Meet the newlyweds trying for a baby while "practicing" parenting by looking after 35 reborn dolls - by learning to put nappies on."

Jess Ellis, 28, has grown her collection of the hyper realistic dolls from 13 to 35 in the last 10 months.

The couple take the dolls out for walks in the pram and have already spent £6k on baby essentials - so feel they'll be "prepared" when they fall pregnant with a real tot. "

Jess started collecting the dolls in May 2020 - due to her "loneliness" throughout the pandemic. "

But after marrying her partner, Avery Raassen, 34, three weeks ago, on 24 July, they've now decided to start trying for a baby.

After spending "at least" £6k on baby clothes for her dolls, Jess says her future child will be the "best-dressed baby in town"."

Jess, a HR business partner, from Newham, London, said: "Making these babies has been an outlet for any fertility worries I've got. "

"I feel very maternal, I've got a really strong drive to care for people."

"Whether that's animals, children or dolls. "

"I'd love to be a mother, I think I'd be a really good mother."

Jess began her collection in May 2020 - after feeling "lonely" throughout the pandemic. "

Her first doll, Rebecca, cost £250 - and she quickly added dolls like newborns Zain, Sam, Annalese and Aria to her brood.

In total, to date, Jess has spent over £6k on baby accessories alone.

She said: "I think I've made probably about 35. "

"I spend £150 just on materials per doll."

"This includes paint, a few outfits, a few toys, and handmade blankets." "

After marrying husband, Avery, earlier this month, Jess says the pair are tentatively planning on trying for a baby soon.

But in 2014, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and told she'd likely struggle to conceive.

While she hasn't written off the idea of having kids, Jess says her reborn dolls have helped her come to terms with her difficulties.

"I've really had to come to terms with maybe not being able to have my own children," she added. "

"I know I might struggle - so we're going to leave it up to fate."

"At some point I'll come off my birth control."

"If it happens, it happens. "

"If it doesn't, we'll explore different avenues." "

In order to prepare for any potential children, Avery has started changing the nappies of the reborn dolls.

He wanted to get "as much practice in as possible"."

The pair's £6k collection of baby clothes and accessories will be passed down to their future kids.

Jess said: "I'd say these dolls are very different to real babies. "

"I do want to recognise that - because I leave them in a display cabinet 99 per cent of the time. "

"But I do now have a large collection of baby clothes. "

"I'll end up having the best-dressed child ever. "

"My husband has been practicing changing nappies on the doll before we have a real baby."

Despite her babies being an outlet for her worries - Jess says she's often met with backlash from her social media followers.

She's recently started to make babies of different races - and says she wants them to resemble any biological children she has.

"My partner is Asian," she added. "

"Funnily enough - I've been told I shouldn't be making those babies."

"It can be quite infuriating - any children I have will be part-Asian."

"I want to create the children that would look like the ones I'd have biologically."