‘I'm raising a doll because I miss my daughter being a baby’

"I'm often accused of confusing my daughter, but people don't understand."

A teen mother has offered a small glimpse at her life as a mum of two - which is how she describes herself.  

Maddie loves her two children like any other mother would, but the difference is only one of her tots are real. 

The 19-year-old welcomed her daughter Ophelia into the world nearly two years ago.  

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"It’s like you’re cuddling a real baby. It’s so life-like" 

Ophelia grew into a lively toddler in the blink of an eye, leaving Maddie longing for more of the precious newborn days. So Maddie welcomed a reborn baby, by the name of Forrest, into the fold.  

Last month, she appeared in an episode of Truly Show on YouTube, explaining her motherhood journey. 

“I’ve got two babies and only one is real,” she starts. 

@_littlereborndreams_

you can watch the full episode over @Truly Show on YouTube #fyp #foryoupage #foryou #youngmum #teenmum #mumsoftiktok #rebornmum #rebornmom #reborndoll #rebornbaby

♬ original sound - Maddie🤱🏻

The household dynamic is similar to any other, with Ophelia leaning all about the complexities of sibling dynamics.

“I tell her to be gentle. But obviously she’s a toddler so it’s a lot to learn,’ Maddie shared.  

“I don’t think she is jealous, because obviously he isn’t real, and she knows that. I don’t worry about it . I don’t really choose to spend time with him over her, because she is my main priority.

“But I love Forrest because you just cuddle them and it’s like you’re cuddling a real baby. It’s so life-like."  

Image: Truly/YouTube

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"If she wants to have a reborn doll, let her" 

Maddie says she has experienced harsh trolling as a result of her reborn baby.  

“I have people saying I should spend the money on my daughter rather than the reborn. People say that I’m crazy,” she revealed. 

She says people simply don’t understand. 

“There is a common misconception that I take away from real babies by buying clothes and nappies, but it really isn’t the case. A lot of the stuff I’ve had for years or it’s expired,” she clarified.

She posted a short clip of the episode to her TikTok where commenters chimed in with their opinion. 

“That will confuse your daughter a lot,” one person accused. 

“Odd behaviour,” a second said. 

Others offered their support. 

“Why are y’all hating? If she wants to have a reborn doll let her. It’s her life,” one defended. 

A second wrote, “If you get comfort from a reborn then go for it.” 

Maddie brushes all the hatred off, insisting it’s simply a hobby. 

“They don’t get to me, because I don’t know them and they don’t know me,” she said.  

She maintains it might be expensive to bring in a reborn baby to the home, but it’s not as expensive as a second child.

Originally published as ‘I'm raising a doll because I miss my daughter being a baby’