赤ちゃんにタコを贈ろうというデンマークで生まれた不思議な呼びかけが、世界中に広がっている。新生児ユニットに入院中の小さな赤ちゃんたちのお気に入りが、かぎ針編みの「タコ」だということに気づいた人々が始めた運動だ。
運動を主催している団体「Octopus for a Preemie」が公表している呼びかけによると、保育器の中などで育てられる低出生体重児や早産児の身体には、栄養や酸素を補う様々なチューブが取り付けられている。
時に赤ちゃんはそのチューブを引き抜こうとしてしまうが、8本の長い足があるタコを握りしめることが、その予防につながる。また、その可愛らしい姿が、赤ちゃんの成長を心配する親たちにとっての癒しにもなるという。
「Octopus for a Preemie」は、制作方法を公開し、賛同した多くの人がかぎ針編みの制作と配布を手伝っている。ページ内では、親たちから投稿された、タコのぬいぐるみを抱いてスヤスヤと眠る赤ちゃんたちの様子も多数シェアされている。
ボランティアからタコのぬいぐるみを受け取っている病院の一つ、スコットランドのアバディーン産婦人科病院の看護師、ニコール・バウウェンス氏は、イブニング・エクスプレスの取材にこのように語っている。
「タコのぬいぐるみの柔らかい足は、へその緒を模倣しており、胎児が子宮にいるように、安全に感じさせる。赤ちゃんを癒す素晴らしい方法だ。タコは家族の一員となり、赤ちゃんたちは彼らと特別な絆で結ばれています」。
ぬいぐるみは100%綿製で、感染症を防ぐため、赤ちゃんに渡す前に最低でも60度の温度で洗える詰め物を使うことなどの仕様が定められている。
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双子のシロクマの赤ちゃん
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The 14 week old polar bear twins play in their enclosure during the first outside excursion in the zoo in Munich Hellabrunn, southern Germany, on March 19, 2014. (credit:Getty Images)
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14 week-old twin polar bear cubs play during their first presentation to the media in Hellabrunn zoo on March 19, 2014 in Munich, Germany. The male and female twins were born on December 9, 2013 in the zoo. (credit:Getty Images)
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14 week-old twin polar bear cubs play during their first presentation to the media in Hellabrunn zoo on March 19, 2014 in Munich, Germany. The male and female twins were born on December 9, 2013 in the zoo. (credit:Getty Images)
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