Dozens of knitted cribs for babies who have sadly died prematurely have been donated to help grieving families.
The tiny beds are used when parents spend precious moments with their babies who have died. They can ensure they look comfortable and are treated with the dignity they deserve.
Volunteers have been working since February on the project organised by the team at W. Storey Funeral Service in Guisborough.
Now 100 of the cribs have been shared between North Tees and The James Cook University Hospital during Baby Loss Awareness Week, with W. Storey also holding several more which will be used when arranging babies’ funerals.
The team at W.Storey, which is part of the Funeral Partners network, started with one person making a crib in February, before launching social media appeals for wool, containers to use as bases and people willing and able to knit them.
Several yards of wool has been donated, and one kind visitor to the funeral home spent £50 on containers to ensure the project could go ahead.
Funeral Arranger Francesca Capaldi has been co-ordinating the efforts. She previously worked in a hospital as a Bereavement Support Officer and knows the difference these tiny cribs can make.
“As early as 12 to 14 weeks, the baby will be fully formed and for them to be laid to rest in one of these little cribs can be such a comfort for the parents,” she said.
“The call for them in hospitals is huge.
“The success of this has all been down to the kindness and generosity of our community who got involved – the person who made the very first one whose pattern we have used, the individual who gave us so many containers and then the members of the community and knitting groups who have spent time creating so many.
These little cribs do make such a difference to the parents– I’ve seen it first-hand, we are grateful that we are able to help families when coping with the loss of a baby.
For further information about Baby Loss Awareness Week visit sands.org.uk
