There’s been an increase in Brits buying realistic newborn baby dolls but what makes them so popular?
While most parents will be familiar with popular dolls like Baby Annabell and Barbie, fewer perhaps will be aware of ‘reborn babies’. But the ultra- realistic – super pricey – newborn baby dolls have seen a big rise in popularity recently. From people who use them to cope with baby loss and grief or children who want a realistic doll to play with. Google searches for ‘reborn dolls’ were up over 50% from April to November 2023 alone.
People say the dolls can awaken positive memories, satisfy caretaking desires or act as a comfort during grief. Some find that rocking or ‘bottle feeding’ dolls can help them with stress or distract them from negative thoughts. But there’s also been a rise in parents buying reborn dolls for their children, who want more realistic dolls to play with. In a Facebook group where parents swap tips, one mum said, ‘My daughter got her baby last year for Christmas and always gets comments when she is out and about with her, people thinking it’s a real baby, a bit pricier but definitely worth every penny.’
‘They provide a tangible connection to sadness, offering a concrete focus for emotions that might otherwise feel abstract and overwhelming.’ Dr. Louise Goddard-Crawley has also warned that there are potential risks, telling the MailOnline: ‘While the dolls themselves are harmless, there are potential risks associated with relying too heavily on them for emotional support.
Scam warning Parents who have been scammed when buying a reborn baby have shared a warning to others. Posting in a Facebook group, one mum said she ordered a reborn doll from a website she thought was reputable but when her doll arrived, it looked nothing like the one advertised. ‘So, if you are buying a reborn, please ensure you buy from a reputable UK seller only. They are about! I managed to find a shop not too far from me so I could have a look at them in person .’
‘If you feel scared, if you’re feeling anxious, if you’re sad, if you’re angry, and show your child your coping strategy that is incredibly powerful.’Despite the parenting author regularly talking about parenting that seems pretty gentle to her audience of 250k, Dr Martha says what she promotes is something entirely different.
‘Gentle parents come from all walks of life, all ages, all ethnicities and most don’t even realise that their style of parenting has been given a new name, it’s just the way they have always been.’‘I think that it is a very natural consequence of a big misunderstanding about what gentle parenting actually is,’ says Dr Emma Svanberg, author of Parenting For Humans.
And now the retailer is looking for shoppers to flex their wine-tasting muscles and let others know what they really think of its latest tipples. The downside? Only 30 people will be chosen – but you’ve got to be in it to win it, right? Here’s how to apply… Explaining why Aldi was launching the initiative, Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying, Aldi UK said: ‘We embrace the opportunity to gather feedback from our trusted shoppers.
2. Swirl: ‘Pour a small measure and swirl the glass anti-clockwise,’ Sam advises. ‘Swirling ensures a more intense aroma, as it releases what are called “volatile” aromatics.’ This will apply to all babies who have a hospital admission of a week or more shortly after birth. It is regardless of whether they were born premature, or full-term.
2. Protection from Redundancy Act Currently, the law protects people on maternity leave when a company makes redundancies. The company has to offer those people on maternity leave an alternative position if there is one available. Under the new rules, before they reject any request for flexible working arrangements, employers have to explain the reasons behind their decision.Employers are also now required to respond to any flexible working requests within two months.
Currently, UK workers who miscarry before 24 weeks have no legal right to maternity or parental-bereavement leave, but it is hoped this new policy will pave the way for other employers to follow suit. A Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development survey found just under a quarter of employees who had experienced pregnancy or baby loss had left their jobs following a poor response from their company.
You could also ask for pregnancy-related sick leave. You would need to ask your GP certify your sickness absence as pregnancy-related. There’s no time limit on pregnancy related sick leave and your employer would not be allowed to use it in disciplinary or redundancy conversations — it’s protected by law.
‘This not only helps to reduce the risk of SIDS but also helps to keep a baby’s airway open and clear.’ What is Safer Sleep Week? Safer Sleep Week is the Lullaby Trust’s national awareness campaign for people looking after young babies.The Lullaby Trust said: ‘Three babies a week still die from SIDS and if all parents were aware of safer sleep advice many lives could be saved.
Some parents prefer to co-sleep with their infant, which the NHS says you can do but there are ways to do it safely.While the NHS said there are ways to co-sleep safely, there are risks that come with it including: Made up of midwives, health visitors, social workers, relationship experts and more, this International Women’s Day we’re celebrating our extraordinary team of Netmums Parent Supporters.Loraine Thrower, a safeguarding expert and member of our Parent Supporter Service team, says, ‘I have worked with disadvantaged families and vulnerable children my whole career.
The service is completely free to use and there’s no judgement. Simply head to the Drop-In Clinic boards in our forum and post your question. It will be answered by one of our team. ‘We’re here to help you with all your questions, and signpost you to where you can get more help if you need it.Meet our ‘unsung heroes’ Tracey Stone, health visitor Tracey is a registered health visitor and leads our Parent Supporters team.
She’s got lots of experience supporting disadvantaged groups including single parents and people with addiction/debt problems.Sarah Joy Owen, midwife Sarah is a Registered Midwife who works at a busy community birthing centre offering antenatal and postnatal care. Emma’s reliable guidance on our ‘unhealthy relationships board’ aims to offer suggestions on how to make effective changes, in the hope it makes our members feel better about themselves and their lives.
Catherine is our expert in supporting young people who tell us they are experiencing poor mental health or having difficult feelings or experiences. Emma is within easy reach of anything child or family health related, just like health visitors in the community. ‘Thank you so much for your kind response. It really helped to ease my worries. Especially just the way you wrote with a lot of care and detail was enough to make me feel reassured. I am so grateful.’
Tesco’s chief commercial officer, Ashwin Prasad said: ‘We’re very focused on reducing the cost of the weekly shop for our customers, and we know that it can be particularly tough for those with young families who have all those additional expenses that come with welcoming a new baby. Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, said: ‘New parents have to make hard choices about how to spend their money, but Aldi’s Mamia range provides the best quality products for the early stages of parenting, at an unbeatable price.’
Prices are 25% higher than 2 years ago Last month, the CMA launched an investigation into baby milk formula suppliers and is reviewing the sector. It is now looking into how parents decide what formula to buy and the rules around selling it. This could lead to a change in rules on how baby milk is sold.
Under EU law, which the UK retained from February 2020, retailers are prohibited from discounting new baby formula milk or offering coupons or points with loyalty schemes.Baby Milk Action explains: ‘The law states in regulation 23, in part: advertise any infant formula;‘The UK regulations do not prohibit promotion of breastmilk substitutes other than infant formula.’
‘Of course, I’m doing that last minute World Book Day thing. I think, how did I get myself in this situation? Because I’ve known about this for months,’ he laughs. ‘I’m looking at pictures of Frida Kahlo at 11 o’clock at night. So I found something that’s sort of a skirt, and I found a blouse that looks quite Frida Kahlo-ish.’‘I don’t feel qualified to talk about parenting’ But Ben reveals why he was secretly pleased his daughter wants to dress up as Frida Kahlo.
‘I literally have one son who’s nearly 18. We’re taking him to look at a university tomorrow. I’ve got an eight-year-old, a 12-year-old, I’ve done a lot of parenting but you never sort of feel qualified to give any advice.’ ‘I get very hurt by that criticism’ Ben – who has been writing children’s books for the past few years, alongside his TV and film work – gets very honest about the criticism aimed at celebrity authors.
‘David Walliams is a very successful children’s author. Do kids buy his books because he’s a celebrity? I don’t think so. Mine didn’t, mine had no idea.’ Sadly, she is not alone. According to the NHS, around one in eight pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Which means hundreds of thousands of women spending Mother’s Day without their babies.
‘We want to remember our babies that we’ve lost and longed for, but all too often there is a lack of acknowledgement of us as a mother and the pain we bear. ‘But on the day itself I stay offline. I try and put all my energy into something positive, so go out for the day or a long walk. Anything to stay away from the socials.
Since then she has lost four babies, including an heterotopic pregnancy She says, ‘It feels like I’ve been forgotten as a mum because I’ve had so many losses that I “must be used to it by now”.’ ‘So instead your pain feels even more isolating as well as that overwhelming feeling of resentment, and then hating yourself for feeling that way.
Rachael agrees, and says, ‘Your feelings are valid. To be envious of mothers who have their babies and children on Mother’s Day is NORMAL. ‘The lead up to Mother’s Day can be just as bad, if not worse, than the day itself. People often worry that they might cause upset but honestly, the most devastating thing is when you feel like no one remembers your baby or what you have been through.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
PSNI pay out almost £20K on doors damaged during police operationsAlmost £20K spent in less than 14 months by PSNI
Read more »
PSNI spends nearly £20k on fixing damaged doors during police operationsThe Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has spent £19,719.39 in the last year on repairing property doors that were damaged during police operations. While damage is not their intention, it can occur during searches or when urgent entry is required. Compensation may be provided to affected homeowners.
Read more »
Rogue trader ordered to pay back £20k after scamming Scots customersPaving company boss James Henderson was slammed by victims after admitting defrauding them out of more than £20,000.
Read more »
I was first in line for Alton Towers’ Nemesis Reborn – it’s intense and emotionalThe theme park's iconic ride has been closed for almost 18 months with queues stretching for hours when it reopened this weekend
Read more »
UK Gardeners Warned About Common Mistake That Could Result In £20k FineWith spring around the corner, you might be preparing to do some DIY, but make sure you're up to date on guidelines and regulations first.
Read more »
Albert Frey’s Aluminaire House is reborn in Palm SpringsMichael Webb Hon. AIA/LA has authored 30 books on architecture and design, most recently California Houses: Creativity in Context; Architects’ Houses; and Building Community: New Apartment Architecture, while editing and contributing essays to a score of monographs.
Read more »