Someone in my community is collecting these for the preemies at Vassar Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY.
I will knit one and also crochet one and then see which method I prefer for this charity drive.

They are made of cotton so they can be sterilized.
And this is the idea behind the octopus ( copied from a different site; the crochet Octopus for Preemies by Crochet 365 Knit Too)
“ My venture into crochet octopuses started with a news article about a father in Denmark who asked for a crocheted octopus for his baby. Hospital staff observed that the premature babies grasped the curly tentacles of the octopus instead of pulling at their tubes. The theory is that the curly tentacles mimic the umbilical cord and comfort the baby! What an amazing thought ~ that yarn and hook can lead to comfort for a premature baby!”

Notes on finishing:

1. Embroider eyes and mouth.
2. Attach the tentacles along the cast on edge.
3. Thread the cast on tail through the loops of the cast on stitches from first to last to create a circle, but don’t pull close yet.
4. Seam the side of the body using mattress stitch.
5. Stuff with fiberfill.
6. Pull the cast on tail tight to close the opening.
7. Weave in all yarn ends.