Caring for your newborn reborn doll: a first-week guide

The first week with a newborn reborn sets the tone for her whole life in your collection. Unpack her on a clean cotton sheet rather than a carpet, supporting the head as you lift, and let her rest unclothed for an hour so the silicone can settle to room temperature after transit.

Handle her with clean, dry hands. Hand cream, self-tan and hair products are the most common cause of staining on a newborn sculpt, and marks on a blushed cheek are far harder to lift than on a limb. If you wear make-up, keep her cheek away from your collar when you cradle her.

Surface clean only. A soft cloth barely dampened with cool water is enough for dust; never submerge a weighted cloth body, and never use wipes, solvents or alcohol gels, all of which strip the sealed heat-set paint layers.

Keep her out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. Ultraviolet light is the single biggest ageing factor for rooted mohair and blushing alike, and a sunny windowsill will fade a newborn in a single summer.

Finally, store her lying flat in a cotton-lined moses basket or her keepsake box, dressed in natural fibres. Dark dyed synthetics can transfer colour to pale silicone over months of contact.