Reborn dolls...I just think they're sad...

[Disneyland1084]

These real life dolls are good for children and people with dementia, but for adults who SHOULD know better are just in la la land.

 

[4nana]

I don't find it sad. If it fills a void in someone's life to give them a happy life, then it makes me happy.

Now is it odd, for sure, but so are a billion other things.

I agree, haven't walked a mile in their shoes, so for me it's hard to judge.

I've seen them used in nursing homes. When you have people with dementia they can get suck back when they had little ones and the dolls can "let them" live out that time instead of them being hysterical looking for their baby.

Amen, probably brings them a lot of comfort.

 

[Distinkt]

I showed my husband some videos made by the owners of these dolls and we wonder if its not that they fill a void for them, but maybe that they are an avenue for the owners to get attention or social interaction? To each their own. I love babies and baby clothes so I can understand that it would be fun (and maybe a little addictive) to go shopping for these things, but it bothers me that there are live babies out in the world that need support and there are dolls that have more clothing and accessories than real live children. It seems a harmless hobby though.

One thought I did have however, I hate to pack for trips for myself and hubby, so the last thing I would want to do is pack and haul babies and car seats, and strollers, and diaper bags on a cruise or to Disney. I do find the enthusiasts interesting and enjoy watching what they post so what does that say? LOL.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

They might become useful in an HOV lane!

 

[scbelleatheart]

Look at it different way. People with dementia and Alsheimers find comfort in what they remember, be it a doll, a pet or just a memory that makes them coherent for a few minutes. Think outside the box of your world! You too will get old someday.
The newborn dolls are creepy to you but they serve a purpose in that person's life and help them cope.

 

[Disneyland1084]

This reminds me of the time I was 7 and had a friend over. I had a realistic doll that I wrapped up in a blanket and brought to the video store. A woman went up to my mom and told her she thought it was irresponsible to let her younger daughter (me) hold a baby. LOL!!!!!!

 

[handinpocket]

This is just about as crazy as the teddy bear lady at the Grand Floridian.

Really? A sweet lady who gives out teddy bears at the Grand Floridian is "crazy"?! She sat and talked with my little girl for quite a while and gave her a very expensive bear. My heart hurts to hear ignorant people spout off about her. She is lonely and without a life partner and wants to spread happiness to children.

BTW, her family posts here, go ahead and disparage her some more.

 

[Stinkerbe11]

I had never heard of these dolls until this video was posted on the cruise boards. It's definitely not my cup of tea but it looks like some people really get into it.

Reborn baby Disney cruise video

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

*

 

[Turn the Page]

Look at it different way. People with dementia and Alsheimers find comfort in what they remember, be it a doll, a pet or just a memory that makes them coherent for a few minutes. Think outside the box of your world! You too will get old someday.
The newborn dolls are creepy to you but they serve a purpose in that person's life and help them cope.

I don't think anyone is looking down on the elderly with Alzheimers and dimentia issues or those with developmental disorders who use the dolls to fill a void in their lives. Speaking for myself, I am speaking of the grown women (30's and up) who have no mental issues and are in full control of their faculties, who treat these dolls as if they were real babies. That is what most of us find sad.

 

[worm761]

When my DD was a baby, she looked like a doll. She was born with an unreasonable amount of hair and she inherited my grandma's porcelain skin. We were out at a museum one day walking around. The whole family as the in laws were in town. There was another family near us and when DD moved the lady screamed. She thought DD was a baby doll. We heard this repeatedly when she was in the carrier car seat. I always wondered why they thought a grown woman would be pushing a baby doll around. No other little girls in our family. My son is 13 years older than DD.

 

[ugadog99]

This is just about as crazy as the teddy bear lady at the Grand Floridian.

Really??? Do you know her story or just generally jump to the crazy conclusion?

 

[PizzieDuster]

I had never heard of these dolls until this video was posted on the cruise boards. It's definitely not my cup of tea but it looks like some people really get into it.

Reborn baby Disney cruise video

Thanks Stinkerbe11, I remember someone posting this video over at the cruise board. I think I just watched it with my mouth open. Then I thought, maybe she lost an infant or something else.

I was curious and saw other videos on youtube and thought it looked more like a hobby. They probably have their own community boards, etc. Haven't been THAT curious to find out

I googled and found an article on Lynn, the Grand Floridian Teddy Bear Lady. I think that's a lovely thing for her to do, meet people, converse, show her bears and maybe give out teddy bears to children. Doesn't sound crazy to me. The author mentions it taught her family to "not judge a book by it's cover". Makes sense to me.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

OK, so I'm watching that cruise video, and I'm only on minute 5, and I've got to ask.

1) She says she left them in the nursery so she could go to dinner. Did she really do that? Does the Disney Cruise Line charge the same rate for reborn babies, or do you get some kind of discount? Or maybe an upcharge?

2) Apparently the boy baby, London, is a bad sleeper. If you were going to have an imaginary doll baby, wouldn't you imagine one who sleeps through the night? I know I would!

 

[DisReno]

This is just about as crazy as the teddy bear lady at the Grand Floridian.

Thank you. I'm sorry...but some people on the DIS take 'tolerance' and 'live and let live' to a new level and it gets tiring.

If you are a 30-something year old woman, and you are carrying around a fake doll, feeding it and taking care of it...THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH YOU AND YOU NEED HELP.

If you are an adult taking care of teddy bears...THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU AND YOU NEED HELP.

That's just basic common sense...they need counseling and help. It is not okay, and they should be looked on as sad and needing help. It's very sad.

Let's all stop trying to be accepting of everything and anything...there are some things that are just not "okay". Taking care of a fake baby, unless you are in high school and doing it for a grade in your child development class, is not a mentally healthly thing to do. Period.

There I said it.

 

[North of Mouse]

DH and I went out to eat the other night. There was a lady sitting outside the restaurant with her baby. She had a car seat/carrier and was giving the baby a bottle. I walked past her and did a double take - the "baby" was a doll. Weird.

I had seen people like this on TV but never in real life. It was kinda, um...strange. If people want to collect dolls, that's one thing - but to take them out with real baby gear and feed them a bottle as if they were real...

Having had 3 real babies, I'm thrilled when I can get away for the night and NOT bring the car seat/stroller/bottle/bibs/diapers/stroller!

Actually, there is a group of women who collect these *newborns* and treat them in every way like a real baby. I just read an article awhile back about them. It really weirds me out to think of this. They look so real, and it's like a sick person keeping a dead baby around. It upsets me somehow. It really is sad.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I don't find it sad. If it fills a void in someone's life to give them a happy life, then it makes me happy.

Now is it odd, for sure, but so are a billion other things.

Look at it different way. People with dementia and Alsheimers find comfort in what they remember, be it a doll, a pet or just a memory that makes them coherent for a few minutes. Think outside the box of your world! You too will get old someday.
The newborn dolls are creepy to you but they serve a purpose in that person's life and help them cope.

This is just about as crazy as the teddy bear lady at the Grand Floridian.

Huh? That's just wrong..

 

[mommy2allgirls]

Ok that video was weird. The ladies mom also plays along with this that's just not normal. I guess to each his own.

I wonder what people thought and said on the cruise

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[LongLiveDisney]

I find it really creepy....

 

[Offsides]

I don't think anyone is looking down on the elderly with Alzheimers and dimentia issues or those with developmental disorders who use the dolls to fill a void in their lives. Speaking for myself, I am speaking of the grown women (30's and up) who have no mental issues and are in full control of their faculties, who treat these dolls as if they were real babies. That is what most of us find sad.

I agree with this.

Treating a doll like an actual newborn is weird to me.