Silicone, vinyl or cloth body: which reborn is right for you?
· Dollnest nursery, Bristol
How the three body types differ in feel, weight, price and upkeep, so you can pick the one you will actually enjoy holding.
Nearly every reborn baby is built in one of three ways. They look similar in photographs and feel completely different in your arms.
Full silicone
Made entirely from platinum silicone, so the whole baby is soft and squishy.
- Feel: floppy and yielding everywhere, including the body
- Weight: usually 5–7 lbs, like a real newborn
- Best for: collectors and adults who want the most lifelike hold
- Upkeep: wipe clean, keep away from dark fabrics and direct sun — silicone care
- Price here: from around £195
Vinyl limbs with a cloth body
The head and limbs are vinyl; the body is fabric, lightly filled.
- Feel: light and huggable, easy to dress
- Weight: around 2 lbs unless weighted
- Best for: a first reborn, gifts, and gentle play for ages 3+
- Upkeep: wipe the vinyl, spot-clean the fabric — vinyl and cloth care
- Price here: from around £45
Weighted cloth body
The same construction, with beads added through the body and limbs.
- Feel: soft to cuddle, with a newborn's heft
- Weight: around 5 lbs
- Best for: people who want the weight without the silicone price
- Price here: from around £90
Which should you choose?
- Want the most realistic hold, and the baby is for an adult? Full silicone.
- Buying for a child over three, or want something light to carry? Cloth body.
- Want the weight to feel right but the body to stay soft and dressable? Weighted.
A note on photographs
Body type is hard to judge from a picture, so every listing states it plainly, along with length and weight. If a shop will not tell you what a baby is made of, treat that as an answer.
Ready to compare in the flesh? Browse all our babies, or read how to choose your first.