Care home's knitters make tiny hats to keep hospital's premature babies warm

Knitters at Galsworthy House care home have got their needles and balls of wool out to create hats for the premature babies at nearby Kingston Hospital.

Regulars at the home’s Tuesday knitting group in Kingston-Upon-Thames, have begun casting off for a good cause and expect their final creations will make the tiny babies’ early start in life a little easier.

A hat proves useful to a small baby to help regulate its temperature. Neonatal units in hospitals across the country have given hats to infants but find it difficult to get hold of enough hats that will fit the babies' heads.

Hats are often given as gifts to parents as soon as a premature baby is admitted. To comply with hospital control of infection policies, families are responsible for washing the hats and, in this way, the items are not mixed with other babies washing on the unit – reducing the risk of cross infection.

Being responsible for the hats also gives parents a chance to do something for their baby. Because the hats go home with the family, the unit always needs more. Ribbed hats are preferred for the babies.

Activities co-ordinator Irene Giordano said by helping the youngest in society, the older residents are helping themselves too.

“Knitting and crochet are popular with our residents and a great activity for older people as they keep the fingers moving and the brain busy.”

Galsworthy House, run by Caring Homes, offers nursing and dementia care at the home on Kingston Hill.

With some of the Tuesday group’s knitters living with varying degrees of dementia, Irene and fellow activities coordinator Sue Ottoway picked out simple knitting patterns for the whole group to take part.

Resident Diana aged 94 said: “My grandmother taught me to knit when I was about six.

“I knitted jumpers for my children and grandchildren so it is lovely to carry on knitting here at Galsworthy House.”