Preemies and Knitted/Crocheted Hats

AtomicWoman · Aug 28, 2008

We use them for our preemies, for our kiddos with no family that visits, and for our fetal losses. My grandma, before she died, crocheted blankets and caps for our fetal demise babies....

Lordy, that is sad.

KEK1984 · Aug 28, 2008

why dont they want wool?

I've read that wool has a tendency to conduct electricity...something we definitely don't want in an oxygen-rich environment around little ones!

My mom taught me to crochet when I was 7...I've been making stuff ever since (lol - only 16 years of crocheting under my belt). Now that I've had a little boy and have all this extra baby yarn, I was looking for a way to get rid of it, and decided that preemie hats were a good way to use it, so I've been crocheting away. I've actually got a pretty good stockpile going (in less than a week!) and some girls at work are interested, so I'm toying with the idea of a charity... Actually, if anyone here is interested or knows a little bit about starting one...please help!

Anyway, a few more questions for the nurses :nurse: at NICU

1. How small do you need these hats? I've heard all sizes, down to the size to fit an egg...yikes!! :cry:

2. Is a 12x12 inch square too big for these "micro-preemies"? Someone told me it was too big, someone else said too small. One said 7x12 inch was enough.

AirforceRN, RN · Aug 28, 2008

Not only are they warm and pretty...but there is a whole lot of good karma wrapped up in those hats and blankets. You can't discount the good vibes put in to things like that.

TXstudentRN · Aug 28, 2008

My Mom is really active with this - she is part of a national group called "Newborns in Need" (http://www.newbornsinneed.org). I was lucky enough to get to go to the big county hospital near us one month to deliver them, and it was just the coolest thing - the nurses love them, the families love them, and the babies look just too cute and comfortable! My Mom is always busy making blankets, booties, and hats - haha my talent ends with the fact that I'm good at picking out yarn colors!

For the poster that asked about the size, here is a preemie size chart from the NIN website - http://www.newbornsinneed.org/html/size_chart.html and they also have a bunch of patterns here - http://www.newbornsinneed.org/html/baby_patterns.html. I definitely ditto the wool thing - as a bit of advice I learned, look for the made-for-baby yarns that are super soft - there are solid baby colors and verragated colors galore, and also keep away from holes (I know there's a technical word for that!) in the pattern which can get preemie/newborn fingers caught.

NIN has chapters (http://www.newbornsinneed.org/html/chapter_list.html) all around that you can send completed items too, and without fail they will go to incredibly good use! :heartbeat

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2008

Re: wool...I had NIN and 3 other knitting charities (homeless, nursing homes) reject items because they were wool...I was told it was because they can't be put in the dryer.

http://www.afghansforafghans.org/ takes wool items. They get all my stuff now.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 28, 2008

And FYI, I was doing charity knitting/crochet when I was in my 20's, so it's not just for little old ladies...*smile*

Oh, I'm sure! My facility, however, features a battalion of volunteer women who do this, who range in age from about 75-90. So those are the LOL's to whom I referred :)

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Aug 28, 2008

we love them! Especially blankets and booties :) We are so thankful for everything we get!

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2008

Both my daughters were NICU babies. And both came home with knitted and/or crocheted hats, blankets and booties!! I was so thankful for those caring people with those caring hands that made them. They were made small enough that my girls hats, booties didn't fall off! I swear the people who made them did it in premie size ranges...xxxxxxs, xxxxxs, xxxxs, etc :lol:

I still have the hat, botties and blanket that my older daughter used in the Unit, almost 16 years later. They are in a keepsake type frame that is displayed in her room, as is the ones my younger daughter had in the Unit.

Its also fun to take them out from time to time and compare them to a sock the girls wear now. (I have the NICU booties they wore, along with a "normal" newborn sock/bootie, and the size difference is incredible!)

Keep on making those items, I can tell you as a former NICU mom, it is very much welcome, wanted AND needed :)

NursingAgainstdaOdds · Aug 28, 2008

I've knitted tiny little caps and blankies for a bereavement coordinator ... it was a strangely gratifying project. I've been told it is helpful for the family to have something to remember the child by, something that belonged to their child. Sadly, we live in a society where a lot of people don't even understand the need for a funeral in these cases, and mourning a loss in that circumstance can be so crippling.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Oct 24, 2008

We have WAY more than we need, but you betcha we use em!

justme1972 · Oct 24, 2008

At the NICU where my children were, they put a "prayer quit" over top of each isolette the day the baby is born, and it's sent home with the child.

They attach a tag giving the name of the quilters guild that makes the quilts, and each time they get ready to deliver a stack, the women touch the stacks of quilts and they pray over them.

Even the non-religious didn't object.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 24, 2008

At the NICU where my children were, they put a "prayer quit" over top of each isolette the day the baby is born, and it's sent home with the child.
They attach a tag giving the name of the quilters guild that makes the quilts, and each time they get ready to deliver a stack, the women touch the stacks of quilts and they pray over them.
Even the non-religious didn't object.

That is very very cool. :redbeathe