WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF OCTOPUS STUFFED ANIMALS?

The giant octopus plush toy  is now considered a real therapeutic "remedy".  Widely used by the largest hospitals in Europe to cocoon very premature babies.

This new type of awakening comforter therefore has several benefits approved by many neonatology department managers. But how can the octopus plush toy comfort the infant  ? Are all octopus plush toys therapeutic? Do they really help awaken babies from an early age?

1. Who invented octopus plush toys for therapeutic purposes ?

In reality, no one in particular has ever really invented the octopus plush toy. It is a form of cuddly animal like all the others. On the other hand, its therapeutic concept was used by a Danish midwife on her own premature child. In 2013, when her baby was born too early, she had the idea of ​​knitting small octopuses with tentacles that the newborn's little hands could easily grasp.

Having noticed that this little comfort object worked on her child who seemed much more peaceful, she decided to share her experience on her blog. Other parents of premature children followed her and all found this object miraculous.

For babies born prematurely, the environment outside their mother's womb can still be a source of discomfort. Their first hours and days, or even months, are spent in an incubator in the maternity ward. Babies can feel alone and constantly need a reassuring presence. They also experience unimaginable stress . Having been separated from their mother too soon, particularly from the umbilical cord, they are connected to machines that monitor their vital prognosis and are fed by tubes connected to the nose or navel.

The octopus is the ideal soft toy to accompany premature babies in their incubator, thanks in particular to their tentacles . These have the same shape as the umbilical cord, to which they were attached in their mother's womb for several months and from which they were able to feed in order to develop. According to many mothers faced with this worrying stage of their baby's prematurity, this concept of the octopus soft toy placed in the incubator also has other advantages. Nurses who monitored babies in neonatology are often forced to reintroduce the tube constantly torn off by the newborn's little hands several times a day and at night. The presence of the knitted octopus then comforts the child and gives him comfort. Instead of tearing off the cables, he easily grabs the tentacles of the new kind of baby soft toy.

2. Knitted octopus plush: the concept of making it through amigurumi :

The Japanese have made crocheted soft toys an "endemic" creation in its own right. The art of knitting anthropomorphic animals or "amigurumi" has been perpetuated since the 12th ^century in the Land of the Rising Sun. Today, with the democratization of these objects for therapeutic purposes, amigurumi has been widely imported into the West.

Octopus plushies can be made using two distinct techniques: crochet or knitting. The crochet design system has been the most widely used in recent years. The stitches are worked in rows and in a continuous manner, unlike the crochet techniques we know. In amigurumi, each element of the animal is crocheted separately. The body first, the head and tentacles of the octopus at the end. The elements are then assembled.

This method of manufacturing is however reserved for slightly more complicated animal plush toys . The simpler models that only have a head and a trunk for example are crocheted in one go on a single support of wool, cotton and synthetic fibers. Amigurumi also stands out for the very colorful character of the crocheted animals. This Japanese manufacturing method can also represent other animals than octopuses, such as the cat, the dog, the rabbit, the little bear. We recently found the panther, the hippopotamus, the white tiger, the crocodile and many other cuddly toys and company.

3. The octopus plush toy: the object of international craze :

Even if science has not yet proven the benefits of crocheted octopus plush toys , nurses who have experimented with their use are unanimous. These cuddly toys like no other are said to have virtues on the heart rate of babies born well before term. The heartbeats of infants accompanied by these small soft octopus plush toys are said to have stabilized more quickly. In addition, it turned out that babies who were put in an incubator with these comforting animals kept them for several years, up to 3 years on average.   

The satisfaction of the parents is such that these little octopuses are not sold, they are offered to those who need them. The system of their use is therefore based on volunteering. To become a volunteer, you must respect certain strict rules of crocheting. Each element of the comforter must meet safety "standards" to be respected to the letter. The choice of material is first of all crucial. You need wool and a stuffing element capable of withstanding high-temperature washing, without fluffing and without crumbling. The head of the animal must not be designed less than 4.5 cm, so that the premature baby does not risk putting it in his mouth.

The dimensions of the tentacles must also be respected. Their length must not exceed 20 cm when stretched. Given the solidarity nature of the manufacture of these small octopuses offered , the knitters have even developed tutorial videos so that everyone knows how to design them while respecting all the rules relating to them. The only counterpart of this free manufacturing is that the name of each knitter appears on the octopus comforter that she has made and offered.

The association "Petites pieuvres" is also responsible for managing their manufacturing, by verifying compliance with the quality charter. In each hospital where these stuffed animals are adopted as comfort therapy for newborns , an ambassador works to maintain them, wash them and assign a name to each knitter on each accessory. This ambassador is also responsible for offering them to young parents whose child was born prematurely. Among other things, in Denmark, the country where this concept was born, nearly 22,000 stuffed animals have already been made since their birth in 2013.

The use of this therapy was also imported to France, notably at the Fontainebleau hospital, the first establishment to validate octopus plush therapy for premature babies . Other maternity hospitals followed, notably those in Valenciennes and Troyes. These hospitals followed the model from Denmark. Volunteering and solidarity are the watchwords. The large plush toys are therefore offered free of charge in these French hospitals, on condition that the names of knitters are registered.

4. The octopus plush toy for therapy: how to make it  ?

The association Peluches pieuvre advocates DIY through its tutorial made for everyone. These soft toys are a priori very easy to make, provided you know how to knit. But other manufacturers also offer how to design a small octopus plush toy for your child, which will serve as a toy or decoration for their room. All you need is two different fabrics, preferably non-stretchy, a cotton thread to make the tentacles as well as eyes to sew. Having a pattern is ideal, it can be downloaded freely on the Internet.

The first step is to cut out the pattern properly. This must be done carefully, because the success of your octopus plush depends on it. The next step is to sew each piece of the head, stopping at the genesis of the tentacles. After forming the head, each tentacle must be pinned, leaving the outline open in order to be able to turn the entire piece over to better finalize the entire octopus or to be able to successfully make a reversible plush . The ability of the octopus plush to be able to turn over at this stage also allows for easy stuffing. When the octopus is properly turned over, you can start stuffing to add a volume effect to the whole and especially to the tentacles, which should ideally contain the largest volume of stuffing.

5. The octopus plush in all its forms :

In addition to the little knitted octopus for infants , this baby comforter is now available in countless materials and shapes to serve as comforters for all babies and to comfort them in their little moments of sadness. A whole selection of modern games and toys is available in specialized online stores as well as on our site.

The big  Octavia octopus plush toy is, for example, one of the most popular models this year. We love it for its soft-to-the-touch polar fleece, for all the cuddles it offers to all children, boys and girls, and for the comfort it gives them before going to sleep or throughout the night. The Octavia plush toy comes in many colors to appeal to both little boys and little girls. The finish and stitching are very neat, it is a perfectly safe early childhood object. This type of very soft cuddly plush toy is more suitable for older children from 3 years old, but also for toddlers who play under the supervision of an adult.

6. The octopus plush and its octopus variant :

The octopus plush is the little sister of the octopus plush, also in vogue with young parents. This comforting stuffed animal can also be transformed into a cute decorative element for a baby's room or a child's room. The small octopus plush also personalizes party decorations, for a birthday, a baptism, etc. These stuffed animals are ideal gifts to add to a birth list.

The large octopus plush is the trendy model today. Its size offers the real presence of an ideal companion for your child during the day or at night. Yes, this octopus plush can also help him fall asleep. The most used material for manufacturing is cotton, offering an unmatched touch. Easy to maintain, the octopus plush is easily hand washed, the recommended option to give it a longer life.

7. Does the giant octopus plush toy also have a place in your home  ?

The giant octopus plush is there for children who need cuddles and softness in XXL version. Your little one will not resist cuddling this soft everyday companion. This adorable soft plush  made with care and attention will meet all your needs.

With its large dimensions, from 100 centimeters in height, it will easily find its place in a corner of a baby's room. Given its length, and like all my giant stuffed animals , this one is not recommended for children under 3 years old. A great and original interior decoration !

8. How to choose a stuffed animal for your child  ?

 The choice of a teddy bear should be based on the quality of the teddy bear, but also on the age of the child. Among the criteria for purchasing a plush toy are:

     A. The softness of the material :

A plush toy worthy of the name must be absolutely soft to convey comfort, but also comfort. To achieve this result, manufacturers strive to choose the material carefully, and there are a large number of them.

Cotton velvet  , polyester , linen and wool are some of the most commonly used materials today. It is therefore important for parents to choose the material they like. However, since baby's skin is still very fragile, it is important to ensure that the material of the plush toy is hypoallergenic , which means that it respects the nature of baby's skin. Nothing is more pleasant for your baby than cuddling a soft teddy bear. ?

     B. Ease of maintenance :

The comforter should be as easy to wash as possible, since it will get dirty if the slightly older child takes it everywhere he goes in the house or outside. Quality soft toys should withstand machine washing for more practicality, and this, at a high temperature, minimum 30 ° C.

A stuffed toy should ideally be washed at least once a month depending on its state of cleanliness . Regular hand washing or machine washing is also a guarantee of well-being for the child. Knowing that a hand-  washable stuffed toy will preserve the longevity of your favorite animal plush.

 Discover the  doudou et compagnie plush collection and make your little ones happy!