I like to use a jointed body for my reborns. This allows them to be posed in many natural looking positions. I use doe suede bodies made by Darlene of www.bodies4reborns.com, a seamstress who knows what she is doing and her bodies are beautifully done.

To weight the baby, the vinyl limbs are filled with sand and sealed with silicone so they don't leak. Next the legs and arms of the cloth body are filled with a little polyfil, pellets and more polyfil. The vinyl limb is attached. The body gets pellets on the bottom and 1/3 - 2/3 of the way up. Then the polyfil fills the rest of the body. I keep it lightly stuffed at the neck so that the head will have a little bit of a "flop" to it. The head is weighted with a sandbag and polyfil and once attached to the body it feels very life-like. I always hold the baby in my arms in different positions to make sure it has the perfect "cuddle factor". Usually the baby will weigh between 3 and 6 lbs. This may not seem like alot, but when you hold this "dead" weight in your arms it feels much heavier than an actual 6 lb baby.

When I make smaller babies, I stuff the body lightly giving it that floppier newborn feel. Holding these little ones is a wonderful feeling! If you would like to see pictures of the body simply ask!:)