Reborn Baby Doll Store

Making a magnetic/modified pacifier for reborn dolls  

Here's how I have been making magnetic plastic pacifiers for use with reborn dolls: [removed][removed]

Supplies: a suitable size plastic pacifier, sharp craft knife/scissors, super glue, 2 appropriate size strong magnets (Earth/Neo magnets seem popular),colored felt cut in small oval or circle (to cover magnet once glued) Clip the rubber or silicone nipple off the pacifier by pulling it away from pacifier body and snipping with scissors or craft knife (careful!)

Sometimes I like to leave a bit of the nipple material and stick the small magnet to the plastic inside the left over area. (allows for the paci to look like it is actually in the 'dolls' mouth with a bit of nipple showing. Works great for parted lips.

Before gluing the magnet to the pacifier, chose which side/pole of the magnet will be glued down...as the opposite side/pole with go inside the dolls head, behind the lips. Some pacifiers will have a ridge where the nipple meets the plastic. If you need it to be flush/flat you will need to trim away excess plastic before gluing on the magnet. Carefully use the craft knife to 'whittle' away the plastic, use care that the knife does not nick other areas of the pacifier while you cut! Some pacifiers need a bit of a divot (hollowed out)area for the magnet to sit in. Don't give up...it can be done!

Once the magnet has been glued and secure, cut an appropriate size piece of felt, I like to use a wine or dark pink color, to cover the exposed magnet preventing scratching of the painted lips.  NOTE: Please use caution handling any custom made magnetic pacifier. It has been made known that magnets can interfere with electronic equipment, computers, credit cards and pace makers. Magnets can be a danger to young children who may swallow them. However, with appropriate care and storage, magnetic pacifiers can be a great prop for reborn dolls!  

To glue a magnet inside vinyl head, behind the lips:

 (NOTE: some like to have a piece of felt glued behind the lips BEFORE applying the magnet, for added material protection, this is up to you.)

Be sure to use an extra strong magnet in this case! Have the doll's head upside down on your lap (easy to hold between your knees) use a q-tip/Popsicle stick/toothpick anything to reach in the doll's head to the lip area, to apply the glue, (I use super glue for added strength, the gel kind works great!) A small amount is all that is needed. Be sure to apply the glue right on the lip area, like between the lips, hold the head up to a light to help see thru the lips.

Once the glue is applied on the inside, have the prepared pacifier, or another magnet ready to hold against the doll's lips ON THE OUTSIDE. This is where your knees (or protected clamping devise) come in handy. Grasp the doll's head, with the neck opening up (in your knees or other holding source) and drop a small magnet inside the head. Then hold the opposite magnet or prepared magnetic pacifier to the OUTSIDE of the dolls lips, exactly how you think the pacifier looks the best on the lips, not to high or to low, like, right in the center. Tip the head to allow the dropped magnet to tumble towards the doll's lips...waalah...the magnet will be grabbed to the vinyl by the outside magnetic pacifier (or opposite magnet.)

Allow the two magnets to stay applied until the one inside is secure. If you like (and I always do) glue a piece of felt INSIDE over the doll's mouth area BEFORE putting stuffing/weighting material into the head. This prevents the magnet from possibly snagging on the stuffing, or other material.

Want to make a fake formula or juice bottle for your reborn doll? See my article on fake reborn doll bottles!

Stay tuned to more reborning tips from The Baby Doll Boutique!

Here's my way of making fake formula/milk bottles

supplies needed; clear plastic baby bottle, bottle nipple with ring and disk, something to stir with, hot water, carpenters glue (yellow), strong glue, like super glue for sealing, silicone (aquarium type is fine) for sealing hole in nipple if so desired, tooth pick NOTE: I usually mix my fake formula in the bottle itself, so have the chosen bottle prepared, and choose your method of sealing (either just the nipple hole is sealed ((sealant inside nipple top))or the sealing disk will be glued to the top of the bottle then the nipple and ring is placed on). I like to use any carpenter's glue, the slight yellow glue makes a great formula color. I pour glue into the bottle, up to the one ounce line for a 2 oz bottle, 2 ounce line for a 4 ounce bottle etc. I then add hot water up to the 4,6,8 ounce mark. (leave room for proper shaking for remixing any separated substances and for making those 'gassy' bubbles in the 'fake' formula.) Then mix the 'fake' formula a bit with the end of a spoon, Popsicle stick, paint brush handle etc.(for 'breast milk just add extra water for a thinner consistency)

To 'seal' the fake bottle: Be sure the top edge of the bottle is dry, apply a thin line of glue to the very edge of the bottle opening. Set on the little sealing disk, aligning to cover the entire opening. Quickly screwing on the ring and nipple helps with alignment. Screw on tightly let dry for an hour, and shake! If you choose not to be able to remove the nipple and ring, then also apply the glue to the thread of the nipple ring and threads on the bottle itself, thin lines of glue should do. Screw on the nipple and ring tightly

Sealing the hole in the nipple: to allow fake milk to fill the nipple (I don't care for this method as there is always the potential for the silicone plug to dislodge, thus allowing leaking, but some reborn doll collectors like the realism!) Using the silicone, aquarium type seams to be the favorite, apply to the end of a toothpick and carefully put it inside the nipple to cover the hole area, I would allow this to dry for at least a day, then follow the above methods, minus gluing the sealing disk to the top of the bottle. I would glue, again super glue works great here, the nipple and the ring to the bottle, apply the glue to the threads and screw on tightly, allow to dry before shaking.

Another note: I have only thrown out this type of fake formula one time in six years...all the others are still like new!Be aware that if you choose anything organic or like paint, vanilla flavoring to color formula...it may get moldy!

Other recipes for 'fake' formula and juices (Remember that 'real' food products will get moldy after a period of time)

Formula: white colored fabric softener mixed with water, a few drops of vanilla flavoring added to any white mixture, white glue with a bit of yellow paint, few teaspoons of flour to water white acrylic paint to paint the inside of a clear bottle, gives the illusion of formula no liquid need, putting white poly fill (stuffing for bears and dolls),inside a clear bottle (the least realistic though) great for young children's play doll bottles!

Apple juice:brown marker dipped in water until the desired color, a drop each of red and orange food coloring added to about 6-8 ounces of water,

Orange juice:one to a few drops each of yellow and red of food coloring to 6-8 oz of water, one to a few drops of red and yellow acrylic paint added to water

If your reborn doll does not have an open mouth, you can still use a 'fake' formula bottle! Some people do not use a nipple at all. They glue the disk and nipple less ring to the bottle, and just place the bottle to the lips of the doll, some add a magnet to the disk before sealing and a magnet inside the doll behind the lips, drawing the bottle to the doll's mouth. Using an empty, white, or any colored bottle for this is great for a reborn that may look like it's drinking by itself (the light weight helps)I use a 'fake' formula bottle with a nipple, sealed tightly and I push on the top of the nipple, inverting it in on itself...thus making it barely visible! Then I put the bottle to the doll's mouth, pushing just a bit, and wallah, looks like the baby doll is drinking from the bottle!

Want to make a magnetic pacifier for your reborn doll? See my article with instructions for these pacifiers!