It's been a deep interest for me for many years, the idea that dolls (or any object, really) can actually be haunted. The suggestion that something as innocent looking as a child's doll could actually inhabit a spirit, or potentially even something demonic, gripped me after spending a great deal of time reading about Peggy the doll, who made headlines back in 2015 when several people who merely viewed photos of her experienced ill-health and bad luck. It was TVs Help! My House Is Haunted host and team member Jayne Harris who "adopted" Peggy the doll at that time and investigated her (before eventually handing over the spooky toy to Zak Bagans for his Haunted Museum). I reached out to Jayne and interviewed her numerous times about her work on haunted objects like Peggy, and after speaking to her, as well as reading up on the subject matter, my interest was cemented and I knew I was going to take a deep-dive into the world of haunted dolls. The result of this obsession of mine is my book, A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls.

A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls is the product of a lot of research. Containing many case studies (some known and others less so), interviews and research on the topic, I produced something that I feel validates the experiences of many people across the world. In my opinion, dolls, as well as any object, can indeed be "haunted," and it's an aspect of the paranormal that I believes warrants more attention.

The truth is, though, believing that a doll can be haunted is one thing, but it's not always easy to know what to look for in order to confirm your spooky suspicions. Perhaps you even have one in your own home and you think it might be spirited. Do you get uneasy vibes from the item? What ways can you be sure (at least, to your own satisfaction) that a doll in your possession is haunted?

Here I have come up with a selection of tips and tools that can help determine if your doll is more than just a plastic plaything. Does it indeed have energy attached? There are several ways to help you find out.

1. Gadgets and "Toys"
There are a few items that can potentially help aid you in your study of a haunted item. Cat balls are a popular and inexpensive choice. They are simply small plastic balls that are touch-activated, and as such only light up when touched or pushed. They make an ideal tool because they can be placed next to, or on, your doll, and you can ask if a spirit is present. If there is, the ball may light up in response. It's an easy method, one that I have used effectively with my haunted doll Edna who has often responded by making her ball light up when no one is near it except her.

I also recommend using a Dictaphone; a recording device is a fascinating way to capture audible responses. I have had some interesting captures by simply placing my recording device next to a doll of interest and asking questions out loud. Upon playing back the recording, you may hear an intelligent response which is very validating. I recall one time when I tried an EVP session with my doll Edna, asking her age, only to hear a childlike voice reply with "six" when I played the file back. On another occasion, I was asking Edna questions using my device and instead of hearing her voice, I heard a male reply with, "It's not Edna, it's Harry." This was particularly unnerving as I own a haunted clown doll called Harry. He was obviously eager to get some of the attention!

EMF Meters are another inexpensive item you can try. These gadgets are said to light up when there is a change in the surrounding energy field. Not everyone is convinced that they detect spirit energy (like most items used in the study of the paranormal, opinions are divided) but in my experience, seeing the gadget flash up brightly with colours when it's placed on a so-called haunted item can be quite affirming and can certainly indicate that something is going on with the doll in question.

2. Your Own Senses
You really should not underestimate the power of your own human senses. You don't have to be psychic! If you own a doll that you believe is haunted, use your own innate senses to see if you can pick up on something. This could be as simple as sitting with the doll in your hands and closing your eyes... Do you feel anything at all? A tingling sensation? Any particular emotions that seem to appear out of the blue? I remember when my haunted clown doll Harry arrived and my skin was tingling all over as I pulled him out of the box in which he'd been posted to me. I do not count myself as a sensitive at all, and yet this cold, chilling feeling crept over my skin as I held Harry, and I also experienced something similar with Edna the doll. Do you feel emotional when around the doll? Do you catch any fleeting shadows/corner of the eye movement? Do pets react around the doll? These are all experiences that can at least indicate spirit presence and cost absolutely nothing—except your time and patience.

3. Ongoing Investigation
We've covered paranormal gadgets and your personal senses, but we must not forget the important of serious and ongoing investigation. If you feel comfortable to, you can use pendulums to engage in Yes/No questions to a suspected haunted item. If you are willing to, you can try engaging with the help of a reputable and trustworthy medium to see if they can pick up on any information on your behalf. Do they sense something, if so, what? Keep a log of things that happen around the doll—does the temperature drop? Does the doll seem to move from where you left it? Do things go missing? Make notes of everything. Are there specific times you notice activity? Take regular photos and recordings during your investigations. They are helpful to build your case of validating that your doll is haunted.

All of the above are suggestions of ways that you can begin to study a doll in your possession that may be spirited. There are no rules, no absolutes. Try what works for you and lose what does not. For me personally, a combination of all of the above helped me to secure my belief that Harry and Edna are truly haunted. It's certainly a fascinating journey when you have a haunted doll and you are able to put pieces of the puzzle together, finally finding that your suspicions are, in fact, justified.

If you are interested in learning more about the world of haunted dolls, please check out A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls, which is available in paperback and ebook formats. There you will find much more in-depth information on how to investigate haunted items, and if you are lucky (or not so lucky, depending on your preference!) you may find that the cute little doll sitting on your bookshelf is haunted, after all.