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Baby sleeping bag challenge
Background
Each winter, refugees’ and displaced people’s babies and young children die of hypothermia in the Middle East because there isn’t enough warm clothing and blankets to keep them warm.
Any mothers reading this will also be aware of the way young children manage to creep out from under their covers during the night, no matter how many times you tuck them back in. Trying to keep a baby or toddler warm at night would be an immensely difficult thing to do in a tent in sub zero temperatures.
One of the safest ways to keep a baby warm during the night is with a baby sleeping bag as they are effectively wearing their bedding and therefore cannot smother themselves with their blankets. I used sleeping bags every night with both of my babies.
When I had my first son, we lived in a house that was exceptionally cold at night. When he was a baby, I struggled to find sleeping bags with long sleeves and I used to worry about his arms and hands getting cold.
I think that these sleeping bags are one of the most essential items that people could knit for this winter for the millions of displaced people in the Middle East this winter. It is heart breaking seeing reports of such tiny babies and young children who have died of hypothermia when it is something that is so preventable. As a mother, trying to imagine losing a baby or young child in this way, having already lost everything else is just unbearable. Anything that we can do to prevent this happening, would be so worthwhile. If one baby’s life is saved, then we have made a big difference and have something fantastic to celebrate!
I would love these handmade sleeping bags to be sent in separately from the other hand knitted items, with their size on as we may use these in some of the mother and baby, and newborn baby care packs that we will be sending.
Design
Babies’ hands and feet are always the first parts to get cold, so I am keen that we should make baby sleeping bags that are long sleeved. The icing on the cake for me would be if the sleeves could be long enough to cover the babies’ hands, or if they could have roll over scratch mitts (see attached picture). I don’t know how easy or difficult the roll over scratch mitts would be to achieve with a knitted garment. My issue isn’t so much the scratching, although that is important too, but their little hands getting cold when the temperatures in these camps and construction sites where families are living drop below zero at night.
Baby sleeping bags are traditionally very long (and look excessively so), so they can be used continually for a number of months. Babies do their most intense growing in the first 6 months. For this reason, I would love the sleeping bags to be long enough that they could potentially last each newborn baby at least 6 months and take them through the winter.
Although people tend to use light and pastel colours for baby clothes, I would ask whether anyone making these garments could favour bold colours, and even stripes or patterns. The reason is that many of these people cannot afford to buy washing powder so colours and patterns that will not show the dirt as easily will no doubt be appreciated.
The challenge
I would like to offer up a challenge to you, and your friends to see whether and of you might be able to design a baby sleeping bag that could meet all of the features on the list I have made below. The idea would be that you would then be happy for me to share your precious design with other people who would also be willing to knit these for the babies and toddlers who are in desperate need. If you or anyone you know could come up with a design for something just like this, I would be so thrilled.
These are the features that I think the sleeping bags need to have to be absolutely perfect:
- Long sleeves and chest which are a snug fit, but stretchy enough to grow with the baby while still being as warm as possible
- Either sleeves that are long enough to cover the baby’s hands as it grows, or turn over scratch mitts, to keep the baby warm
- Button or zip fastening on the front or side for getting in and out
- Button or zip fastening along the bottom and/or side so that the baby’s nappy can be changed during the night without having to be fully undressed (the zip position, when fully closed, should be at the bottom not under the arm)
- Ideally a hood attached, or at least a matching bonnet with strings that can do up underneath the baby’s chin. This is to stop the bonnet/hat coming off while the baby is sleeping
- Extra long length so that it can stay with the baby it as it grows
- 0-6 month size, in particular, would ideally be made with yarn that is kind to a newborn baby’s sensitive skin. (non scratchy yarns, perhaps even thick/bulky cottons or special baby yarns like cashmerinos etc. although I know these can be quite pricey)
- Stitches which will maximise on the warmth of the garment, but also be achievable for a less experienced knitter. I know that cable knit is beautiful and so warm, as is fair isle, but these might be trickier for some knitters who might be put off if it looks too difficult. But stitches like ribs, moss stitch etc. could be really great.
- If using a zip on the front in the middle, some sort of tab over the zip to stop it rubbing the baby’s chin and making it sore
Ideally we will be able to have a pattern for each age group. For example 0-6 months, 6-18 months 18-36 months.
If you, or someone you know could design something like this I would really love to hear from you. If you are part of a knitting group or forum and can circulate this challenge I would be so grateful. Please feel free to contact me. Below are some guidelines for sizes, although they sadly do not give an indication of the sleeve sizes.
Pink sleeping bag with turn over scratch mitts