These are recommendations and tips for the care of your new baby.
An artist silicone baby doll is NOT A TOY. It is a collectible doll (when it is painted and finished) and should be handled with care.
Excessive “play” will cause wear and tear that will occur if handled, dressed, moved, “fed”, or groomed too frequently or roughly. Excessive pacifier use can also cause damage to the paint, so use gentle care.
***Artist is not responsible for damage caused by excessive “play”. Please follow the suggestions for dressing so that paint and hair have as little friction on the paint as possible.
BE GENTLE
Silicone needs to be cared for with GENTLE hands; please do not pull, tug, poke or handle your new baby roughly. Do not pull his legs through a front-pack carrier with force. Do NOT force your fingers into the mouth, or let others do this. Do not rub the doll aggressively. Support the full doll when carrying. Hold your doll like a real baby and support its head.
MOUTH (if open)
The mouth of a silicone has fragile corners because it has been carefully opened. Please use special care when inserting a pacifier into her mouth. I usually pull the bottom lip down gently before inserting the pacifier. Do NOT put liquids in the mouth.
HAIR IS NOT SEALED ON A SILICONE
This doll has been rooted by a professional. The hair cannot be sealed into a silicone head, therefore the hair WILL come out if you pull on it too hard. Keeping the hair brushed nicely will prevent it from knotting (I recommend a spray bottle with water and a soft toothbrush). Some people use plastic wrap to cover the hair while dressing, or under hats, to lessen the stress on the hair. Be mindful of the eyebrows and lashes when you put clothing on. Try to put clothing on from the bottom up vs. over the head. I can NOT guarantee the hair.
PAINT & MATTE FINISH
The paint is sealed and matted, but can be damaged if you dress and redress your doll often. Areas areas such as the knees, tops of hands, toes, cheeks, and backs/top of ears are vulnerable to wear and tear. Frequent friction from fabric rubbing on the surface of the doll can wear away the paint over time. Regular powdering and using sandwich baggies to cover the hands and feet while dressing can help reduce this wear and tear on the paint.
CLEANING/POWDERING
If you have unwanted lint/hair on your baby, a great way to remove it is with a piece of tape. If you feel you must clean lint off of the doll, you may gently wash with dish soap and warm water in the sink, using only your hand to wash the doll gently. DO NOT SCRUB or use a washcloth – you WILL destroy the layer of protective matting. DO NOT submerge your doll completely. Powder doll as often as you wish. Powdering will reduce the stickiness of silicone and the amount of lint that will cling to it. It also helps to keep your doll’s fresh, matte appearance. I recommend using Just Matte, sold by D3 Creation for powdering/matting. You may also use baby powder. NEVER use cornstarch or any food-related product, as this invites insects that will damage the doll. There will be some instances where some hair or lint may be sealed into the silicone. It is impossible to paint the doll and 100% avoid this.
OTHER TIPS
It’s a good idea to store the doll wrapped in a blanket if not being displayed or used.
If using hats or hoods, add and remove them gently so you don’t pull the hair out. Minor hair shedding is expected and normal, but we do not want patches to come out. Proper care will avoid this. Only use a toothbrush to brush the hair (and a water spray bottle)
Do not store in a damp environment or in a plastic bag that may allow mold to form.
Keep away from pets/rodents (they like to chew this material!)
Do not lean the doll against vinyl dolls for an extended period of time. The materials are known to react and deteriorate each other.
Powder the doll with Just Matte and a soft cosmetic blush brush if you feel any tacky areas as time passes and he is handled, and to keep the doll in optimal condition.
Be gentle in handling. Tears can happen if you pull on the silicone roughly, or hyper-extend an area like the bend in a leg or arm. If you see a crease, that is a vulnerable point in the doll. Avoid bending that point in the opposite direction.
The sale of this doll is for personal/collector or agreed upon use ONLY. Commercial use is strictly prohibited without prior written consent of the artist.
Above all, enjoy your new lifelike baby doll (gently!) and have fun!
Thank you so much!
Dawn Donofrio
DD Artdolls
Ddartdolls.com