Family vlog channel sells creepily lifelike dolls modeled after their newborn baby

2025-04-27 23:08:10admin

YouTubers get a bad rep for constantly shilling their merch, but this family channel's commitment to getting personal with fans is on another level.

The Inghams, and their 1.2 million subscribers, welcomed their fourth child Jace into the world in March. His birth was documented and shared in a video titled "EMOTIONAL LIVE BIRTH - LABOUR AND DELIVERY!"

But for subscribers who weren't satisfied with being invited to Jace's delivery room, parents Chris and Sarah Ingham went even further. They designed a lifelike baby doll, modeled after Jace at two weeks old, that followers can buy and take care of for only £279.00, or about $340.

Here's baby Jace, at just over two weeks old.

View this post on Instagram

And here's his reborn baby recreation, available on reborn baby retailer Mary Shortle.

Here's reborn baby Jace, in all his $340 glory. Credit: mary shortle

He even comes with Ingham family merch! Credit: mary shortle

The couple surprised their two older daughters with Doll Jace No. 1 in a video posted last week. In the vlog, Sarah says there are "only 250" dolls available for purchase. Each Doll Jace comes with a onesie printed with a design from Esmé, Jace's sister.

For an additional £65 — or about $79 — followers can also purchase an accessories kit that comes with Ingham family branded diapers, three onesies, a blanket, a pacifier attached to a beaded Jace string, and a birth certificate "hand-signed" by the Ingham family.

Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

If that doesn't make you feel close enough to the family, customers who buy the Doll Jace will also be invited to one of their "specially organised baby Jace Tea parties" to meet the Ingham family in person.

"Strictly for the new owner of baby Jace reborn," the Mary Shortle product description notes.

Doll Jace is part of a larger reborn collection associated with the Ingham family. Dedicated subscribers can also buy pacifiers, booties, hats, and other doll accessories.

Reborn dolls are popular among parents who lost children, or people who don't, or can't, have biological children of their own. While it's seen as a coping mechanism, some social media users were thoroughly creeped out by the family pushing a silicone recreation of their son as merch.

Tweet may have been deleted

Even their own fans found it unsettling.

Tweet may have been deleted

Chris dismissed the negative comments, which he claims have been "the minority." In a statement to BuzzFeed News, he said people "thrive on negativity" and "tend to only focus on that."

"Completely disregard all the positivity and overwhelming support in favor of the gossip and 'drama' side of life instead," he continued. "Which is very sad."

Last year, the Ingham family faced backlash after a 16-year-old accused Chris of hitting on her, and said he encouraged her to skinny dip with him at his hotel.

Twitter users brought that up, too.