes the most baffling videos are mainly “provocations and staged for buzz”. Thus, “most people can clearly distinguish between reality and fantasy”, explains Joly, adding that “if someone were to confuse the two, it wouldn’t be because of a reborn baby—it would happen with anything else, as it’s a pre-existing psychotic condition.”

The psychologist calls for compassion. Some individuals use these dolls to cope after a miscarriage or a perinatal loss—situations that are profoundly painful and often not socially acknowledged. “When in doubt, it is best to assume that there is a significant reason behind their actions“, he explains. Behind a scene that may seem strange, there could be recent severe pain or simply harmless play. However, “mocking someone struggling with their grief can be harmful“, he adds.

For him, most of these behaviors are about play, collecting, or personal strategies to deal with hardships. This need for coping may sometimes be temporary, but if it helps, then why not? Truly problematic cases are rare. “When in doubt, let’s choose kindness“, he concludes: a crucial stance in a matter where judgment often precedes understanding.