Crocheting or knitting for your baby can be very rewarding, whether you crochet for your own baby or for someone else’s. And babies generally look super cute in anything that you crochet for them. However, there are some safety precautions to consider when crocheting or knitting for your new baby.
Material
One thing to consider is the material. You want to make sure that your baby is not allergic, that it won’t irritate its skin, or that it will fall apart while the baby is wearing it.
Your safest bet is to stick with baby yarns found in the baby section. At the same time, you still want to scrutinize each new yarn you work with, as sometimes yarns do get recalled for various reasons.
Double Check that Everything is Secure
When finishing your baby’s item, make sure that everything is nice and secure. All buttons, appliques and embellishments can come loose if not attached properly, so make sure to use a strong material to secure everything. And also be sure to use a proper technique that will hold up to the baby playing or pulling on it repeatedly.
Another thing to double check is your loose ends. The last thing you want is for the item to unravel and strangle or choke your little one. That would be a real tragedy. So please leave a longer tail than normal to give yourself lots of yarn to weave in and out to secure your work.
This goes for all baby items from clothing to baby toys.
The Correct Size
A garment that is a bit too big on a baby is probably harmless. Just make sure it’s not overly big, otherwise they might get themselves into trouble. But make sure that you don’t cut off their circulation by crocheting items that fit too tight. This goes for hats, sweaters, pants, booties and anything else you decide to crochet for them.
Always check your gauge to ensure it’ll come out to the size intended. And also, be mindful of the material you use as some material will result in a much more comfortable fabric than others. Acrylics are generally stretchy, whereas cotton not so much.
Overly Lacy
Another thing to consider is the lace. You don’t want any holes big enough for the baby to become tangled up. A bit of lace, big enough for their fingers to poke through is generally safe, but you don’t want their entire hand to go through and get caught.