In 2008 Australian Police smashed through a car windscreen to save a baby who was lying inside the car on a hot day, unattended. They were shocked to discover it was a doll. That was their introduction to the secret world of Reborn dolls and for many of you, this post and the gallery below, will be yours.
According to the author Matt Stopera who has researched this phenomenon and provided the photos and captions below which explain it in full, the main reason people buy these dolls is to replace a child they once lost. Or never had.
Heart-breaking and fascinating. Take a look.
WARNING: If you have lost a child, you may find this disturbing and want to skip this one.
Republished with full permission from the author, Matt Stopera via Buzzfeed.
Thanks Patty.
Would you, could you?
Top Comments
One thing that noone has mentioned when you lose a baby is the dreadful physical pain and anguish of not having a physical baby to hold in your hands. When I lost one of my babies to stillbirth, the yearning I had to hold him was just unbearable, especially in the weeks immediately following the loss. I didn't want to believe he was gone, and in fact the counsellor said that it is a common coping mechanism to allow yourself the fantasy that the baby is still alive. I think that is the need these dolls are addressing.
While there is no way I would have got around holding a doll like this in public, or pushing one in a pram, I don't judge those who do. It is not at all uncommon that grieving parents do hold their deceased babies for days. One of the ways I comforted myself was by holding my older kids' teddy bears, in private, and weeping into the baby blankets.
Losing a baby is a terrible, primal grief, there is nothing like it because your whole body and mind is primed to be mothering that newborn. I think it is not uncommon that women become very disturbed and distressed when they have suffered this loss, and if holding a dolly relieves them of that pain, well live and let live I say.
These dolls are not to my taste but I don't judge any therapy that can help someone who has suffered this most painful loss.
Reminds me of something that happened to me the other day ... went to a client's home to cut her hair (first time) and I had only been in the door a matter of minutes and she says "come and look at my baby". At first glance I thought it was real and then realized as she picked it up that it was unnaturally still. She talked about this reborn doll like it was a real baby. I thought it was a bit creepy but thought "each to his own" until later when she started telling me what she was going to get "Imogen" for Christmas .....
I'm trying not to judge here, but that is just creepy...