“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” – WINNIE THE POOH
Hi there Mamma of all ages!
I would like to bring your attention to something that I stumbled across last night while “surfing the net” (do people still use that saying?). It is a worldwide initiative that I am sure you can find in your city. If there isn’t, there is nothing stopping you getting on this 8-legged do-good-feel-good-train. It is an initiative called “Octopus for a Preemie”. It is really a heart-warming initiative.
It has been running for some time now, but because I am a neo-mamma, my entire Facebook feed is flooded with baby-related posts, and “Octopus for a Preemie” just tugged hard on my newly acquired hypersensitivity for “all things bright and beautiful”!
These cute little octopus, octopuses, octopi –never know which is correct– have a very important job. They are given to prematurely born babies who are transitioning into this big world and need a little help. The tentacles on the octopus remind the baby of the umbilical cord, that they were used to “playing” with inside their mommy’s womb. It is their first security blanket.
It also stops them from tugging on the medical tubes that are used to help keep them safe and strong. Tugging on these instruments could lead to serious complications. So why not give them something better to hold on to, something softer, something to guide them on their journey into this great big world, a friend that follows them every step of the way.
The octopus is not a toy and is not designed for play but as a form of therapy to help comfort and calm premature babies.
“Octopus for a Preemie” initiatives are all on social media, if you know how to crochet join a group of your city or country and see how your beautiful 8-legged angels are helping the world’s tiniest heroes.
I found a list of the various countries that run this initiative, feel free to contact them to get involved.
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Feel free to download or share the pattern and help bring comfort to our tiny heroes.
All things bright and beautiful 