A tip from The Classic Baby Closet: How to make pretend milk bottles

How to make a fake (pretend) formula bottle for Reborn/Baby Dolls

NOTE: Please remember that fake formula bottles should not be used by young children They are meant as a prop for reborn baby dolls. Some bottles, not sealed properly will leak and young children will tend to put the bottle in their own mouths! Please be responsible with any of the information found on this page!

supplies needed; clear plastic/glass baby bottle, bottle nipple with ring and disk, something to stir with, hot water, carpenters glue (yellow), strong glue, (like super glue) for sealing, silicone (aquarium type is fine) for sealing hole in nipple if so desired, tooth pick

Here's my way of making fake formula for reborn baby bottles NOTE: I usually mix my fake formula in the bottle itself, so have the chosen bottle prepared, and choose your method of sealing : either just the nipple hole is sealed (glued with silicone) or the sealing disk will be glued to the top of the bottle then the nipple and ring is placed on, I have used super glue or E3000 to glue the disk to the bottle. I like to use any carpenter's glue, the slight yellow glue makes a great formula color. I pour glue into the bottle, up to the one ounce line for a 2 oz bottle, 2 ounce line for a 4 ounce bottle etc. I then add hot water 1 to 2 ounces (leave room for proper shaking for remixing any separated substances and for making those 'gassy' bubbles in the 'fake' formula.) Then mix the 'fake' formula a bit with the end of a spoon, Popsicle stick, paint brush handle etc. (for 'breast milk just add extra water for a thinner consistency) To 'seal' the fake bottle: Be sure the top edge of the bottle is dry, apply a thin line of super glue or E3000 or try silicone, to the very edge of the bottle opening. Set on the little sealing disk, aligning to cover the entire opening. Quickly screwing on the ring and nipple helps with alignment. Screw on tightly let dry for an hour, and shake! If you would like prefer the nipple and ring not be removable... then also apply the glue to the thread of the nipple ring and threads on the bottle itself, thin lines of glue should do. Screw on the nipple and ring tightly. Sealing the hole in the nipple, to allow fake milk to fill the nipple: I don't care for this method as there is always the potential for the silicone plug to dislodge, thus allowing leaking, but some reborn doll collectors like the realism! Using the silicone, aquarium type seams to be the favorite, apply to the end of a toothpick and carefully put it inside the nipple to cover the hole area, I would allow this to dry for at least a day, then follow the above methods, leaving out the sealing disk (again super glue works great here).

Other recipes for 'fake' formula and juices (Remember that 'real' food products will get moldy after a period of time) Formula: Downy (or any white colored) fabric softener mixed with water a few drops of vanilla flavoring added to any white mixture white glue with drops of yellow paint few teaspoons of flour to water white acrylic paint to paint the inside of a clear bottle, gives the illusion of formula, no liquid need

Putting white Polyifill (stuffing for bears and dolls), inside a clear bottle (the least realistic though) great for young children's play doll bottles! I have put the filling in the silicone nipple as well...looks like tiny air bubbles! Apple juice: brown marker dipped in water until the desired color a drop each of red, yellow, (orange) perhaps a bit of brown...food coloring added to about 6-8 ounces of water Orange juice: one to a few drops each of yellow and red of food coloring to 6-8 oz of water one to a few drops of red and yellow acrylic paint with water

If your reborn doll does not have an open mouth, you can still use a 'fake' formula bottle! Some people do not use a nipple at all. They glue the disk and nippleless ring to the bottle, and just place the bottle to the lips of the doll, some add a strong magnet to the disk before sealing and a magnet inside the doll behind the lips, drawing the bottle to the doll's mouth. .I also use a 'fake' formula bottle with a nipple, sealed/glued tightly and I push on the top of the nipple, inverting it in on itself...thus making it barely visible! Then I put the bottle to the doll's mouth, pushing just a bit, and wallah, looks like the baby doll is drinking from the bottle!

UPDATE: 2022: I have as of late, discovered 'blind nipples'...meaning, the silicone nipple does not have a prepunctured hole! This allows the use of the nipples without having to seal a hole! I like to use these types as, sometimes the fake formula may need changing and if the nipple collar is not glued to the bottle, it can be removed and fresh 'formula' can be used.

My favorite fake formulas to date are the Downy softener..white, and carpenters wood glue with water...I have bottles that were sealed years ago...that with a bit of shaking, still look 'fresh'!

These instructions are as I have experimented with myself and have found to work for me.

And again:

NOTE: Please remember that fake formula bottles should not be used by young children They are meant as a prop for reborn baby dolls. Some bottles, not sealed properly will leak and young children will tend to put the bottle in their own mouths!