{"id":85560,"date":"2023-09-19T11:11:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T11:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritytidings.com\/?p=85560"},"modified":"2023-09-19T11:11:54","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T11:11:54","slug":"i-spent-2k-on-my-13-fake-babies-i-change-nappies-take-them-out-in-a-pram-my-dad-says-its-bizarre-who-cares-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritytidings.com\/fashion\/i-spent-2k-on-my-13-fake-babies-i-change-nappies-take-them-out-in-a-pram-my-dad-says-its-bizarre-who-cares-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"I spent \u00a32k on my 13 'fake' babies, I change nappies & take them out in a pram – my dad says it's bizarre… who cares | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
A WOMAN has spoken out on her hobby of collecting and caring for lifelike baby dolls, whose nappies she changes on a daily basis.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jess Ellis, 27, started collecting reborn dolls – realistic dolls modelled on infants – in May 2020 after feeling "lonely" during the pandemic and coming across them online.<\/p>\n
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She bought her first doll, Rebecca, a one-month-old baby girl, for \u00a3250 to keep her company and became obsessed with growing her brood.<\/p>\n
Next came Sam, a newborn, for \u00a3560 in November 2020 – followed by June, a one-month-old; Sam, a newborn; Brooklyn, an eight-month-old; Manuela, a newborn; Zain, a three-month-old; Lilly, a newborn; Annalese, a newborn; Aria, a newborn; Cookie, who is premature; Charlie, a one-year-old; Pippa, also one; and June, four.<\/p>\n
In total, Jess has spent \u00a36,000 buying her 13-strong collection – with her most expensive addition, Cookie, a premature baby-size girl, costing \u00a31,700.<\/p>\n
Jess says her fianc\u00e9, Avery Raassen, 33, a pastry chef, is "incredibly supportive" of her passion and even helps to get the "babies" dressed and change their nappies.<\/p>\n
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The pair would love a real child of their own one day but for now the reborn dolls are preparing them for parenthood.<\/p>\n
Jess, a HR business partner, from Plaistow, East London, said: "I have always loved babies – there is something very calming about holding a baby.<\/p>\n
"We have had a few babies in my family – I have a goddaughter and that was always my favourite stage when someone had a baby – being able to hold a reborn is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jess explained that she finds holding them and caring for them incredibly therapeutic and calming.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/picture>MYSTIC MEG <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>HONEYMOON HELL <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>MUMFLUENCER <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>LE-GO-GO-GO <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s even helped her and her other half prepare for the possibility of having their own real child one day.\u00a0<\/p>\n She said: "My fianc\u00e9 had never changed a diaper or held a baby until I introduced him to reborns, and so I made him change one of them which definitely increased his confidence for changing and holding a real baby.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n And though she treats the dolls as if they\u2019re real, she said: "I also recognise that these are not real babies and I often leave them in places you definitely should not leave a real baby – like a table or sofa."<\/p>\n During the pandemic, Jess was anxious to leave the house in case she contracted Covid and taking her dolls for a walk around the local park helped get her outside.<\/p>\n Jess said: "I do take them out in the pram – just for walks around the local park.<\/p>\n "During the pandemic I became very, very anxious about leaving the house and so my fianc\u00e9 actually bought the pram for me to encourage me to go outside.<\/p>\n "It worked really well and after a few months, I was able to go outside on my own without the pram as well.<\/p>\n "I still take them out [in it] occasionally because it's really fun to push a pram around."<\/p>\n Jess says the pair would "love a baby in the future" but both recognise it is a huge responsibility and one they are not ready for just yet.<\/p>\n She said: "In a way, they are a placebo to help with baby fever. I do change them quite a lot.<\/p>\n "I find it a bonding experience which sounds strange to say.<\/p>\n "My favourite doll at the moment is called Aria – she is my newest.<\/p>\n "When I was scrolling through Facebook and saw her artist put the picture up, I thought she was a real baby.<\/p>\n "I often keep her in her car seat because that is where I think she looks the most realistic.<\/p>\n "I look at her and think she is real – this is another reason I keep her in her car seat because it looks like I have just brought her home from the hospital – she is gorgeous."<\/p>\n Jess said she has received mixed responses from her family and friends with some people not understanding what she loves about the dolls.<\/p>\n She said: "My mum, Nicky, 60, was very supportive, she has been lovely and even took us to a doll show.<\/p>\n "She is really interested in the art side and how they are made.<\/p>\n "My dad, Andrew, 55, thinks it is very bizarre and will tell me that, but he is also proud of me for doing something I enjoy and not being ashamed to talk about it.<\/p>\n "I have had it several times where I have taken them out for a walk and people have mistaken them for real babies.<\/p>\n "My reaction depends on whether I am in a hurry or not. If I am rushing and they compliment how cute they are I will say 'thank you'.<\/p>\n "But if I have more time I will explain how they are dolls and people are usually really interested."<\/p>\n Jess has turned her passion into a part-time money-maker and started creating and selling reborn dolls online to "give back" to the reborn community.<\/p>\n Jess said it roughly takes around three weeks, on and off, to create a doll and has earned \u00a32000 since she started four months ago.<\/p>\n She said: "I started making them four months ago, I have been thinking about it for a while.<\/p>\n "I wanted to see if I could create quite life-like ones – I got a kit where they send everything you need to make one doll.<\/p>\n "It was awful, but I had so much fun doing it, I stripped it and re-painted it.<\/p>\n "I did a giveaway of that doll – it was a nice way for me to give back to the community and give back to the people who can't afford these dolls.<\/p>\n "I wouldn't say my work is fantastic, but I have been practising a lot and I have made around 14 dolls so far and sold them for under \u00a3200 each."<\/p>\n Avery, said: "I love having the reborn babies around the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n "They have helped me learn how to hold a real baby and change their nappies.<\/p>\n "We would both love a child of our own in the future but for now these dolls help us prepare for parenthood."<\/p>\nIn love, being together can mean very different things to two people<\/h3>\n
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