A new “parenting” trend in China is seeing young women embrace “painless motherhood” by raising cotton dolls as their own children. The post ignited controversy, snowballing into a national debate over whether “Haidilao should celebrate birthdays for cotton dolls”. This sparked a wave of fan-made idol dolls across Asia, eventually evolving into a niche market in China. While a basic cotton doll might cost only 40 to 100 yuan (US$6 to US$15), the real expense lies in the accessories. Life is stressful, but dolls are my comforting companions.”While another said: “Honestly, raising cotton dolls should qualify for child subsidies.

Source: The Star February 11, 2026 16:16 UTC