Vinyl vs Silicone Reborn Dolls: What's the Difference?

"Vinyl or silicone?" is the question we get more than any other. It doesn't help that the labels online are a mess. "Soft vinyl", "silicone vinyl", "full body silicone" and "full silicone" all show up on listings, sometimes for dolls that are nothing alike.

So let's sort them out, starting with the quick version.

The quick version

If you want a detailed, durable baby at a gentle price, or this is your first reborn, go with vinyl. If a soft, squishy, skin-like feel is the whole point and your budget can stretch, full silicone is worth it. And if what you want most is a baby to cuddle and dress, look at a weighted cloth body.

What is soft vinyl?

Most reborns are made from it. Vinyl is firm enough to hold delicate painting, the mottled skin, the veins, the little creases at the wrists, and it keeps its shape for years. Run your hand down a vinyl leg and it feels smooth and slightly springy rather than squishy.

A full vinyl baby is vinyl from head to toe. A cloth-body baby has vinyl head, arms and legs on a soft, weighted fabric body.

Is "silicone vinyl" the same as silicone?

No, and this is where most of the confusion comes from. "Silicone vinyl" or "full body silicone vinyl" means a softer vinyl blend. It's a bit gentler to the touch than standard vinyl, but it's still vinyl, and it's priced like vinyl. Several of our own babies are made this way, and we say so right in their titles.

What is full silicone?

A full silicone baby is cast entirely from soft silicone. She's flexible and a little jiggly, and she warms up in your hands. Nothing else comes as close to the feel of newborn skin. She also takes far more material and much longer to finish, which is why the price jumps.

In our shop, full-size full silicone babies (17 to 18 inches) start at about $350. Minis between 6 and 13 inches cost much less, roughly $100 to $130, simply because there's less of them.

How do they compare day to day?

• Feel: vinyl is smooth and firm. Silicone is soft and squishy.
• Detail: both can be painted beautifully. Vinyl holds layers of paint especially well.
• Weight: cloth bodies are often weighted to feel natural. Full silicone babies are heavy for their size on their own.
• Care: vinyl wipes clean in seconds. Silicone picks up lint and dust, so keep her dressed or covered and wipe her gently when she needs it.
• Water: only a baby whose listing says bathable should go near water. Cloth bodies always stay dry.
• Price: vinyl and cloth-body newborns are the most affordable. Full-size full silicone costs a few times more.

How can you tell what you're actually buying?

Read the body type in the specs, not just the title, since titles get stuffed with keywords. Then compare the price with the size. A full-size "full silicone" baby at a vinyl price is almost always silicone vinyl. Look for photos that show the body, not only the face. A cloth body usually peeks out at the neck or under the clothes. And if you're still not sure, ask. A shop that knows its dolls will give you a straight answer before you buy.

So which should you choose?

For most first-time buyers, we'd point you to a weighted cloth-body or full vinyl newborn. She'll look lifelike, hold up well and won't ask much of you in care. If you already love reborns and keep thinking about that soft, squishy feel, a full silicone baby is worth saving for.

Every Bublun listing names the exact body type, so there are no surprises. Browse our babies, read our guide to choosing a reborn, or email support@bublun.com if you'd like a second opinion.