So I've been looking for a reborn toddler doll, around 18 mo old, and I've been running into a lot of confusion. I'm hoping someone might be able to help clear it up.
Some quick background, I lost my daughter around that age and my therapist is suggesting a reborn doll. I've tried three different dolls off Amazon, (more on that in a min) just to see if this is something I'd be into. Turns out it is, very much so. Things like getting her dressed, carrying her around, snuggling while watching tv, doing her hair, these things bring back floods of special memories.
I bought my first doll, $70, brand Babyfere. She was advertised as 'toddler' and 24" tall. She arrived and was MUCH smaller than I expected. I looked back at the listing and it said "wears 3-6mo clothes" and even those were big on her! She actually measures 22". I started looking into children's average height charts and sure enough, 22" is about 2 months old. She's soft cloth body with full arms and 3/4 legs.
So I started searching by size and found a 34" doll. Brand name is 'Pinky'. She's about the right size, maybe a tad big, but she's hard plastic with balls for joints, very doll-like. I knew what I was getting, I was just trying to hone in on the sizing. The listing said she wears 2T clothes and that's accurate.
I bought a 28" doll (brand zero pam?) and when she arrived, her body looks abnormal. She's cloth body and full arms and legs. The body, however, is the height of a 6mo and the girth of a 24mo from shoulders to hips! She looks more like SpongeBob! A 2T shirt is snug on her torso. She measured an actual 4 inches short at 24" ( the size of a 4mo old). The listing said she wears 3-6mo clothes.
I've returned all three of them. So now that I've dipped my toe in, I'm ready to make an investment.
Upon researching, here's some things I've noticed (and a small rant)
There are full body silicone dolls that appear to be "true" reborn - they appear actually lifelike. But they all seem to be newborns. I'm under the impression that these are what the term 'reborn' accurately represents. I believe this is what I’m looking for.
Anything in the $100 range is going to be under 22" and cloth body with vinyl limbs. Basically my fist doll.
The hair, face, and artwork oftentimes does not accurately represent the advertised age of the doll. I've seen listings for 12 mo old but the doll has the face/head of an older child with the full hair of 4-year-old!
Above the $100 range, and in sizes above 22" it seems like it's a real crapshoot as to what you're getting, even up to and over the $2000 price range. I found many listings in the $1000-$2000 range with cloth body and 3/4 limbs. (I guess at that price I expect more).
I've seen many versions of cloth and half cloth bodies, vinyl head and shoulders tied onto cloth bodies, 1/2 legs, 3/4 limb, full limbs, vinyl body (advertised), etc etc. Most of these listings only show the doll clothed so you really have no idea what you're really getting because the descriptions are often vague or misleading.
Everyone says "reborn" "realistic" "lifelike" "life size". But I don't think they mean it
Silicone and vinyl - these terms seem to be used almost interchangeably (often together in the listing title!) but they are two entirely different materials, are they not? Then there’s resin? What’s the difference here?
So many say "toddler" or 24" or 28" or whatever, but then the details say "fits 3-6mo clothes" or some such.
There's a handful of dolls above 30" but they all seem to be hard plastic or unrealistic.
So what gives? I know the ones I tried are mass produced Amazon dolls but it seems Amazon is a representative cross-section of what's out there, at least on Google anyway. No matter how I search I seem to be coming up with the same results. It also seems like 90% of them, even from boutique shops, are under 22" (2mo old), even though they're advertised as 'toddler'.
So, where do I go to find my doll? I'm looking for an accurate and lifelike representation of an 12-18 month old girl. That should be around 28" -32". I believe full silicone is what I'm looking for, for the most realism but I'd be fine with cloth body and full (vinyl?) limbs. Does anyone make full silicone dolls in this age range? I don't care if I can pose her or not, as long as she looks and feels real. Any recommendations for specific shops or anything specific I should be googling for? 'Cause I'm striking out left and right and at this point.
Thanks in advance, any advice or pointers in the right direction are much appreciated!
I don't think there's a deeper pain than losing a child. It's been 6 months now and although I'm finally off the couch and able to function, there's still an unfillable void left inside of me. While a doll is no substitute, I was surprised and relieved by how comforting it was. I'll check out the referrals a bit later.
