Octopuses for Premmie Babies

@lynnief (1203)
Australia
March 30, 2018 9:24pm CST
Have you heard of the Octo Project? It began in Denmark, and has now spread around the world. It has been found that knitted or crocheted octopuses are a great help to premature babies, improving their breathing and heart rates. The theory is that the tentacles of the octopus remind the baby of the umbilical cord, and holding on to them gives comfort and security. It also prevents the baby from grabbing at the various tubes and wires that are helping support it.
Who knew that an octopus could be a premmie's best snuggle-buddy - with health benefits to boot!
4 people like this
6 responses
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339496)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Mar 18
I hadn't heard of this although I've been crocheting beanies for prem babies for a while.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (218548)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Sep 18
But not with umbilical tentacles!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (218548)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Sep 18
@JudyEv A part of me wants to read the research on whether octopi are really better than other snuggly tactile objects for soothing premature babies.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339496)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Sep 18
@TheHorse That's true, haha.
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (36317)
• Canada
31 Mar 18
Those babies look so cute with the octopi.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (218548)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Sep 18
I wonder if squid would work.
1 person likes this
Hazel Vee
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
1 Apr 18
what a great idea! ..thanks for sharing that .. I might try to make one ..
1 person likes this
Hazel Vee
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
2 Apr 18
@lynnief .. I am the opposite .. I prefer to crochet .. I tried knitting but I just can't get the hang of it ..
1 person likes this
Lynn Fowler
@lynnief (1203)
• Australia
2 Apr 18
That's great. I would like to, but all the patterns seem to be for crochet, something I am not good at. Now if I can just find a decent knitting pattern for them, I'll be right.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (218548)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Sep 18
I'd think that any tactile stimulation would be good for babies' developing brains. And also help stabilize heart rate and breathing. Did they have "control groups" with other knitted critters?
The Horse
@TheHorse (218548)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Sep 18
@lynnief You don't know if they used control groups with other snugglables?
Lynn Fowler
@lynnief (1203)
• Australia
20 Sep 18
I don't know about "control groups", or how the idea got started, but I think it's a great idea.
1 person likes this
Mari24
@Maria24 (2661)
• United States
31 Mar 18
Wow that's so amazing.
1 person likes this
Jessa Bumagat
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
31 Mar 18
Nice discovery. That would be a big help to the premature babies.
1 person likes this