News & Information

Reborn Doll Therapy

Discovering The Help It Provides Alzheimer's And Dementia Patients
By Andrew Scherer

It was not too long ago when dolls are just plain dolls. Those were the days when dolls are just inanimate objects and fake-looking. Dolls have that same look and feel, not until the emergence of superior and exceptional types of dolls. Reborn dolls have broken the trend of dolls. With the advent of reborns, dolls were taken on a whole new look and feel with more realism.

Yet, the captivation of everybody on the realism of reborn dolls has not stop there. Reborn dolls have exceeded the notion of just being realistic-looking dolls. When they started to penetrate the mainstream media and the doll industry. reborn baby dolls become instantly popular. Today, these lifelike baby dolls have achieved mass media coverage, not only as valuable collector's items, but also as effective treatment adjuncts to Alzheimer's and Dementia patients.

The contribution of reborn dolls in treating Alzheimer's and dementia patients is undeniably prized and respected. Although the reborn doll therapy in these patients are not that reputable, there are accounts and experiences that evidenced positive effects in Alzheimer's and dementia patients recently. This success of reborn doll therapy is predominantly ascribed with the reduction of the patient's dependency to psychotropic drugs. 

In dementia patients, reborn doll therapy helps in the reduction of withdrawals. It also helps in overcoming communication crisis between the patient and caregiver. Records show that female dementia patients respond more better to the reborn doll therapy. Female dementia patients respond positive to reborns as these dolls help them reminisce the times when they were still housewives and very productive. As they adopt the reborn doll in their therapy, the patients' memories as parents are recollected. As they consider the doll their child, it will revive the moments in their lives when they were useful, productive, being loved, and being able to love. 

The reborn doll therapy is commonly introduced in the early and middle stages of the Alzheimer's disease. this is done so that the patient will be accustomed to the doll. As the disease condition progresses, the patient will be bonded with the doll. Though at the earlier stages, the patient may consider the doll as fake. Nevertheless, the patient will enjoy to naming the doll and changing its clothes. As the therapy evolves, the patient will communicate with the doll and find comfort in its presence. The Alzheimer's patients will become calm and be open to communicate with others. 

Reborn therapy is not a cure to dementia and Alzheimer's. The patients will not turn back to their former selves if exposed to such an intervention. The therapy is just an additional treatment strategy to make the patient more comfortable, cooperative, and open to communication. It can provide the patient with the sense of self worth and belongingness. 

Obviously, reborn baby dolls have confirmed to be helpful because their benefits are irrefutable. This is the reason why reborns have gained more media coverage recently. Reborn dolls for sale are increasingly crowding sops and online stores.

Do's and Dont's

So your baby stays safe from damage, follow these tips:

• Avoid direct sunlight.  While your baby may look lovely sitting in the window, excessive sunlight will fade baby's delicate painting, hair color and clothing.
• Avoid extreme heat.  You should never leave a real baby in the backseat of a hot car.  Your doll baby will not appreciate that either.  Vinyl softens when heated, which may warp or even melt your doll.
• Avoid extreme cold.  Babies stored in cold garages, basements or storage facilities may crack when they get too cold.  If the baby must be in storage, make sure baby is well packaged in a box in a climate-controlled area like a closet or under the bed.
• Avoid highly pigmented objects. Vinyl is easily stained by strong dyes and inks. Please keep the baby from coming in contact with items such as: bright colored fabrics, colored paper, newspaper, un-treated painted surfaces, markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc...  Also be careful handling the baby as the nail polish on your hands, makeup on your face and dye in your hair can also stain vinyl.  
• Keep out of the reach of pets.  Even a well trained puppy may not be able to resist the urge to nibble on your baby.  
• Supervise small children. A small child will treat your baby like she would any of her other dolls.  Rough playing could scratch the painting and potentially soil or tear the cloth body.  Always supervise your baby when in the presence of small children.  
  
• Magnets. If your baby has a pacifier, he or she is probably outfitted with magnets.  High-powered neodymium magnets are not safe around individuals with hearing aids, pacemakers, or metal implants.    Also avoid exposing the magnets to cell phones, tablets, computers or external hard drives as magnets may damage these devices.

​How to Care for Your Reborn Baby Doll

Baby Storage:
Life like baby dolls are content to live anywhere in your home.  Some sleep in mommy's bed.  Others have their own bassinets or cribs. Still others may sit on a shelf or in a glass case with many other beautiful dolls.

Cleaning the Baby

Each Custom Doll Baby is created from soft vinyl and a cuddly doe suede body.  

If any dirt or residue gets on the vinyl parts, these can be wiped away with a damp washcloth.  A very small amount of baby wash or mild dish soap will help lather away stubborn stains.  Avoid scrubbing as this may damage the painting.  Do not wet or submerge the cloth body.  Towel blot to dry.

If the cloth body is dirty, clean it as you would a teddy bear.  Use a damp cloth to wipe away stains.  Try not to wet the stuffing.  Allow to dry completely.

If the baby is extremely dirty, because your two year old was teaching the baby how to make mud pies, consider sending the baby back to the artist for a replacement body, fresh stuffing and a thorough cleaning.

Hair Care

Your baby's hair was hand-rooted one to a few strands at a time to look like the fine hairs on a real baby.  

The hair was then sealed with a water-proof adhesive to keep it from falling out.  However, baby hair is still delicate and requires a little TLC (Tender Love and Care).  These tips and tutorials will help you keep your baby's hair shiny, fresh and beautiful for years to come. 
Wash your baby's hair as often as you like.  Just keep in mind that, just like our hair, the more it is manipulated, the higher the risk of breakage and pulling hairs out. 

BRUSHING BABY'S HAIR

Always use a soft bristle brush like the one that came with your baby.  

Harder brushes may pull out baby's hair and scratch the detailed painting on baby's scalp.  

If baby's hair is just a little dusty or out of place, a gentle brushing will do the trick. 

WASHING BABY'S HAIR

Hair is most fragile when wet. So please wash with care.

Use a small amount of gentle baby shampoo, like the shampoo that came with your baby.

Wet the hair with WARM water (mohair felts in cold water).  Gently add the shampoo, but do not scrub or massage. This tangles the hair.  Instead, gently brush the shampoo through the hair until it lathers.  

Rinse the brush and hair in warm water until all the shampoo is gone.  Blot dry (do not rub) with a soft towel.

Spray damp hair with your favorite leave-in conditioner.  (More info on conditioners in the Moisturize section below.)  Brush damp hair into desired style.  Allow to air dry.