👶 Dolly folly

Once a small niche community, collectors of hyperrealistic baby dolls have been thrust into the eye of a viral storm in Brazil, creating moral panic among conservatives.

Author

Letícia Arcoverde
June 01, 2025

DOLLS

Reborn baby dolls spark political firestorm

“Reborn baby” dolls often fall into the so-called Uncanny Valley — a phenomenon where humans experience an eerie or unsettling feeling when confronted with something that is almost, but not quite, human-like. Photo: Davai Photography/Shutterstock

“Reborn baby” dolls often fall into the so-called Uncanny Valley — a phenomenon where humans experience an eerie or unsettling feeling when confronted with something that is almost, but not quite, human-like. Photo: Davai Photography/Shutterstock

Over the past month, at least 25 Brazilian lawmakers, both federal and state-level, have introduced legislation on an unlikely subject: hyperrealistic baby dolls.

Known as “reborn babies,” these vinyl dolls are made to closely resemble human infants and have quietly fostered a niche following in Brazil over the past decade. As well as being children’s toys, they are also prized by collectors, largely women, who engage in elaborate roleplay as caregivers and often refer to themselves as “reborn mothers.”

The dolls are not a new phenomenon, neither are they a Brazilian invention. But what had been a small, tight-knit community recently exploded into the national zeitgeist — the result of viral videos, meme culture and, increasingly, political scrutiny. On average, the term “bebê reborn” was mentioned over 22,500 times a day on Brazilian social media between April 21 and May 29, according to data from digital consultancy Arquimedes — a surge the firm categorizes as “considerably high” for such a niche topic.

The online fascination blended humor and bewilderment. Posts ranged from surreal memes mocking the trend to videos empathizing with collectors. Others spread false or exaggerated accounts of people attempting to access public services on behalf of their dolls — which, in turn, prompted a flurry of proposed legislation.

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