"We have 13 fake babies - we take them out in a pram and it is preparing us for parenthood"

Meet the couple who are 'mum' and 'dad' to 13 fake babies - and change their nappies, take them out in a pram and say it is preparing them for parenthood.

Jess Ellis, 27, started collecting reborn dolls - realistic dolls modelled on infants - in May 2020 after feeling "lonely" during the pandemic and coming across them online.

She bought her first doll, Rebecca, a one-month-old baby girl, for £250 to keep her company and became obsessed growing her brood.

Next came Sam, a newborn, for £560 in November 2020 - followed by June, a one-month-old, Sam, a newborn, Brooklyn, an eight-month-old, Manuela, a newborn, Zain, a three-month-old, Lilly, a newborn, Annalese, a newborn, Aria, a newborn, Cookie, who is premature, Charlie, a one-year-old, Pippa, also one, and June, four.

In total, Jess has spent £6k buying her 13-strong collection - with her most expensive addition, Cookie, a premature baby-size girl, costing £1.7k.

Jess says her fiancé, Avery Raassen, 33, a pastry chef, is "incredibly supportive" of her passion and even helps to get the 'babies' dressed and change their nappies.

The pair would love a real child of their own one day but for now the reborn dolls are preparing them for parenthood.

Jess, a HR business partner, from Plaistow, East London, said: "I have always loved babies - there is something very calming about holding a baby.

"We have had a few babies in my family - I have a goddaughter and that was always my favourite stage when someone had a baby - being able to hold a reborn is really special.

"I love looking at them and yes, sometimes you can look very quickly and fool yourself into thinking they are real.

"It is very therapeutic holding them, if I have got stressed or anxious it is very calming.

"In some ways, they help prepare you for being a parent.

"My fiancé had never changed a diaper or held a baby until I introduced him to reborns, and so I made him change one of them which definitely increased his confidence for changing and holding a real baby.

"I also recognise that these are not real babies and I often leave them in places you definitely should not leave a real baby - like a table or sofa."

During the pandemic, Jess was anxious to leave the house in case she contracted covid and taking her dolls for a walk around the local park helped get her outside.

Jess said: "I do take them out in the pram - just for walks around the local park.

"During the pandemic I became very, very anxious about leaving the house and so my fiancé actually bought the pram for me to encourage me to go outside.

"It worked really well and after a few months, I was able to go outside on my own without the pram as well.

"I still take them out occasionally in it because it's really fun to push a pram around."

Jess says the pair would "love a baby in the future" but both recognise it is a huge responsibility and one they are not ready for just yet.

She said: "In a way, they are a placebo to help with baby fever. I do change them quit