Information on reborn dolls in therapy was requested by a
free-lance writer from Chicago.
If she writes anything from it, I hope to hear about it and show it
here. This was the email I wrote to her:
"Reborn dolls could be used in
several different
types of therapy:
Cuddle
therapy: Memorial dolls are a great help for those who have lost young
children or unable to have children, to relieve the empty-arm pain and
be able to grieve. Reborns are good companions for the lonely elderly,
who are in nursing homes and unable to have close contact with others
very often and also unable to have pets. Babies are also excellent for
stress-relief, just as animals are. There is something about holding a
baby that just drains the day's stress away and relaxes you. Reborn
dolls can be used in the health-care field because they look and feel
so much like real babies. Here is an article telling more about that -
http://ezinearticles.com/?Alzheimer-Patients-and-Reborn-Dolls&id=2777224
Speech
and Physical therapy: Reborn babies can be used for speech and physical
therapy, especially for children and/or special-needs individuals. Most
children are fascinated by babies and would be encouraged to enjoy
therapy if they were discussing a reborn or caring for them. Again,
reborns would be more likely to have a higher success rate (than play
dolls) because they look and feel like real babies.
Parenting
therapy: Reborns could be used for parenting therapy, to teach
soon-to-be parents or new parents how to care for a newborn baby. My
reborns are weighted and a little floppy, like a real newborn, and
their heads are weighted and need support, so they would be excellent
for teaching how to hold, dress, and care for a baby. They could also
be used for parenting education in schools."
