Reborn Doll Accessories and Supplies

The right accessories make a reborn feel like a real baby. A dummy, a bottle, a soft blanket and a cosy Moses basket complete the look, while reborn artists need paints, mohair, eyes and cloth bodies to create their babies. This guide covers the most popular accessories for collectors and the supplies you need to make or restore a reborn.

Accessories for Your Reborn

Dummies

Dummies, also called pacifiers or soothers, are one of the most popular reborn accessories. There are two main types:

• Magnetic dummies have a magnet on the back that holds them in the mouth. They only work if the doll has a magnet fitted inside its head, which many ready-made reborns do.
• Standard dummies have no magnet. They can rest against the mouth or clip onto an outfit with a dummy clip.

Real newborn and 0+ dummies fit most newborn-sized reborns, and many owners prefer them to toy versions.

Bottles

Reborn bottles are sealed and filled with fake milk or juice, so they never leak onto the doll. Some are made so the milk appears to drain away as you tip the bottle, which makes feeding time look real. Ordinary baby bottles work too, as long as they stay empty.

Nursery Furniture

A reborn needs somewhere to sleep. Moses baskets, cribs, bassinets and bouncers made for real babies suit newborn-sized dolls, while doll-sized versions are better for smaller reborns. Handmade baskets and bedding are also widely sold on eBay and Etsy.

Prams, Carriers and Car Seats

Toy prams are fine for smaller reborns, but a 20 to 22 inch doll often looks most natural in a real pram or pushchair. Baby carriers and slings are popular for outings, and some collectors use a real car seat for trips out.

Nappies, Bibs and Blankets

Real premature or newborn nappies help clothes sit properly, and bibs, muslins, swaddle blankets and dummy clips complete the outfit. Wash anything new before it touches the doll, as dark dyes can stain vinyl. Our reborn doll clothes guide covers sizing and stain prevention in more detail.

Keepsakes

Many reborns arrive with a birth certificate or adoption papers. You can add personalised extras such as a name blanket or a hospital-style ID bracelet for photos.

Heartbeat and Breathing Devices

Battery-powered devices can give a reborn a gentle heartbeat or a rising chest, and voice boxes can add coos or cries. Most fit inside the cloth body, so check the size suits your doll and remember they add a little weight.

Reborning Supplies

If you are making your own reborn or restoring one, these are the main supplies you will need. Our reborn doll kits guide explains the full process step by step.

Paints

• Heat-set paints are cured with heat between layers. Genesis is the best-known brand and is still sold by reborn supply shops. Bountiful Baby also sells its own Gemini heat-set paints, which it describes as compatible with Genesis.
• Air-dry paints are water-based reborn paints that dry without an oven, which suits beginners and anyone without a spare oven.
• Matt varnish seals the finished paintwork on some paint systems and takes away any shine.

Ordinary craft acrylics are not made for soft vinyl and can rub off, so use paints made for reborning.

Hair and Eyes

Mohair gives the most realistic hair. It is rooted into the scalp a few strands at a time with a rooting needle, then secured with glue from inside the head. Wigs are a quicker option. Replacement eyes come in glass or acrylic and are sized in millimetres, so check the size your kit needs.

Bodies and Weighting

• Cloth bodies in sizes to match your kit, with 3/4 or full limb openings
• Glass beads in small bags to give the doll a realistic weight
• Polyester filling to keep the body soft and cuddly
• Cable ties to attach the head and limbs to the body

Magnets

Small magnets can be glued inside the head to hold a dummy or a hair bow. Cover the magnet on a dummy with a little soft fabric so it doesn’t scratch the painted lips.

Caring for Your Reborn

• Clean gently. Wipe the vinyl with a slightly damp cloth and never scrub, as this can remove the paint.
• Keep the body dry. Blot marks on the cloth body instead of soaking it, so the stuffing doesn’t get damp.
• Don’t wash mohair. Pat it into place with your fingertips. A soft brush is fine for synthetic wigs.
• Avoid sun and heat. Direct sunlight, radiators, conservatories and hot cars can fade or damage vinyl.
• Store magnets carefully. Keep magnetic parts away from young children and pets, and away from electronics.