Jess Ellis, a mother of 13 toy babies, enjoys sharing her life and hobby with her TikTok followers. While some people may find her passion for collecting and caring for reborn dolls excessive, Jess and her partner believe that it helps prepare them for real parenthood. The collection, costing a substantial $7.5K, is not just a hobby for Jess but offers numerous benefits, according to her.
In May 2020, feeling lonely, Jess started her collection with her first doll, Rebecca, a one-month-old girl, purchased for about $300. This marked the beginning of her love for reborn dolls.
Subsequently, she expanded her collection with dolls of various ages, spending a significant amount on her most expensive doll, Cookie, a premature baby girl, which cost over $2K.
Avery Raassen, Jess’s fiancé, a 33-year-old pastry chef, actively supports her hobby and helps care for the 13 dolls. He assists in dressing them up and changing diapers, having quickly learned these skills through interaction with the dolls.
Jess acknowledges that the dolls are not real babies and sometimes treats them in ways one wouldn’t with a real baby, such as leaving them on tables or sofas.
Despite this, she values her unique collection and has turned her hobby into a part-time business, making and selling reborn dolls online for the past four months.
While Jess and her partner dream of having a baby someday, they recognize the responsibilities of parenthood and feel unprepared at the moment. For Jess, the reborn dolls serve as a substitute for her maternal instincts. The couple enjoys taking their lifelike dolls out for walks, dates, or grocery runs, using prams or carriers just as they would with a real baby.
Jess also shares her experiences of walking with her realistic dolls, sometimes attracting attention from people who mistake them for real babies.
She takes the opportunity to explain that they are dolls and enjoys engaging with curious and friendly individuals.
Turning to expert opinions, psychiatrists and researchers suggest that caring for reborn dolls can have various psychological benefits, including potentially triggering feelings similar to those experienced with real babies. Dr. Raj Persaud speculates on the oxytocin release in “reborn mothers,” while Dr. Gail Saltz supports the use of reborn dolls for emotional processing, particularly for those not ready for parenthood or grieving the loss of a child. Dr. Ian James notes the calming effect of holding reborn dolls, particularly for older individuals.
In the realm of motherhood, the text shifts to mention Ashley Graham, who candidly shares her experiences as a mom, earning praise from her fans for her honesty.