Infant head guard and method of use

Abstract

An infant positioning system and method for positioning an infant during sleep. The infant positioning system includes and infant support device and a headgear. The infant support device is configured for receiving the infant, and selectively changing the position of the infant each night. The headgear is configured to fit about the head of the infant, dispersing the pressure a sleeping surface places on the head of the infant.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An infant positioning system for controllably positioning and supporting an infant during sleep, comprising: 
 an infant support device configured for receiving the infant, the infant support selectively changing the position of the infant each night; and    a headgear configured to fit about the head of the infant, the headgear dispersing a pressure a sleeping surface places on the head of the infant.    
     
     
         2 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 1 , wherein the infant support device comprises: 
 a base member;    an abdominal support member attachable to the base member; and    a plurality of back support members each being selectively attachable to the base member in a substantially parallel opposing arrangement with the abdominal support member, each of the plurality of back support members being configured for selective attachment to the base member alone or in combination, to support the infant in a different position.    
     
     
         3 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 2 , wherein the base member comprises a pair of substantially parallel opposing pockets, the opposing pockets being configured to receive the abdominal support member and a one each of the plurality of back support members.  
     
     
         4 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 2 , wherein the abdominal support member includes a front surface facing the back support member, the front surface being substantially concave.  
     
     
         5 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of back support members includes a front surface, each of the plurality of back support members having front surfaces at a different angle α to the base member from each other of the plurality of back support members, the angle α being between about 0° and about 90°.  
     
     
         6 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of back support member comprises a first back support member having an angle α of about 30°, a second back support member having an angle α of about 60°, and a third back support member having an angle α of about 90°.  
     
     
         7 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 1 , wherein the infant support device comprises: 
 a base member;    an abdominal support member attachable to the base member; and    a plurality of back support members each being selectively attachable to the base member in a substantially parallel opposing arrangement with the abdominal support member, the plurality of back support members being selectively stackable to support the infant in a different position.    
     
     
         8 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 1 , wherein the headgear comprises at least one support pad, the at least one support pad being removably attachable to the headgear, wherein the support pad is positionable between the infant's head and the sleeping surface.  
     
     
         9 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 8 , wherein the headgear further comprises at least one rear support pad, the rear support pad being removably attachable to the headgear, wherein the at least one rear support pad is positionable about the back of the infant's head.  
     
     
         10 . The infant positioning system according to  claim 9 , wherein the rear support pad is toroidal.  
     
     
         11 . An infant support device for controllably positioning and supporting an infant during sleep, comprising: 
 a base member;    an abdominal support member attachable to the base member; and    a plurality of back support members each being selectively attachable to the base member in a substantially parallel opposing arrangement with the abdominal support member, each of the plurality of back support members being configured to support the infant in a different position.    
     
     
         12 . The infant support device according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of back support members is removably attachable to the base member.  
     
     
         13 . The infant support device according to  claim 11 , wherein the base member comprises a pair of substantially parallel opposing pockets, the opposing pockets being configured to receive the abdominal support member and a one each of the plurality of back support members.  
     
     
         14 . The infant support device according to  claim 11 , wherein the abdominal support member includes a front surface facing the back support member, the front surface being substantially concave.  
     
     
         15 . The infant support device according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of back support members includes a front surface, each of the plurality of back support members having front surfaces at a different angle α to the base member from each other of the plurality of back support members, the angle α being between about 0° and about 90°.  
     
     
         16 . The infant support device according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of back support member comprises a first back support member having an angle α of about 30°, a second back support member having an angle α of about 60°, and a third back support member having an angle α of about 90°.  
     
     
         17 . An infant sleep headgear for controllably positioning and supporting a head of an infant during sleep, comprising at least one support pad, the at least support pad being removably attachable to the headgear, wherein the support pad is positionable between the head of the infant and a sleeping surface.  
     
     
         18 . The infant sleep headgear according to  claim 17 , wherein the headgear further comprises at least one rear support pad, the at least one rear support pad being removably attachable to the headgear, wherein the rear support pad is positionable about the back of the head of the infant.  
     
     
         19 . The infant sleep headgear according to  claim 18 , wherein the rear support pad is toroidal.  
     
     
         20 . A method for positioning an infant for sleeping, the method comprising: 
 a) providing an infant support device including a base member, an abdominal support member attachable to the base member, and a plurality of back support members each being attachable to the base member in a substantially parallel opposing arrangement with the abdominal support member, each of the plurality of back support members being configured to support the infant in a different position;    b) selecting a back support member from the plurality of back support members;    c) attaching the selected back support member to the base member;    d) positioning the infant between the abdominal support member and the selected back support member, the abdominal support member being in contact with the abdomen and chest of the infant and the selected back support member being in contact with the back of the infant; and    f) repeating the steps b) thru e) for each consecutive night, wherein a different back support member from the previous night's back support member is selected from the plurality of back support members.