Tutorial: DIY Doudou

July 14, 2019

Of doudou, on the market, there are very soft and fun ones. However, nothing prevents you from creating your own homemade doudou. It can be crocheted, but perhaps this technique is reserved for the most skilled and patient mothers. Otherwise, we offer you a really simple solution. The doudou (pronounced 'dudù') is part of the so-called transitional objects, in which the child sees his main reference figure again, usually his mother, recognizing her as an external body but still a friend. In fact, doudou 'smell of mum', and this good smell allows the baby to calm down (before bedtime, for example, or when the mother goes away). In order for it to acquire its mother's smell, experts advise parents to start placing it in the bed a month before birth. There is no ideal doudou: it can be in the shape of a teddy bear or bunny, it can take on less defined features or it can even just be a cover. It is made up of a bulkier central part and another similar to a soft handkerchief, usually knotted at one end to help the baby's little hands grip it. All in fabric. The important thing is that it is placed in the cradle in total safety, considering that only from 4 months does the child begin to be able to move its limbs and move anything that can accidentally end up on its face. REQUIRED Fabric in a color of your choice (usually soft colours): 2 pieces of 20x20 cm Fabric of another color of your choice (normally white, to make the head): 2 pieces of 10x10 cm Ear cloth: 4 pieces of 1x2cm Needle, thread, scissors, marker and cotton METHOD 01 Overlap the two larger square fabrics and sew the edges together to create the body, so that both sides have the chosen pattern. 02 Overlap the 2 10x10 cm pieces and cut them to obtain 2 identical semi-circles, with one curved side and one straight side. Sew the 2 curved sides together to form a pocket. Fill it with enough cotton to create the head, sew it and attach it tightly to the center of the body square fabric. 03 Add the ears, each obtained by sewing 2 pieces of fabric together. 04 With the felt pen, draw a basic face, eyes, nose and mouth. THE TRICK Always sew inside out and then turn the fabric over: in this way the seams will remain hidden. Ideal for those who are not a hand sew ace. RECYCLING OPTION To build a do-it-yourself doudou you can also use discarded clothes, such as old t-shirts. They will certainly know about mom. Taken from Being Born a Mom