"heavy' dolls stuffed with millet?

[nurturebaby]

I would like to try and make one of those 'heavy baby' dolls as a project for my lo, but I'm wondering about the whole millet thing being used as stuffing. Do you all know what I'm talking about? The head, arms, etc are still stuffed with the standard wool batting, but the body (bunting type) has millet in it, which gives it a nice, realistic heavy feel that children apparently really love.

Anyway, my question - what happens if it gets wet or dirty? Like if a child sleeps with it and has an accident? You can't exactly wash millet (I suppose without it becoming porridge or something!!!). Any tips? Or is it just unrealistic to stuff with millet or other grains? Oh yeah - the other thing - what about bugs or pests getting into it?

[E.V. Lowi]

The millet, flax seed, beans or other vegetable fill should be baked before using to prevent sprouting. If it gets wet and can't be dried quickly, it will need to be replaced, so that rules out washing the dolls. You can spot clean with a damp cloth. Some doll makers use plastic pellets or clean sand for this reason.

[Anastasiya]

Originally Posted by E.V. Lowi

The millet, flax seed, beans or other vegetable fill should be baked before using to prevent sprouting.

Omigosh! Wouldn't THAT be a sight?! :

[zech13_9_goforgold]

How about wood beads? Or pebbles? Or crushed shells?

[RollerCoasterMama]

http://dancingraindolls.com/weighting_a_doll.html

Check out the link above. She lists a non-organic, but still child-safe material to weight with aquarium sand. It's heavy and clean and ok to get wet!

I made my son's weighted doll with millet, but I think I'd definitely go for the sand with future weighted dolls just because I wouldn't have to be concerned with it getting damp.