'I've spent £8k on my reborn babies-they help me to grieve'

Sabrina Mckenna finds comfort in her family of lifelike dolls after losing two children but she faces cruel bullying online

- Mel Fallowfield

Reborn babies are becoming increasingly popular among Brits, with some spending up to £20,000 on the realistic dolls who they care for as if they were real newborns.

The lifelike dolls – which feature intricate freckle details, facial expressions and skin textures – are treated with love, care and affection. And although hard to understand for outsiders, “doll therapy” is on the rise, helping grieving mothers and people with dementia.

It’s reported that Katie Price – who has spoken about going through failed IVF – has turned to reborn babies, posting recently about her “twins”. And Sabrina Mckenna, 44, knows only too well how they can help when you’re mourning a much-wanted baby…

Waking up in the morning, I head straight to my children’s room, open the blinds, say hello, and turn to the cot to kiss them on the top of their heads.

I’ve got three babies and I’m excitedly looking forward to the arrival of my fourth. I love them dearly and equally. However, they don’t reply with loving coos or giggles as they’re reborn babies – hyper-realistic dolls fashioned to be as close to having a baby as possible.

I buy them clothes and presents, I read to them and get them dressed up. I even take them out in the pram to go shopping in my local town of Omagh in Northern Ireland. When I wheel them around I feel like the mum I’ve always wanted to be. And when people peer into the pram and tell me how gorgeous my baby is I thank them – feeling as proud as any mum when her baby is being complimented.