Peterson explained that in creating "reborn babies," she uses a manufactured doll or kit designed to resemble a human infant. She also creates Realborn doll sculpts, which are based on 3D ...

Later on, she found comfort in taking care of the most recent reborn doll she purchased. It’s a boy, just like the baby boy she and her husband had dreamed of. “Obviously, I know he's not real ...

To some, the dolls, known as reborn dolls, provide comfort, escape or just plain fun. But politicians across Brazil have tried to pass bills banning the dolls from public spaces.

At the annual reborn doll gathering in São Paulo’s Villa Lobos Park, enthusiasts defended the practice, saying the dolls offer comfort. Critics, however, argue that political attention on the ...