Babies find warmth, love in homemade blankets

When premature babies leave the incubators of Waikato Hospital’s intensive care ward to go to the neonatal ward, they go wrapped in love from the Kiwanis Club of Westside Hamilton, New Zealand. The Kiwanians stitch and donate colorful, soft, polar fleece blankets specially designed to fit tiny hospital cots and bassinets. The babies take the blankets home when they are released from the hospital.

“Mothers have seven colors to choose from,” says Kiwanian Thea Price. “It gives a personal touch and makes it look more inviting for everyone. The Kiwanis logo and our club name are on a label, which is stitched on the outside of every blanket.”

“Heavy discounts” from area fabric stores make the blankets an affordable project. So far, Thea says, the club has donated 100 blankets—and is making more.

“This will be an ongoing project,” she says. “The whole idea is extremely well received by mothers and nurses. They are really excited about it all.”