How a Leeds care home’s knitting needles are bringing premature babies and mums closer at Christmas
Residents at a care home in Leeds have proved to be real purls by picking up their knitting needles to craft more than 4,000 baby bonding squares to be used in hospitals across the country.
Caring residents at Sunnyview House, in Beeston, have made it their mission to knit as many 10cmx10cm bonding squares as possible to help mums connect with premature babies as part of Bupa’s national challenge.
And thanks to their knit and natter mornings throughout the year, residents alongside visitors and the local community have knitted 4,413 squares.
They will be used in neonatal units across the UK to help create connections between mothers and their babies when physically apart.
One square is kept with the mother and one with the baby, and they are swapped regularly to help the baby recognise their mother’s scent.
Resident Brenda Blakelock was just one of those to pick up her knitting needles to take part in the knitting challenge.
She said: “It was so enjoyable knitting the squares knowing they were going to help bond the premature babies with their mums.
“It feels so good to know we are making a difference.”
Participants in the challenge had varying levels of knitting knowledge - while resident Eileen Carr had 80 years of knitting experience to use, fellow resident Betty Wood used the challenge as a chance to learn the craft.
Both are pleased with the “fantastic” result which will have a positive impact for thousands of new mothers and babies.
The knitted squares are designed to help mothers and babies bond, but they’ve also already helped Sunnyview House residents connect with each other.
Sunnyview House home manager David Anyakwo said: “Residents, visitors, and members of the local community all came together for the same cause and helped to make a real difference.
“Having a natter and catching up with one another was all part of the fun. It was heart-warming to see residents who don’t often socialise joining in - the icing on the cake!”
Though the challenge is now complete, Sunnyview House has no plans to stop knitting.
With ‘knit and natter’ mornings a regular fixture at the care home, they’ll keep finding ways to use their yarn and needles for good.