This disclosure describes a blanket swaddle for use in swaddling an infant.
There are many benefits to swaddling an infant, particularly with the advent of the supine sleep position which is encouraged as a means to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Swaddling, which is wrapping or binding around an infant, has traditionally been practiced using a blanket or strips of cloth which are tightly wrapped around the infant. Most infants who sleep in the supine position startle more easily (referred to as Moro reflex) and sleep for shorter durations of time. Swaddling an infant has been shown to increase sleep duration with fewer awakenings.
There are, however, risks to swaddling. If swaddled improperly, an infant can easily work out of the swaddle, creating a loose blanket which has been shown to increase the risk of SIDS or strangulation. If they do not completely free themselves, the swaddle may migrate over their face, creating an equally dangerous situation. Even the best-swaddled infants will eventually free themselves as they get older. Further, if bound too tight, a swaddle can inhibit chest wall movement, compromising an infant's ability to breathe normally. In addition, if the swaddle binds the infant's legs preventing them from flexing and abducting normally, this may lead to the development of hip dysplasia.
An improved one-piece blanket swaddle is described that makes swaddling an infant easier, safer and more convenient for a caregiver.
The swaddle includes a leg pouch at the base thereof for receiving the infant's legs. The swaddle also includes a torso wrap section with wings for wrapping around the infant's torso.
The swaddle is made from a low-stretch material, for example cotton or fleece, suitable for use in blankets. The swaddle includes hook and loop fasteners which facilitates swaddling and makes the swaddle easier to use.
In addition, the swaddle is safer to use by providing two levels of hook and loop fasteners for a more secure, adjustable fit. External hold-down straps augment hook and loop closures on the wings. A common problem with conventional swaddles that use hook and loop fasteners is that babies can break out of them too easily, which increases the risk of entanglement or suffocation of the baby by the loose swaddle. Thus, many conventional swaddles are less secure, and when broken out of, even dangerous.
The leg pouch at the base of the swaddle is fastenable to the outside surface of the top layer on the swaddle wings. With the disclosed swaddle, the infant's diaper can be changed without unwrapping the swaddle, thereby facilitating diaper changes.
With reference to
The swaddle 10 is made from any material suitable for use in swaddling an infant while providing warmth to the infant. Examples of suitable materials include cotton and fleece. The material used is preferably low-stretch material. A knit or woven cotton or polyester fleece are examples of suitable low-stretch materials. The swaddle 10 may be made from one layer of fabric.
With reference to
The torso wrap section 12 includes a perimeter edge 16 that extends from one juncture 17 with the leg pouch 14 to a second juncture 18 with the leg pouch 14. Included in the perimeter edge 16 is a top edge 19 that forms the uppermost edge of the swaddle 10. The leg pouch 14 has an outer perimeter 16′ extending from the juncture 17 to the juncture 18.
The section 12 has rounded wings 20, 22 and a central portion 24 between the wings 20, 22 with the maximum height A. The perimeter edge 16 of the wings 20, 22 extends beyond the perimeter 16′ of the leg pouch 14. The section 12 also includes an inner surface 26 (i.e. the surface that in use faces the infant) and an outer surface 28 (i.e. the surface that in use faces away from the infant). As illustrated in
The swaddle comprises a means for attaching the first wing 20 to the second wing 22 to secure the wings around the infant's torso. For example the means for attaching may include snaps, magnets, buttons, and hook and loop materials. Each wing may have one or more fastening means. As illustrated in
With reference to
With continued reference to
An additional means of securing the wings 20 and 22 together may be added to the torso wrap section. For example, a pair of hold down straps 36 are disposed on the outer surface 28. The straps 36 augment the securement provided by the hook and loop patches 30 and 34. Each strap 36 may be rectangular in shape with one end 38 secured generally at the central portion 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the ends 38 are secured at the inward edge of the patch 34. Each strap 36 also includes a second end 40, with the strap between the ends 38, 40 not being secured to the swaddle 10. The straps 36 include inward facing surfaces (i.e. surfaces that in use as shown in
Returning to
The front panel 50 may also include a front flap 58 integrally formed therewith. As shown in
Operation of the swaddle 10 will now be described with reference to
As evident from
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
This application claims the benefit of International Application Serial No. PCT/US2009/066368, filed on Dec. 2, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/119,930, filed on Dec. 4, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2009/066368 | 12/2/2009 | WO | 00 | 6/2/2011 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2010/065610 | 6/10/2010 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5046204 | Mohler | Sep 1991 | A |
5722094 | Ruefer | Mar 1998 | A |
6272888 | Fujita et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6341397 | Kliegl et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6640340 | Gibson | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6839924 | Sims | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6928674 | Blackburn | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6948200 | Wyman | Sep 2005 | B2 |
7181789 | Gatten | Feb 2007 | B2 |
7246392 | Schmid et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
7774875 | Zeidman | Aug 2010 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
3070302 | May 2000 | JP |
WO2006055010 | May 2006 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20110231993 A1 | Sep 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61119930 | Dec 2008 | US |