‘I was told all I’d ever have was my £60K toys...but now I’ve got a living doll’
‘INFERTILE’ VICTORIA STUNNED BY PREGNANCY
THE life-like dolls known as “reborns” begin life as a regular toy doll, but then are painstakingly transformed by an artist to resemble a real, human infant.
The process takes hours, and involves adding multiple layers of paint to a regular, vinyl doll so it can cost thousands of pounds. The hobby of creating reborns began around 1939 when collectors started to demand more realistic dolls.
Because of their realism, reborn dolls have occasionally been mistaken for real babies and “rescued” from parked cars after being reported to the police by passers-by.
A WOMAN who spent £60,000 on ultra-lifelike dolls after being told she would never have children has given birth to a baby of her own.
Victoria Andrews was shocked to learn she was pregnant after doctors told her she was infertile.
The 26-year-old was overjoyed to give birth to baby Tobias – Toby for short – in May.
But although she had to sell half of her collection to buy things for her real baby, Toby still has 40 doll brothers and sisters.
He even has a “twin” – an identical version of a sleeping newborn Toby.
Victoria, from Newbury, Berks, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I found out I was pregnant.
“Obviously I love babies. I just thought I would only ever have the doll variety.
“I was smitten with Toby right away. He’s got my eyes and my ‘bum’ chin. I haven’t even picked up a doll since he was born.”
Victoria learned she was pregnant only after going to the doctor after suffering for weeks with what she thought was a stomach ulcer.
She said: “My blood tests came back. The doctor talked to me for a few minutes and then said, ‘Congratulations by the way, you’re at least seven weeks pregnant’. It was only when I saw his tiny body that I started to celebrate. I was so happy.”
Victoria, who has split up with Toby’s dad, had to offload some dolls to help make ends meet.
She made nearly £10,000 selling about 40 dolls – called “reborns” – and spent the money on a cot, pram and other necessities for Toby. At its peak there were more than 100 dolls in her collection.
Victoria bought and sold some dolls to upgrade to better versions and reckons she has spent around £60,000 on the hobby.
Now, with a real baby, she no longer has time to pay attention to the 40 she still has left.
Victoria said: “Some of the ladies in the doll community take their collections seriously. They feed and bathe their dolls and put them into pyjamas at night. I mostly keep mine on a shelf.
“Sometimes, before I had Toby, I would pick them up for a cuddle if I was feeling down. It’s really soothing.
“But now I’ve got him I don’t need to do that. I don’t have time. I haven’t even picked one up since Toby came along.
“I’ve kept my favourites though. Some of the best ones I paid £1,500 for.”
Her new favourite is an exact replica of newborn Toby made by her friend.
He sits proudly on her shelf in the first outfit the real Toby wore after he arrived in the world.
She said: “The likeness is incredible. She even made the doll – who I’ve also called Tobias – to weigh exactly 7lb 2oz, the same as the real Toby did when he was born.”