Octopuses for premature babies

Dreamscometrue

I only heard about this a few days ago & being an avid crafter have bought the materials, can't wait to get going.
http://octopusforapreemie.com/

peachyprice

I'm concerned that these toys are being touted for incubator uses, toys are absolutely not allowed in incubators or hot cots.

THIRZAH

My GD was in paediatric intensive care in a London hospital and she was allowed an octopus. She also had a soft toy-DD was told to sleep with it and with a blanket before GD was born.

Dreamscometrue

peachyprice wrote: »

I'm concerned that these toys are being touted for incubator uses, toys are absolutely not allowed in incubators or hot cots.

They're not for sale, it is a charity! People make them to help!

minimad1970

They use them in my local hospital as my friend recently donated some.

We are a group of people who crochet and knit little octopuses and jellyfish to comfort babies who decided to come into the world a little earlier than expected.

To the premature baby, our carefully made octopus’s tentacles feel like their mother’s umbilical cord. Comforting the baby and reducing the risk of the little one pulling the medical bits and bobs they may need and potentially cause serious problems for them.

Makes sense to me.

M.E.

Through the charity Loving Hands, we make items for our local birthing centre and pediatric centre. All of the items are well received. We make little gowns and blankets and cribs for the tiny babies 'Angels' that don't make it. The octopuses are definitely used ONLY in the incubators in special care, where the babies hold onto the tentacles, which remind the babies of the umbilical cord, soothes them and calms them. With the tiny, tiny hands gripping the tentacles they cannot then tug at the tiny tubes that give medication. These tubes are very difficult to insert into tiny veins and if pulled out cause a lot of unnecessary damage.
If you do make some, make sure to ask your local hospital if they use them or go to the Loving Hands website for information about crafting for charities.

sillyvixen

Knitting is not a skill I am blessed with, but I have a friend who is hoping to set up a knitting group to meat and knit for charity - I wil pass this on to her, it may be something such a group would like to do.

Churchmouse

peachyprice wrote: »

I'm concerned that these toys are being touted for incubator uses, toys are absolutely not allowed in incubators or hot cots.

If you had any idea of the stringent tests these "medical aids" have to pass you wouldn't have made this unkind remark. I have made over 50 of the octopuses/jellyfish and observe the scrupulous rules of the charity. Each and every one is thoroughly checked by a local co-ordinator before being packaged with care and use instructions and are then allocated by the staff on the units where they are accepted. The charity's instructions make it very clear these are not "toys" but proven medical aids that reduce stress levels in the babies and greatly reduce the pulling on their essential tubes and wires. Babies are only given these calming aids while on 24 hour observation in NICU and SCBU and parents are instructed that once the babies leave hospital the octopus/jellyfish should be assigned to a memory box, or only used under adult supervision. Given that we finance all materials as individuals and suffer the distress to our fingers from the need to crochet to such tight tensions, it is rather upsetting to read a dismissive post such as this. Welcome to our charity Dreamscometrue and happy octo making Edited to add that any made that fail the stringent safety checks for premature babies are given "Angel wings" and are packaged with a poignant poem and given to the parents of babies born sleeping or who die very soon after birth. Reports are that those parents gain comfort from knowing their baby is acknowledged and their horrendous loss is recognised.

Dreamscometrue

sillyvixen wrote: »

Knitting is not a skill I am blessed with, but I have a friend who is hoping to set up a knitting group to meat and knit for charity - I wil pass this on to her, it may be something such a group would like to do.

Super, many thanks

Dreamscometrue

Churchmouse wrote: »

If you had any idea of the stringent tests these "medical aids" have to pass you wouldn't have made this unkind remark. I have made over 50 of the octopuses/jellyfish and observe the scrupulous rules of the charity. Each and every one is thoroughly checked by a local co-ordinator before being packaged with care and use instructions and are then allocated by the staff on the units where they are accepted. The charity's instructions make it very clear these are not "toys" but proven medical aids that reduce stress levels in the babies and greatly reduce the pulling on their essential tubes and wires. Babies are only given these calming aids while on 24 hour observation in NICU and SCBU and parents are instructed that once the babies leave hospital the octopus/jellyfish should be assigned to a memory box, or only used under adult supervision. Given that we finance all materials as individuals and suffer the distress to our fingers from the need to crochet to such tight tensions, it is rather upsetting to read a dismissive post such as this. Welcome to our charity Dreamscometrue and happy octo making Edited to add that any made that fail the stringent safety checks for premature babies are given "Angel wings" and are packaged with a poignant poem and given to the parents of babies born sleeping or who die very soon after birth. Reports are that those parents gain comfort from knowing their baby is acknowledged and their horrendous loss is recognised.

Great explanation, many thanks

VfM4meplse

Churchmouse wrote: »

If you had any idea of the stringent tests these "medical aids" have to pass you wouldn't have made this unkind remark.

A little harsh perhaps? I don’t think it was made unkindly, lots of people have good intentions but don’t understand the regulatory constraints necessary.

Anything that can give children a helping hand in life is to be welcomed.