Strollerderby

Creepy!

sad =(

Wow, reading the part about Alzheimer's patients, it makes sense, if not heartbreaking. Having several relatives, past and present, afflicted with it, I can totally see how those baby dolls could lift their spirits.

However, I couldn't imagine a parent who lost their baby to want something so lifelike. THAT'S creepy.

If people are using these dolls to sub for a child who died, that seems really unhealthy to me.

OK - here's my blunt opinion.  When my son died in infancy, many people (friends/coworkers... even family) had no idea how to "handle" me.  I had two older kids already but obviously losing a baby was new territory.  Honest to god, what I found incredibly comforting after a month of seriously horrific grief was to hold babies - healthy infants belonging to friends/cousins/neighbors.  I can't speak for other bereaved parents, but I wonder if people who find comfort in these life-like dolls really need a good dose of a real, live human baby.  But here's a catch - Not everyone will give you access to their baby... even supposed friends.  My neighbor's husband did not trust me with his newborn baby because he thought I would either steal or harm the baby out of jealousy or bitterness.  So.  That hurt - it cut through me like a knife.  His wife finally explained that to me one day when I asked her why she snuck me the baby to hold when I was visiting and grabbed him back when she heard the garage door.  Wow.  It's been four years since that incident and we are better, but I certainly learned something unsavory about the husband that is tucked into my memory.  Anyway, lots of people were leery of me and my grief for a long time, which I understand, but I encouraged my friends to bring their babies around because it was genuinely comforting.  

BBBGMOM - First off, I'm sorry for your loss.  I'm sure it still hurts to this day.

Secondly, thank you so much for offering your personal story and giving insight on this.  I would probably be like one of your friends who wouldn't know how to "handle" you.  I would be worried bringing a new born around would be rude or an "in your face" reminder of your loss.

I think you're little blurb taught me a lesson.  Just coming right out and asking the greiving parent how they feel and thier comfort level - is what we need to do.

As for the dolls, yes, they are creepy and seems to be a replacement for the "real thing."

From one who has lost a baby mid-term (approx. 24 weeks) I put this in the "creepy" column. A doll could never have made me feel better. Grief needs to work itself out in a painful, systematic process. I am thankful I was able to have a full-term baby after that, but for those who cannot I feel badly..but rocking a "semi-baby" just reeks of minor-key music, horror-flick fodder to me.  

love the scientific phrase: "feel-good hormone". does she think that the women buying these dolls don't know enough to understand oxytocin?

i admit the dolls themselves are creepy, but i dont think you should be judging the women who buy them to help with their grieving. different people grieve in different ways. They aren't hurting anyone. Of course they need to see someone and talk about it like anyone whos lost a child, but maybe this helps. i'm all for mamas feeling better anyway they can (as long as its not hurting anyone).

I have reborn a few baby in the last few year, and I have had alot of people say that it is creepy! But last year I gave one of my babies to an friend who was never bless with a baby of her own, now living in an retired commuinty,with alot of her friend They all fell in love with this baby doll called "Ruthie" (after her mother)! Alot just come to look and  some come just for comfort!

Holding this doll that look so real and fell so real!  Creepy...maybe! But it made me fell very good inside to know this gave so much happness to so many in just giving this gift to an friend!