How to Properly Store and Protect Your Reborn Dolls
- therebornhub
- Sep 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 6
Introduction
I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just received my new reborn and set him down, propped up on the couch. I stepped away for a moment, I saw him fall forward and tumble onto the floor. My heart sank. I ran over and grabbed him up, worried. Did I harm his vinyl? Did I scratch him or rub his paint off?
To most people, this may seem silly. They may see reborns as “just dolls,” but to collectors, every bump or fall feels like a blow to the heart. These aren’t just dolls to us, they’re delicately crafted works of art, and hold deep emotional significance.
Fortunately, my baby was not harmed that day, but it reminded me of something important. Storing and protecting reborns is essential, it’s not optional. These babies represent artists time and skill, but also the healing, the comfort, the joy, and the warmth they bring to collectors. Protecting them is like protecting a piece of our own heart.
In this blog, I’d like to discuss the best ways to store and display your reborn dolls, from protecting them from environmental hazards, to displaying them in safe, beautiful display set ups.
Why Proper Storage Matters
Reborns are extra special because they are both art and comfort. Artists spend dozens of hours painting every detail. Every layer, every crease, every fingernail, and every hair piece rooted strand by strand takes dedication to create these lifelike dolls. Each reborn represents the artist’s craft but also holds the collectors’ memories.
Whether they’re collected for their art, or their healing capabilities, whether they bring joy as a hobby, or serve as companions, their value is much more than the price tag. Proper storage is about so much more than keeping them in pristine condition. It’s about admiring the art and holding close what matters to you.
Keep Them in a Cool, Dry Place
The environment you keep your reborns in is one of the most important aspects when it comes to keeping them in the best condition. Both vinyl and silicone are easily affected by temperatures and humidity.
*Avoid heat. By leaving a reborn in a hot car or neat a heater, you risk the vinyl wrapping or melting. Silicone can also be damaged, becoming sticky.
*Avoid humidity. Damp or humid spaces can make your reborn stick and collect dust or mold.
*Avoid extreme cold. Freezing conditions can cause reborns to become brittle and possibly crack.
The best way to keep them safe is storing them in a cool, dry place. Like any other delicate piece of art, you want to keep them in an area that will protect the work put in.
Keep Them on Safe Display
Countless collectors love to display their babies in their home, and there are many safe and wonderful ways to do this:
*Cribs and bassinets can be a perfect and simple way to safely present reborns.
*Display cases offer the most protection against dust.
*Shelves and bookcases are great for collectors with limited space.
*Baby hammocks can look precious and realistic.
Tip: Make sure all your pieces of furniture are secure or safely fastened to prevent any accidents occurring. Avoid high traffic areas as well. You don’t want their sleeping spot to get bumped or knocked over.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love.
Protect Their Hair with Satin or Plastic Wrap
For reborns with rooted hair, their hair needs to be always protected. Some textures can cause friction which can cause matting, frizz, or breakage. Here are some ways to prevent that from happening:
*Satin or silk under their heads can keep their rooted hair smooth and free of tangles. You can even buy a satin pillowcase and cut it up into squares to sit under their head.
*Plastic wrap is a budget friendly option that keeps the baby’s hair nice while they’re resting.
*Companies like Silk Shield make specialized bonnets. The inside of these bonnets is lined with silk, specifically made for reborns, which can provide both protection and style.
This extra step is simple and can really extend the quality if their hair life.
Keep Them Away from Pets and Small Children
Possibly one of the hardest rules for many collectors, but this step is very important.
*Cats may claw (or biscuit) the vinyl, chew on their fingers, or mess with their delicately rooted hair.
*Dogs may chew on reborns or even see them as toys, and the damage can be irreversible.
*Little kiddos may not understand how delicate reborns are and may drag them around or bump them into things.
You can absolutely share your hobby with loved ones! Supervise children and teach them how to handle reborns and appreciate their art. Even train pets to leave them alone. But when it comes to their safety, it’s best to store them away so accidents don’t happen.
If You Put Them Away, Package Them Properly
There may come a time when you need to store your reborns away for a season. It may be due to travel, the need for more space, or you want to rotate your collection. Whatever the reason, packaging them properly makes all the difference.
*Protect your reborns hair by wrapping it in plastic wrap to avoid friction or tangling.
*Wrap up your baby using a soft blanket to cushion the material and prevent scratches.
*Use a moisture free, airtight bin to protect against dust, pests, or humidity.
*Store the bins in a cool dark area to avoid sunlight and fading of the paint.
You want your baby to come out of storage as beautiful as when you put them away, just like you’d store a wedding dress or an heirloom away.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love.
Balancing Protection with Enjoyment
While it’s important to keep your reborns protected, it’s also important not to let fear keep you from enjoying them. Collecting reborns is about comfort, healing, connection, and joy. Constant stress can take away from the experience. There needs to be balance.
Here are some ways you can balance protection with joy:
*Set boundaries. Having a place to handle and cuddle your reborns, and places to safely store them can make all the difference.
*Use props. The use of car seats or bassinets can give you the option to interact with your reborns while also keeping them safe.
*Rotate displays. If you have many dolls, keep two or so out at a time while storing the rest away safely. This way things exciting and the dolls are always fresh.
The Collector’s Heart
Reborn collectors alike understand something unique. These dolls are just dolls. They’re the artists soul. They’re hours spent bringing vinyl and silicone to life, one paint layer at a time. They’re part of our own stories. They’re moments of comfort, healing, and simple appreciation of the art.
Protecting our reborns is not just about preserving materials. It’s about honoring the art. It’s protecting memories tied to them. It’s keeping safe the comfort they bring when life is too much to handle.
So whether your babies are displayed proudly in on a shelf, whether they’re safely tucked away in a crib, or carefully stored in a cool, dry bin, remember: every step you take to protect your reborn is a way of stating, “this matters to me.”
Final Thoughts
Collectors know the drop-of-the-stomach moment of a bump, scratch, or careless accident. But we also understand the relief of knowing our babies are safe, secure, and as new as the day they came to us.
Reborn dolls are more than just a hobby. They’re a mix of artistry and emotion, a blend of creativity and comfort. By taking steps to keep them safe, we show the same respect for them as we would any valuable piece of art or any treasured piece of our own hearts.
Protect them, respect them, and most of all, enjoy them. At the end of the day, this is what collecting is all about.
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