When you have a baby, it's a right of passage to bring the new life around for everyone to hold, shower with attention and shmoopy-talk with -- at the office, family gatherings -- wherever.


But one industrious Japanese company asked the question: what if you can't actually BRING your baby to these events? Are distant relatives or colleagues across the country forced to miss out on the baby celebration experience? Of course not. That is why they invented RICE BABIES!


Now, instead of actually bringing your baby to see people, you can order a bag of rice with your baby's photo printed on it and send it to people to hold, cuddle and.......cook? There are pink "girl" bags and blue "boy" bags -- and they each weigh about the same as the average newborn.

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