Newborn Knot Dolls added to my Etsy shop

Before I had a daughter, I didn't understand the different styles of Waldorf dolls that I would see being sold on Etsy.  Why a knot doll, a sack doll, a limbed doll?

Now that I have had my daughter, I can feel the answers as I watch her development.  When she was first born, her hands would search for material, thin, soft, without any bulk, to hold and suck.  It was often involuntary movement that wouldn't stop until the above was nestled into her hands.  This is often why we see newborns with muslin cloths, or comfort blankets, sucking on a corner as they are sleeping.  The newborn dolls have no facial features, no distractions.  They are thin, soft and are made to fit into those tiny hands.  They have knotted hands and hats so that there is some texture for a baby to hold onto and later to bite and chew for sore teething gums. 

Each newborn doll is stuffed with a ball of wool that is then tied to form the head.  Wool, even when clean, has natural oils that retain smell.  So when you receive a knot doll, you can place it in your shirt and it will smell like you and comfort a little one while sleeping. 

I am often asked how you "make"  a child like a new toy or doll.  You can encourage attachment to a newborn knot doll by making it something that is only ever in the baby's sleeping space, between you and the baby while feeding or when singing a special song. Soon the baby will associate the doll with those special comfortable moments.

They are simple to take care of and one of the only Waldorf dolls (that I make) that can be machine washed and dried in the dryer.  That being said the head ball will become more solid if you put it in the dryer so I prefer to let it dry on a radiator.  I always recommend, if you are going to air dry your dolls, to have two of the same colour so one is always ready for a snuggle. Parents often will do this as a loss precaution and after watching the pain my own brother went through when loosing his best friend teddy bear, I understand why.   Often times I will only post one on my Etsy site, so if this is something you are looking for, please just "convo" me and I will let you know if there are others in that fabric choice available.