After delving deep into the topic of diapering babies in our last blog post, today we would like to address an equally important subject: the proper and gentle care of our little ones' delicate skin. Washing babies requires special care and attention to protect and nurture their sensitive skin.
You can engage with your baby by telling funny rhymes. Here's an example:
"Baby splashes happily in the water so clear,
With love and care, always near.
Gently washed from head to toe,
Clean and fresh, oh the joy that does show!"
When bathing a baby, it is important to opt for especially gentle and natural skincare products. A wonderful alternative to conventional baby wash lotions and shampoos are water and breast milk. Water is gentle and cleanses the skin gently, while breast milk, due to its natural composition, has a soothing and nurturing effect.
Bathing should be done in warm water, with the water temperature carefully checked to avoid burns. You can enrich the bathwater with a dash of breast milk to further nurture and protect your baby's skin.
In addition to choosing the right skincare product - or breast milk - the selection of washcloths also plays a significant role. So why not crochet a personalized washcloth for your baby?
Here are a few important benefits of crocheted washcloths:
1. Compared to disposable washcloths or synthetic materials, crocheted washcloths are typically more environmentally friendly as they are often made from reusable materials like cotton and can last longer.
2. Texture and effectiveness: Crocheted washcloths often have a slightly exfoliating effect due to their texture, which helps gently cleanse the skin and remove dead skin cells. They can also help stimulate circulation and make the skin softer.
3. Handmade gift: Crocheted washcloths also make great handmade gifts for friends and family. They show that you have taken the time to create something special and can add a personal touch.
In the shop, you can find instructions for fantastic washcloth hand puppets. This not only ensures proper care but also adds a lot of fun to bath time.
So far the instructions are only available in German, but they will soon also appear in English.
For those who want to start with a simpler version, we have prepared a free crochet pattern for an adorable little baby washcloth with a heart for you.
Materials:
- Cotton yarn in two colors (e.g., beige and brown) - here we used cotton yarn that has fibers like a terry cloth towel, e.g., Baby Smiles Lenja Soft from Schachenmayr
- Matching crochet hook (size 4 in our case)
- Scissors
To better follow the crochet pattern, the pictures were made with regular cotton yarn, as the stitches are more visible.
Here's how it's done:
First, you need to crochet the heart in the middle of the washcloth and then shape it into a square. We start in color 1. First, crochet a chain of 17 stitches.
Round 1: Work on one side of the chain: in the second chain from the hook (the first is the turning chain), make a single crochet, then make 1 single crochet in each of the next 8 chains,
2 chains,
1 single crochet in each of the next 7 chains, 3 single crochets in the last chain.
Work back on the other side of the chain: 1 single crochet in each of the first 6 chains,
skip 2 chains,
1 single crochet in each of the next 6 chains,
2 single crochets in the second-to-last chain, and close the round with a slip stitch in the turning chain.
Round 2: 1 turning chain, 3 single crochets in the first stitch,
1 single crochet in each of the next 7 stitches,
1 single crochet in the space between stitches, 2 chains, and 1 single crochet,
1 single crochet in each of the next 7 stitches, 3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet,
3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches, skip 2 stitches, 1 single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches, 3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet in the last stitch, and close the round with a slip stitch.
Round 3: 1 turning chain, 3 single crochets in the first stitch,
1 single crochet in each of the next 10 stitches,
1 single crochet in the space between stitches, 2 chains, and 1 single crochet,
1 single crochet in each of the next 10 stitches, 3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet,
3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches, skip 2 stitches, 1 single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches, 3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet in the last stitch, and close the round with a slip stitch.
Round 4: 1 turning chain, 3 single crochets in the first stitch,
1 single crochet in each of the next 13 stitches,
1 single crochet in the space between stitches, 2 chains, and 1 single crochet,
1 single crochet in each of the next 13 stitches, 3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet,
3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet in each of the next 7 stitches, skip 2 stitches, 1 single crochet in each of the next 7 stitches, 3 single crochets in the next stitch, 1 single crochet in the last stitch, and close the round with a slip stitch.
Round 5: Change to color 2,
1 turning chain, 2 single crochets in the first stitch,
1 single crochet in each of the next 16 stitches,
1 single crochet in the space between stitches, 2 chains, and 1 single crochet,
1 single crochet in each of the next 16 stitches, *2 single crochets in the next stitch*, repeat 3 times,
1 single crochet in each of the next 8 stitches, skip 2 stitches, 1 single crochet in each of the next 8 stitches, *2 single crochets in the next stitch*, repeat 2 times, and close the round with a slip stitch.
6th round: Color change to color 1
3 chain stitches
1 double crochet
1 half double crochet
3 single crochet
2 half double crochet
2 double crochet
3 treble crochet
2 triple treble crochet, 2 chain stitches
1 triple treble crochet in the same stitch as the last triple treble crochet
2 double crochet in the same stitch
2 double crochet in the same stitch
2 double crochet in the same stitch
2 half double crochet
2 single crochet
2 slip stitches
2 single crochet
2 half double crochet
2 double crochet in the same stitch
2 treble crochet in the same stitch
1 triple treble crochet, 2 chain stitches
1 triple treble crochet in the same stitch as the last triple treble crochet
1 triple treble crochet
3 double crochet
2 double crochet
2 half double crochet
3 single crochet
1 half double crochet
2 double crochet, 2 chain stitches
2 double crochet
1 half double crochet
3 single crochet
1 half double crochet
1 double crochet
4 treble crochet
1 double crochet
1 half double crochet
3 single crochet
1 half double crochet
2 double crochet, 2 chain stitches and close the round with a slip stitch.
7th round:
3 chain stitches
1 double crochet in each of the next 15 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 20 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 15 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 20 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and close the round with a slip stitch.
8th round:
3 chain stitches
1 double crochet in each of the next 17 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 22 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 17 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 22 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and close the round with a slip stitch
9th round: Color change to color 2
3 chain stitches
1 double crochet in each of the next 19 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 24 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 19 stitches
1 double crochet, 20 chain stitches, and 1 double crochet in the chain space
1 double crochet in each of the next 24 stitches
1 double crochet, 2 chain stitches, and close the round with a slip stitch.
10th round: Color change to color 1
1 chain stitch
1 single crochet in each of the next 21 stitches
1 single crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 single crochet in the chain space
1 single crochet in each of the next 26 stitches
1 single crochet, 2 chain stitches, and 1 single crochet in the chain space
1 single crochet in each of the next 21 stitches
Work 20 single crochet in the chain space
1 single crochet in each of the next 26 stitches
1 single crochet, 2 chain stitches, and close the round with a slip stitch
Finally, you just need to weave in the ends of the yarn that you did not crochet over, and you will have connected everything with love.
