Silicone vs. Vinyl Baby Dolls
- Cost
Silicone-reborn babies are more costly, However, vinyl dolls might be the more expensive ones. Realism is important as people look to buy those that resemble real children. Given that vinyl is much better for applying paint, it allows artists to make reborn vinyl dolls more realistic. Silicone babies will not have much fewer details on them. But that doesn’t mean that silicone babies cannot look real as there are some magnificent pieces out there that will be VERY expensive. silicone babies can’t withstand pressure. Vinyl kits can take more during the molding and pouring process - Mobility
Silicone dolls are squishy and can easily bend. In that sense, silicone babies are more realistic as their movement resembles that of a real child. Nevertheless, silicone babies have various levels of durability so this is something you might want to keep an eye on when purchasing them. Their limbs can bend in any way you want; silicone is very similar to jelly. On the other hand, vinyl reborns also have some flexibility but it cannot compare to that of silicone dolls. Because of all that, silicone baby dolls are really cuddly and resemble a real child when you hold them. T - Maintenance
In terms of maintenance, vinyl dolls have a distinct advantage. All you have to do is wipe your baby, take cotton buds and perform some basic cleaning routine. They are low maintenance, but, silicone babies do require powdering as they tend to get sticky. You would have to do that at least once a week. They are also very susceptible to tears, , hair can also be a problem because there is no way to seal its hair, you will have to be careful no pull it out. Joints and fingers are other points of concern as they tend to be very fragile. To top it all off, paint on silicone babies can easily peel if you’re not careful.
| Silicone Dolls | Vinyl Dolls |
| Squishy, Jiggly, Soft | Hard |
| Flexible/Bendable | Not Very Flexible |
| Full Silicone Body | Cloth Body |
| Able to be bathed/submerged in water | Cannot be bathed or submerged in water |
| Fragile (Easily Torn, Ripped, or Peeled) | More Durable |
| Can Open Mouth | Fixed Mouths/Do Not Open & Close |
| No Armatures (wire bits)/Non-Poseable | Use Armatures (wire bits)/Poseable |
| Rooted, Not Sealed Hair | Sealed Hair |
| More Expensive | Less Expensive |
Why silicone babies are not as popular as vinyl?
At the same time, silicone is not visually as realistic as vinyl. Maintenance is another reason why silicone babies may pose a problem for some people. They are much more fragile and because of that fact, they are not an ideal item for reborn parents who are careless.
Please note this is My personal opinion and other Reborners may not agree, It is a matter of choice
Regards
Melanie
