Therapy Dolls and Snoedels

DOQ has two ongoing projects to support the families of infants who are hospitalized. Links to the patterns and directions can be found below. Please bring completed dolls to the regular DOQ guild meetings.

The first project is making small therapy dolls to give to children whose baby brother or sister is in the hospital. The simple stuffed dolls can be used to explain what is happening to the baby, and be held and cuddled by the older brother or sister.  Therapy Doll Pattern

The second project is making snoedels for premature infants. The first  Snoedel was created by a Dutch woman inspired by the birth of a friend’s premature infant. The Dutch word “snoedel” means “snuggle”. The mother (or father) keeps the snoedel close to there skin where they absorb and retain their scent. Then when held or placed near a newborn or infant the scent is slowly released to comfort the baby.  Snoedels are used in the NICU to minimize infant stress, comfort parents, and to continue the baby/parent bonding process when babies are separated from their mothers following birth and placed in incubators.  Snoedel Directions