Swaddling accessory apparatus and method for securing an infant's arms

Abstract

A swaddling accessory ( 100 ) comprised of elongate flexible material ( 102 ) divided into a left wing ( 110 L) and a right wing ( 110 R), the elongate flexible material ( 102 ) having attached hook and loop components ( 104 HL, 104 HR, 104 LC, 104 LL). The swaddling accessory ( 100 ) secures the babies arms by: placing the infant ( 100 B) on the swaddling accessory ( 100 ); weaving the left wing ( 110 L) between the right arm ( 100 BR) and the torso ( 100 BT), then passing the left wing ( 110 L) around the right arm ( 100 BR); repeating a similar weaving with the left arm ( 100 BL) and the right wing ( 110 R); and then securing the left wing ( 110 L) and right wing ( 110 R) at the back of the infant with hook and loop fasteners installed on the elongate flexible material ( 102 ). The swaddling accessory may be used with a swaddling cloth. Several embodiments and variations are presented, including an embodiment with a capability of securing either one arm or two arms, and an embodiment constructed out of two removably attachable pieces of flexible material.

1 . A swaddling accessory for wrapping an infant that secures the infant's arms snugly to the infant's torso, the infant having a first arm, a second arm, an infant back and a torso, the swaddling accessory comprising:
 an elongate flexible material having a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis, the vertical axis partitioning the elongate flexible material into a first wing and a second wing;   the elongate flexible material having permanently attached at least one pair of removably attaching means;   the elongate flexible material being sized and configured so that:
 when the infant's back is placed on the elongate flexible material with the longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible material being traverse to the torso; 
 the first wing of the elongate flexible material being positioned between the first arm and the torso, and then positioned above and over the first arm, and then positioned away from the torso; 
 the second wing of the elongate flexible material being positioned between the second arm and the torso, and then positioned above and over the second arm, and then positioned away from the torso; 
 and then the first wing and the second wing being secured at the infant back using the removably attachment means; 
   wherein the swaddling accessory secures the infant's arms snugly to the torso.   
     
     
         2 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 1  wherein the removably attachment means is comprised of at least one hook component and at least one loop component comprising a hook and loop pair. 
     
     
         3 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 1  being dimensioned and configured so that a swaddling cloth may be put on the infant over the swaddling accessory when the swaddling accessory is securing the infant's arms snugly to the torso. 
     
     
         4 . A method for securing an infant's arms snugly to the infant's torso, the infant having a first arm, a second arm, an infant back and a torso, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing an elongate flexible material having a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis, the vertical axis partitioning the elongate flexible material into a first wing and a second wing, the elongate flexible material having permanently attached at least one pair of removably attaching means;   b. positioning the infant back on the elongate flexible material with the longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible material being traverse to the torso;   c. positioning the first wing of the elongate flexible material between the first arm and the torso, then positioning the first wing above and over the first arm, and then positioning the first wing away from the torso;   d. positioning the second wing of the elongate flexible material between the second arm and the torso, then positioning the second wing above and over the second arm, and then positioning the second wing away from the torso;   e. securing the first wing and the second wing at the infant back using the means for removably attaching the elongate flexible material;   wherein the swaddling accessory secures the infant's arms snugly to the torso.   
     
     
         5 . A swaddling accessory for wrapping an infant that secures the infant's arms snugly to the infant's torso, the infant having a first arm, a second arm, an infant back and a torso, the swaddling accessory comprising:
 one or more pieces of material, the one or more pieces of material comprising an elongate flexible material having a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis, the vertical axis partitioning the elongate flexible material into a first wing and a second wing;   the elongate flexible material having permanently attached at least one pair of removably attaching means;   the elongate flexible material with the removably attachment means is sized and configured such that when the elongate flexible material passes around the infant back, the first wing is threaded between the first arm and the torso, the second wing is threaded between the second arm and the torso, and the first wing and the second wing are secured at the infant back using at least one pair of removably attachable means;   then the elongate flexible material secures the infant's arms snugly at the torso.   
     
     
         6 . The swaddling accessory  claim 5  being dimensioned and configured so that a swaddling cloth may be put on the infant when the swaddling accessory is securing the infant's arms snugly to the torso. 
     
     
         7 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 5  being dimensioned and configured so that the elongate flexible material may be used by a health care provider by assisting in the examination of the infant. 
     
     
         8 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 5  wherein the elongate flexible material additionally comprises a third hook component attached near the second end on the elongate flexible material front such that the elongate flexible material may be wrapped on the infant to secure one arm and leave the other arm free. 
     
     
         9 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 5  wherein the elongate flexible material is comprised of a single piece of material. 
     
     
         10 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 5  wherein the elongate flexible material is comprised of at least two pieces of material wherein the pieces of material are removably attached. 
     
     
         11 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 5  wherein the elongate flexible material is comprised of at least two pieces of material wherein the pieces of material are permanently attached. 
     
     
         12 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 5  wherein the elongate flexible material having an elongate flexible material front, an elongate flexible material back, a first end and second end, the removably attaching means is comprised of:
 a first loop component positioned near the first end on the elongate flexible material front; 
 a first hook component positioned near the first end on the elongate flexible material back; 
 a second hook component positioned on the elongate flexible material back near the second end; 
 and a second hook component positioned on the elongate flexible material back passing through the vertical axis; 
 the elongate flexible material, the first hook component, the second hook component, the first loop component and the second loop component being sized and configured such that when the elongate flexible material is positioned on the infant, then the elongate flexible material secures the infant's arms snugly to the torso. 
 
     
     
         13 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 12  wherein the first hook component removably attaches to the second loop component, and the second hook component removably attaches to the second loop component thereby accommodating an infant of moderate size. 
     
     
         14 . The swaddling accessory of  claim 12  wherein the first loop component removably attaches to the second hook component thereby accommodating an infant of small size.