Funeral home in Glasgow donates hand-knitted clothes to sick and stillborn babies

Wylie & Lochhead Co-op Funeralcare in Uddingston started their appeal a year ago, during the pandemic, to encourage local knitters to help out.

They create hats, blankets, cardigans and teddy bears, which the company then donates to Glasgow hospitals to give to babies who are sick or have passed away.

The donations aim to provide some comfort in what is an extremely difficult time in the parents' lives.

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Michelle McKee, Funeral Arranger at the Wylie & Lochhead Co-op Funeralcare said: "I have lost two children, so I have been one of the ones that benefitted from these wee teddy bears and wee hats.

"I know how I felt and what it meant to me, but also, it's very comforting for the parents.

"Sometimes these babies are too small for clothes, so they give them a wee tiny hat or a nice blanket."

The funeral home also donates teddy bears, two of a kind, one of them to be placed next to babies who passed away, while the other one goes to their parents to keep.

The donors are usually local retired people, who love to knit or knitting groups who want to support the cause.

The funeral home also encourages less experienced knitters to join in, by supplying easy-to-follow instructions and patterns.

The items so far have been sent to the mortuary or intensive care unit of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary or Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where they are distributed by hospital staff as needed.