Typical cost involved to make a reborn baby.

I decide to comprise a list of the most typical items needed to create a reborn doll and their cost so that customers can understand what is involved and why they are priced the amount they are. I hope you find this information useful.

Vinyl Doll Kit: $69.99 - $130

Price can vary depending on the size of baby but generally kits fall into two major categories which determine price and that is whether they are a Limited Edition or Unlimited Edition. Another variable would be the size. Generally, a toddler kit would be priced higher and a preemie kit would be lower but this is not a definitive rule. Finally, price may be determined by the popularity of the artist that originally sculpted the baby that the kit was reproduced from.

Mohair: $25 - $35 per 1/2 oz.

I generally use mohair from the same supplier. It is ultra premium mohair. I am quite picky and will only use mohair that closest resembles that of a baby the age I am trying to create. The amount of mohair needed for a reborn depends on the size of head being rooted and the amount of hair preferred. For a newborn size baby that is lightly rooted it will take approximately 1/4 oz. of mohair. A newborn size baby with a full head of hair will take about 1/3 oz.

For toddlers I tend to encourage the use of a wig. The amount of time involved to root such a large head is substantial. The cost of wigs for this size are typically around $25.

Cloth Body: $15.00 - $25

This is for a premium made doe suede fabric body. Some kits will come with a body included.

Stuffing and Weighting Material: $5.00

I use quality poly fill stuffing. Part of the realism of a reborn is the way it feels like a baby when you cradle it. This is achieved by adding weight inside the body in appropriate places. I use glass bead for this. Glass bead is fine granules of glass that closely resembles sugar.

Eyes: $35.00

I tend to prefer and recommend the glass eyes. They are far superior in quality and realism. Less expensive acrylic eyes are available for around $15.

Paint and related material: $5.00 - $7.00

This would be dependant on the size of doll kit and how many coats of paint needed to achieve a realistic skin tone over the vinyl colour.

The colour of vinyl can affect the outcome of the painting since the paints are translucent. Some kits are very pinky/purple and some are more peachy; some are light and some are dark.

Incidentals: $10

There are other minor items used such as false eyelashes for open-eyed babies ($2-$5), felt for sealing limbs, gloss varnish for lips and nails, glue for sealing hair and limbs, and cable ties for attaching limbs to body. I'm sure there are probably other small items I'm missing.

Clothing (layette): $45

This is probably underestimated. Each baby's clothing is chosen specifically for him/her to best compliment their colouring. The layette usually includes an outfit, socks, and undershirt. They also come home wrapped in a co-ordinating blanket. Other items included may be a bonnet, hair accessory, shoes or slippers, or a night gown.

Last but not least....  My time.

The balance of cost would be for my time as an artist. This is determined by the time and detail put into each baby. For custom ordered reborns I consider the time I believe it will take to do the size of doll ordered. My time is valuable and my talent is deserving of a fair value.

As you can see, the cost just for supplies can add up very quickly. I hope this has been helpful in explaining the price of reborns.