In a workshop just outside Paris, expert artisans meticulously craft hyper-realistic baby mannequins for film and television. Founded in 2008, Cinebébé (Cinebaby) has become the go-to studio for lifelike infant props, serving major productions across Europe. Each silicone baby takes over six weeks to create, with every detail—from delicate veins to soft skin folds—designed to replicate the look of a real newborn.
Celine Lallement, one of the skilled artists, painstakingly implants mohair—sourced from Angora goats—into a silicone infant’s scalp. The fine texture closely mimics natural baby hair, ensuring the final product is as convincing as possible. Even the smallest imperfections are corrected with precision.
These life-like creations come at a price. Renting a baby for a day’s shoot costs around €700 (US$720), while purchasing one ranges from €9,000 to €15,000, depending on the complexity of the model. Cinebébé’s portfolio includes everything from 26-week preemies to 18-month-old toddlers, along with specialized props such as pregnant bellies, umbilical cords, and life-size pelvis models for birth scenes.
The need for realistic baby mannequins has grown significantly, particularly due to strict filming regulations in France. Babies under three months old are prohibited from appearing on set, while those aged three months to three years can only be filmed for one hour per day. These restrictions make realistic substitutes essential for productions requiring extended or complex baby scenes.
Cinebébé’s expertise has been featured in high-profile productions, including Emily in Paris and the 2024 French blockbuster The Count of Monte Cristo. The demand surged even further during the Covid-19 pandemic when babies were temporarily banned from film sets. Post-pandemic, the company’s revenue has doubled annually, though growth in 2024 slowed slightly to 35% compared to the previous year.
Looking ahead, Cinebébé is planning international expansion, with a London office set to open in 2025. Future innovations include developing baby mannequins with open eyes and creating larger models for stunt scenes. As film and television productions continue to push the boundaries of realism, Cinebébé remains at the forefront, blending artistry and technology to bring lifelike newborns to the screen.
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