Tentacles for Tinies: The many arms of the crocheted octopus.

The use of crocheted octopus in neonatal units first began with the ‘Octo Project’ in Denmark in 2013 and has since spread internationally¹. The tentacles of the crocheted octopus are designed to resemble the umbilical cord. Anecdotal reports suggest when premature babies hold the tentacles of the octopus they were calmer, less likely interfere with monitoring equipment and appear more comfortable overall, possibly as they were reminded of their time in the womb. However, to date,there is no published evidence on the potential benefits of octopus.