BABESIDE Lifelike Reborn Black Girl- 18-Inch Realistic Newborn Real Life Baby Dolls with Clothes and Toy Gift for Kids Age 3
$70.91
$99.28
I purchased this doll for my 8-year-old daughter for Christmas, and while it’s cute, there are definitely a few areas for improvement. First, the doll is a bit small and doesn’t quite match the realism I hoped for, especially compared to her white beginner reborn doll, which has a slightly more lifelike appearance. This seems to be a common struggle with many reborn artists when it comes to creating African American or ethnic dolls. While this was the best-looking option I could find at this beginner level, it still resembles a regular store-bought doll—especially with the cloth body—aside from the hair. Which brings me to the main issue: the hair. Like other reviewers mentioned, the doll’s hair came very matted and stringy, far from the big, curly style shown in the photos. I had to put in extra effort with leave-in conditioner and mousse to detangle it, which led to some shedding despite being as gentle as possible. After finger coiling and some care, it looked much better. I know my daughter would have pointed this out immediately if I hadn’t taken the time to fix it. This highlights another opportunity for doll makers to consider when crafting Black dolls: better attention to realistic and manageable hair. If you go into this purchase with realistic expectations and are prepared to put in some work right out of the box, this doll can still be a good choice. In the end, I’m sure my daughter will love her, and that’s what matters most. However, I hope to see improvements in the future for dolls representing African American children—both in realism and quality.
Babeside