Reborn dolls: Who collects these hyper-realistic baby dolls? Is it healthy? What reborn 'moms' and experts say about the world of reborn baby dolls.

In the late 1990s, the story goes, a British woman disassembled a store-bought baby doll and painted veining and a birthmark to make the doll look human, giving birth to the Reborn craze.

Now in its second year — but already one of the largest conventions of its kind in the world — the R.O.S.E. International Doll Show will shine a light on the lifelike world of reborn baby dolls.

A growing craze for ultra-realistic "reborn dolls" is sweeping Brazil, with influencers posting emotional, lifelike scenarios ...

A pre-manufactured reborn doll starts at around $50, Trigg says, while a hand-sculpted original finished silicone doll can cost upwards of $5,000 or even $10,000, depending on the artist.

A hyper-realistic reborn baby dolls for sale lie in an incubator at a store in Campinas, Brazil, May 24. [AP/YONHAP] With the rising controversy, safety concerns are increasing.

Not all reborn doll owners are grieving a loss; some collect for fun. Jess Ellis of London, who owns 11 dolls, started collecting at the start of the pandemic.