Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

beloved

Do Reborn Babies Reveal Our Longing for the Baby Jesus?

Last updated on: December 24, 2025 at 8:47 am   by Jocelyn Soriano

Do Reborn Babies Reveal Our Longing for the Baby Jesus? 2025-11-14T17:01:35+08:00 Jocelyn Soriano

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Do Reborn Babies Reveal Our Longing for the Baby Jesus

Image from Canva Pro

When I first heard about reborn babies, I thought they were real infants who had been changed in one way or another. Little did I know that they refer to hyper-realistic dolls meticulously crafted to be so lifelike that they resemble human babies.

If you search for “reborn babies” on social media, you will find various accounts showing their many uses. In addition to therapeutic purposes, they are collected as artistic items, sold as DIY kits for hobbyists and treated as objects of one’s affection.

It’s fascinating how a mere doll can be lavished with so much attention and care as though it were a true person!

Meanwhile, this trend has now entered even the realm of therapy, where reborn dolls are used by the grieving, those with anxiety and even people with dementia.

Here are some of the possible therapeutic uses of reborn dolls:

1. Coping with grief

For those coping with the loss of their child, reborn dolls are used as a temporary means to alleviate the pain and sudden emptiness they feel.

2. Calming anxiety

Reborn dolls seem to imitate the effect of real babies, having a calming effect to those who hold them. They help release some hormones that soothe and comfort the anxious person.

3. Fulfilling one’s nurturing instincts

For mothers who cannot have children or even for single women who feel a yearning to give a child one’s maternal care, reborn dolls were thought to be an outlet for expression of these instincts.

4. Filling in for children who have grown up

It is said that these dolls can also be used by those who are feeling the “empty nest syndrome”. They serve as reminders for parents whose children have already grown up and moved away from home.

Risks and Considerations

Despite the hope that these reborn dolls can assist those who are experiencing emotional difficulties, there is no assurance that they can benefit those who need assistance.

Moreover, there is also the risk of misuse or the eventual overdependence on them, taking away one’s capacity for true recovery.

In cases of grief, there is concern that the grieving process may only be delayed, and instead of helping one to move on gradually, the doll may be used as a more permanent substitute for the departed child.

Our Deep Emotional Needs

The human heart can be wounded so deeply that we need all the help we can possibly get to lessen our pain. Sometimes, we can cling on to the nearest assistance we can see, hoping that it could eventually be the way for us to be healed.

Our hearts are also filled with desires for connection, comfort and affection. We want to love and to be loved. There is something missing inside of us once that connection is lost or when our capacity to keep the love flowing is stopped.

To address such things, we use the tools we see, especially those recommended by the people around us.

Somewhere along the way, however, we may need to ask ourselves:

“Are these tools working?”

“Will this benefit me in the long run?”

“Is there another way of doing this?”

The Invitation of the Child Jesus

This is where we can try to listen to the One who once came upon this world as a little child. One Christmas morn, the Virgin Mary gave birth to a unique infant whose name is Emmanuel.

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, became a true human being like us to save us and to invite us to the fullness of life.

He could have come in the fullness of His power and glory, but He chose to come to us as a baby, vulnerable and meek.

In Him, we can pour out all the affection in our hearts. Through Him, we can find the healing and fulfillment we have been searching for.

He is a real Person. You can talk to Him and love Him and be loved in return.

He even became a baby so you can carry Him upon your arms.

Today, He still reaches out to those who grieve, those who feel empty, those who have a lonely and broken heart.

Bethlehem is still within your reach. The star of faith is pointing the way. Would you give the baby Jesus a chance to dwell upon your heart?

“For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us… and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 DRA

“Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 (NABRE)

You may also want to read “The 7 Ways God Can Heal You and Your Loved Ones”


Jocelyn Soriano is the author of Mend My Broken Heart, Defending My Catholic Faith and 366 Days of Compassion.

Get the book from Amazon.

See Jocelyn’s books from other digital stores.

General Christian

Women in Religion

Christmas

Healing

grief

healing

Jesus

love

relationships

About Jocelyn Soriano

Jocelyn Soriano is an author, poet, and book reviewer. She is an introvert who enjoys a cup of coffee and listening to the cello ****** while working.

She wrote the books To Love an Invisible God, Defending My Catholic Faith and Mend My Broken Heart. She also wrote books on poetry including Poems of Love and Letting Go and Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief. She has published more than 15 books and developed her own Android applications including God’s Promises and Catholic Answers and Apologetics.

She writes about relationships and common questions about God and the Catholic faith at Single Catholic Writer. She is currently single and happy and she would like everyone to know how happy we can be by drawing close to the love of God!

You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post



December 17, 2025

Why Some People Refuse To Believe in Forever

Next Post



December 31, 2025 A New Year, A New Direction In Life


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christmas Church Issue Divine Mercy End Times Grief Healing Heaven Joy Miracles Movie Review Movies New Age Prayer Questions to God Relationships Single Life Spiritual Growth Technology Virgin Mary Wealth Management

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023


Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many chapters are in Proverbs?

Select your answer to see how you score.

40 50 28 31

Books by This Author Books by Beloved

See All Titles »

Related posts from Beloved

Family

6 Ways To Prevent Resentment From Breaking Our...

Beloved

Family

Is Forgiveness Unfair? Why Gratitude May Be the...

Beloved

Family

Why Did Jesus Call the Canaanite Woman a...

Beloved

Family

Why We Need The Silence In Between

Beloved

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Catholic

The Sermon on the Mount, Part I: Matthew...

The Sermon on the Mount, Part I (Matthew 4:12-5:12) St. Matthew moves...

What's up from Crossway

What's up from Crossway: Reviewing some of their latest A few weeks...

Janie Learns the Way of the Cross: A...

Teaching children about Jesus' Passion can be challenging. Many parents and educators...

Looking For Good Catholic Writing - October 2026

He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of...

Luther on Tools

In "Irreplaceable," our book on vocation and technology, Trevor Sutton and I...

The British Museum-- Part Two

I was strolling through the top floor of the brand new Parthenon...

view all Catholic blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube