Any true doll collector knows that silicone reborn babies are the holy grail for those who love truly realistic dolls. These dolls are remarkably lifelike that the effect at times can be eerie. While they represent a particular subset of doll collecting, and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, they’re still a fascinating hobby to cultivate. If you’re new to the world of doll collecting and are growing increasingly interested in silicone reborn babies, then the following article is for you.
What’s So Special About Silicone?
Different kinds of materials are used in making reborn dolls, amongst them being gentle touch vinyl, flex touch vinyl, and silicone. The latter helps to give the doll a very realistic look and even feels as soft as real baby skin when compared to other materials meant for dolls. However, this means that silicone reborn dolls are the domain of true collectors, and not made for dolls that kids can play with. They are also rather vulnerable to run of the mill wear and tear and need to be treated delicately. That being said, dolls made of silicone are perfect for those who want to collect realistic looking babies and treat it more as an art form as opposed to something with which people can play.
Maintenance and Care
Given how delicate silicone reborn babies are, their upkeep is pretty important. As the people behind the ever-popular Dolls Like Me can tell you, maintenance is key to keeping them in perfect shape. One tip to remember is that the material of a silicone doll needs to be powdered with real baby powder every week to help reduce breakage. This is similar to how you would treat an actual baby, which may seem odd but is necessary for caring for your doll. On the flip side, a silicone reborn baby can be placed in water at any time, and will not damage the doll, unlike other materials. Since these dolls are designed for collecting and a measure of role-playing, you can still play around with them and treat them as you would a real baby, but a modicum of gentleness is required.
Masterfully Crafted
Silicone allows the artists who make them add more detail with paint since the material is so pliable. This is why it helps give silicone reborn dolls their unique look since they are highly detailed. The level of craftsmanship is astounding, and in fact, many customers can request custom made dolls from a local artisan if they like. There is a high degree of customization available in these dolls since the artists can add all sorts of tiny details that you may not be able to find in other dolls – freckles, patches of red, a birthmark, and so on. While most collectors will simply purchase the doll made by the artist, a few do appreciate creating a more personalized version.
Silicone reborn babies are not your run of the mill dolls. They are highly specific, very rare works of art meant for the serious collector who would also appreciate a bit of role-playing. They’re not for everyone, but for those who really love dolls and enjoy collecting them, these are a must-have for any collection.
