A new trend in China sees young women caring for cotton dolls like real babies. They dress them in expensive clothes, celebrate their birthdays at restaurants, and even take them on holidays. This 'painless motherhood' has sparked a market worth US$1.4 billion. The craze blew up in October 2023 when a woman took her doll to the hotpot chain Haidilao and asked for a baby chair. The staff were surprised and confused. She also said the staff missed food orders and refused to sing a birthday song for the doll. Her post went viral, sparking a debate about celebrating dolls’ birthdays at restaurants. Many outsiders called it crazy. One said, “Only crazy people celebrate birthdays for dolls.” But supporters said, “We are just doing what we love. We are not hurting anyone or breaking any rules.” The trend began in 2015 with fans of the Korean group EXO bringing idol dolls to concerts. This grew into a niche market in China where dolls are either modelled after real or fictional characters or are original creations. Doll collectors, called “doll mums” or “mummies,” often say “I am pregnant again” when waiting for a new doll. They spend thousands of yuan on outfits, wigs, shoes, and props. A basic cotton doll costs US$6 to US$15 but accessories cost much more. A 2021 report found 85% bought dolls for their cute looks, while 58% said emotional attachment mattered most. University student Lin Ke, who owns 15 dolls, said, “It even starts to smell like me. Life does not come from the doll, it comes from the love you give it.” Sun Xingxing, who owns dolls styled after her idol group, said, “Idols feel out of reach for ordinary people. But with a doll that looks like my favourite idol, I can see and touch them every day. It is a happiness that feels real.” The cotton doll market in China reached over 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) in 2023 and is expected to grow to 15 billion yuan (US$2.2 billion) by 2025. The accessories market is three times larger than the dolls’ market. Many young people find emotional comfort in raising dolls, calling it “painless parenthood.” One fan said, “I treat my doll like my child. Most collectors do.” On social media, some say they are more careful buying clothes for dolls than for themselves. One joked, “Raising cotton dolls should qualify for child subsidies. Their outfits cost more than mine.”