‘It brings back such sweet memories’

Some may simply display their dolls, while others will go as far as to parent them − changing their diapers and “feeding” them.

Knoppe enjoys taking her dolls out in public, driving them around in car seats.

“I don’t really say anything, but I’ve had people go ‘Oh, isn’t that a cute little doll?’ and I said ‘It’s actually a doll,’ ” she said.

She uses it as an opportunity to educate

people on the benefits the dolls bring.

“I’ve had (people) tear up in the middle of the store, because it brings back such sweet memories for them,” she said. “And when I explain how and why I have them and how they’re used, well, it’s hard to argue against something that’s a therapy tool that helps people.”

Most of her babies have their eyes closed, but some have their eyes open.

“Open-eye babies can kind of sometimes freak people out,” Knoppe said.

‘ To each their own’

Knoppe’s actual children and husband support her hobby because they’ve seen how much it’s helped her. Of course, not everyone supports the doll habit, particularly on social media. Some go out of their way to hide the habit in the first place.

“There are quite a few people in the doll community that are not accepted by their families or friends,” Beebe said. “They make up completely different social media profiles so nobody knows they have these dolls.”

Knoppe is open about her hobby. She picks a “baby of the day” to focus on and dress up in baby clothes; she has 28 of them and two more on the way. Her dolls vary in size, from a preemie that’s a few pounds to one about the size of a 6- or 9-month-old that’s 121⁄ pounds. Some days, she’ll want a

2 heavier one to help with her anxiety, similar to a weighted blanket.

To any naysayers, Knoppe said nobody puts baby in a corner.

“It’s to each their own,” she said. “You can have whatever opinion you want. It doesn’t change the fact that if it’s a benefit to you, and it’s something that you enjoy, don’t let somebody else rain on your parade.”