Parents Are Scrambling To Get Their Hands On This Genius Sleep-Doll

If you were offered a product that could put your baby to sleep at night with zero coaxing, no tears, and 14 fewer bedtime stories, how much would you be willing to pay for it? Judging by the success of one sleep-aiding toy, most parents would be willing to shell out a pretty penny. Lulla, a doll that helps kids fall asleep at night, has started a bidding war among parents that's seen the doll's price on eBay shoot up to over five times its original price tag.

The Lulla doll, created by Roro Care, is made of soft cotton and emits a steady heartbeat and soft breathing sounds for up to eight hours. The doll can also soak up caregivers' scent if kept next to their skin, helping the doll take on another soothing feature.

The reviews from users so far have been stellar, and the promise of children actually falling asleep (gasp) has set parents scrambling for the doll. According to Woman's Day, the first dolls released on Indiegogo sold out instantly, and now thousands of additional units are in production. Those who aren't willing to wait to get their hands on the Lulla doll have headed to eBay, where one bidding war pushed the cost of the doll (usually priced at $69) to $350, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Lulla creator Eyrún Eggertsdóttir, who has two sons and studied psychology, originally designed the doll to soothe premature babies who had to be separated from their parents. "The idea of the Lulla doll was born when my friend had her baby girl prematurely and had to leave her alone in the hospital every night for two weeks," she said in a statement on the Roro Care website. "That really struck a chord with me and it was then that I decided to bring the Lulla doll to life."

Eggertsdóttir designed the doll after looking into the benefits of closeness in babies' development. Babies who receive kangaroo care and skin-to-skin contact have been shown to have more predictable sleep patterns, steadier breathing rates, and a better ability to regulate emotions, according to Time. The Lulla doll isn't looking to replace that skin-to-skin contact, of course — but to provide a better alternative to solitude when parents can't be there.

"Nothing can replace loving human contact but the Lulla doll aims to be a second best," the Roro Care website reads. And judging by the review one mom left claiming Lulla saved her sanity, the doll is apparently is doing a fairly good job of being second best.

If you're looking to get your hands on a Lulla doll (but don't want to pay through the nose on eBay), head over to the Roro Care website and order a Lulla doll online. It might not work for every child, but it seems like it might be worth putting on your baby registry.