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Got 15 Minutes? Here’s How We Crafted Hearing Aids Onto Our Deaf Baby’s Stuffie Doll

A quick way we added listening devices to a stuffie.

By
Daisy Bell
3 min read
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Here's a quick way we adapted a plush toy to wear a listening device!

Tools and Materials 

  • Stuffie
  • Needle & Thread (for no-sew, I'd look into a baby-safe fabric glue)
  • Scissors
  • Felt

Step 1 - Choose the Stuffie

Girl doll wearing dress and pink ribbons around her hair
Handmade doll

I made this flower fairy doll for my daughter while I was pregnant. Now that my daughter wears hearing aids, I wanted to update the doll to match!

This method would work equally well on her stuffed dino or fox.

Step 2 - Cut the Felt

Sheet of felt
Wool felt

I cut out two small pieces of pink wool felt.  

I love felt for these projects, because the edges don't fray. So, I can just cut the shape I want, and not worry about finishing the edges.

Etsy sellers offer packs of small fabric pieces, called fat quarters. That adds variety to a craft drawer without costing a million dollars.

Felt hearing aid attached to doll head
Cut the pieces

Step 3 - Thread the Needle / Position the Knot

I threaded my needle.

Photograph showing the sewing of a felt hearing aid to a doll head
The first stitch went behind

Then, I placed the knot on the underside of the first hearing aid, so it would be hidden between the hearing aid and the doll's head.

Photograph showing sewing of felt hearing aid to a doll head
The knotted side is against the doll

Step 3 - Sew Around the Edges

I sewed the first hearing aid on to the doll's head using stitches around the edge.

When it felt secure, I knotted and cut the thread.

Step 4 - Repeat

Then, I re-threaded my needle, and repeated the same on the other side.

Doll head featuring two felt hearing aids
Sewn around the edges

Step 5 - Admire!

Side view of doll head wearing a felt hearing aid
Side view

Tada!  While certainly not perfect (sewing on a miniature scale is quite hard!), I love that dolly now wears hearing aids.

This was so quick and easy, that I plan to add hearing devices to more of her stuffed animals this way!

Front view of doll in a basket surrounded by ribbon
Done!

More

Another method uses some cute beads!

Not in the mood to sew? Check out ready-to-buy inclusive options here!

White line art drawing of a daisy