We are happy to announce that Octopolis Foundation, on the occasion of Malta’s Sustainable Development Action Days 2026, delivered 60 “100% cotton baby octopuses” to the Ordine Mauriziano Umberto I Hospital in Turin for premature babies, lovingly made by the ladies of San Mauro Torinese “the thread that unites.” Photos and videos thanks to Ilaria Loi.
Starting from September 18, dozens of handmade cotton “octopuses” were delivered to Mauriziano Hospital in Turin, which will be placed in incubators to keep newborns company, so they can hold the tentacles as if they were their mother’s umbilical cord for comfort and calm.
The international Octopolis Foundation, based in the Republic of Malta, was warmly welcomed in the Neonatology Department by some members of the medical staff, who oversee the planning, organization, and supervision of the department’s activities. A very professional staff to assist sick and premature newborns: a service that combines modern technology with a great sense of warmth. A place full of humanity!
I owe all of this to the friends from “the thread that unites,” many volunteers who made themselves available to create the 100% cotton “little balls” for Octopus Therapy.
When a baby is born prematurely, it’s likely that they’ll be admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to get the proper care and therefore won’t be in direct contact with mom or dad right away. Octopus Therapy, or polpo-therapy, gives premature babies another form of comfort during this delicate time in the NICU. This now very popular practice uses soft cotton octopus toys, which help soothe the baby and ease the initial separation from mom. According to the latest estimates from the SIN – Italian Society of Neonatology, around 32,000 premature babies are born in Italy each year, meaning the birth happens before the 37th week of pregnancy.
What is octopus therapy? Octopus therapy started in Denmark, at the Aarhus University Hospital, where the medical staff noticed an amazing phenomenon: small plush toys, specifically little knitted octopuses, have a calming effect on newborns. The idea of the knitted octopus came about when a dad asked the staff for a crocheted octopus for his daughter who was hospitalized at Aarhus University Hospital. Seeing the benefits for other premature babies as well, The Octo Project was born in 2013, a project shared with multiple hospitals and many volunteers around the world to make little knitted octopuses for premature babies. Today, hundreds of hospitals and organizations take part in this initiative.
The benefits of octopus therapy: by holding the tentacles of these little friends, children not only show an improvement in breathing, but also a regulation of heart rate and an increase in blood oxygen levels. This practice also reduces the likelihood that newborns will pull on tubes and wires connected to them in incubators. This discovery highlights the importance of physical contact and sensory stimulation for the well-being of newborns in intensive care. In fact, the small tentacles resemble the umbilical cord, the very first mother-child bond in the womb, and interacting with them helps make the babies’ breathing and heartbeat more regular. To further enhance the calming effect on the child, the mother can hold the little octopus on her chest to pass on her scent. So here’s how these little dolls are not just a way to soothe babies, but also act as support for families dealing with a stay in the NICU, encouraging them to go through this critical time more calmly. Having these cute cotton companions around helps kids feel safer and comforted, making their healing and adjustment process easier.
