Becoming a mother is a huge turning point for any woman. Instead of always worrying about yourself, you'll have to think about your son or daughter that you brought into this world. In essence, giving birth is arguably the most self-less act you can do, which is why it's such a big deal. If you're expecting your first newborn sometime in the near future, you should consider using a reborn doll to help prepare for this life-changing scenario. It's a fun and rewarding way to get a feel for that motherhood is going to be like. Best of all, you'll probably enjoy the time spend dressing and taking care of your reborn.

Expecting Mom

Before we start, it's important to note that no doll, movie, instructional booklet or anything else is going to show you exactly what being a mother is like. The fact is that all babies have their own unique characteristics and traits, and there's no way to tell what your baby is going to be like until they are born. Some babies are naturally calm and will sleep sound at night, while others will put up a fuss and force you stay up with at night. With that said, using a reborn doll can still help prepare you for certain areas and aspects of motherhood; here's how:

Why Reborns Make Great Motherhood Preparation Tools:

• Look almost identical to actual newborn babies.
• When created by a skilled artists, a reborn doll will be weighed down with beads or pellets to give them a realistic feel.
• Reborns are the perfect size for dressing up in actual baby clothes.
• You can practice placing diapers on and off a reborn. Trust me, this is something that's going to happen a lot once you're a mother.
• Some reborn dolls even cry, which is an even greater element of realism that shows you what motherhood is like.

Treating Your Reborn Like an Actual Baby

If you intend on using a reborn to prepare yourself for motherhood, you first must get into the mentality that they are no longer a doll toy but an actual baby instead. This means you can no longer toss it around on the bed or couch, as you this would likely hurt a newborn baby. Any time you pick them up, do so gently and keep one have behind their head for support. A lot of new mothers seem to forget the importance of holding their baby they correct way, which is both careless and dangerous. Not supporting a baby's neck and head can lead to serious injury, and that's something no mother wants to see happen. To prevent this, get into the habit of holding supporting your reborn's head and neck anytime you hold them.

Of course treating your reborn like an actual baby also means that you'll need to give it plenty of love and attention. After all, you wouldn't want to leave a baby unattended for a long period of time, would you? If you're serious about preparing for motherhood, you'll want to pick your reborn up to cradle and rock them once in a while. It may feel a little silly at first, but this is an integral part of being a mother; therefore, it's a helpful training tool that places you a couple steps ahead in terms of preparation.

Swaddling and Dressing

Swaddling your reborn will also help you grow accustomed to how the blankets need to be wrapped up around your baby. Studies have shown that swaddling helps to reduce colic and crying in babies. When babies are wrapped in a cocoon-like shape, it mimics the feeling created from being in their mother's womb. As a result, they will feel relaxed, calm and will be less likely to cry. The correct way to swaddle a reborn, or newborn baby for that matter, is to place them directly over the top middle portion of a baby blanket, pull the right side of the blanket over the doll, pull the bottom portion up over the legs, and then pull the left side of the blanket back over them. Once you're done, they should be wrapped in cocoon shape with their head exposed. Just remember to not wrap them up so tight that they are constricted, as this can cause discomfort and even pain in some cases.

Dressing your reborn doll is yet another process that will help prepare you for the "real" thing. Start small with basic diapers and onesies, and then work your way up to shirts, pants and pajamas. If you're having trouble with any of their clothes, don't force them on, but instead try a different article of clothing. It's recommended that you dedicate a portion of your house for your reborn hobby. This will give you plenty of room to change their clothes, practice taking on and off diapers, etc. In addition, you can always use the same reborn clothes and supplies for your newborn once they are born.

Taking Your Reborn Out in Public

If you're really willing to go the extra mile with your motherhood preparations, you should start taking your reborn out in public. Whenever you're running errands or just going to pick up food, spend the extra time taking your reborn with you. Hopefully you've already got a car seat and stroller for your upcoming newborn, as these will work perfectly for a reborn as well. Don't worry about feeling embarrassed or shy about taking your reborn out in public, because most people won't even notice it's a doll. If they do in fact notice, just tell them it's a reborn and you're preparing to be a mother. Chances are they will congratulate you and wish you the best of luck with motherhood.

References:

http://www.babycenter.com/2_how-to-swaddle-a-baby_10347122.bc