Baby soothing enhancing system

Abstract

A convertible soothing system is provided and includes a garment to be worn by both a caregiver and a plush figure, which garment is configured to absorb a scent of the caregiver, when worn by the caregiver, and transmit the scent of the caregiver to a baby when the garment is worm by the plush.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A convertible soothing system for soothing a baby, the convertible soothing system comprising:
 a plush figure; and   a garment for use with the plush figure and for wearing by a caregiver, the garment having a body portion having a substantially tubular configuration and a plurality of openings formed in the body portion thereof, the plurality of openings configured to receive the plush figure or an appendage of the caregiver, the plurality of openings including:
 a neck opening formed in the body portion at a first end thereof, wherein the neck opening of the garment is configured to receive a head of the plush figure or the appendage of the caregiver; 
 a bottom opening formed in the body portion at a second end thereof, wherein the bottom opening of the garment is configured to receive the appendage of the caregiver; and 
 a plurality of arm openings formed in the body portion at a location proximate the neck opening, wherein the plurality of arm openings of the garment are configured to receive arms of the plush figure; 
   wherein the garment is comprised of a fabric capable of absorbing a scent of the caregiver, and   wherein the garment includes:
 a first use mode, wherein the garment is worn by the caregiver, such that the appendage of the caregiver extends through the neck opening of the garment and the bottom opening of the garment, and such that the garment absorbs the scent of the caregiver; and 
 a second use mode, wherein the garment is worn by the plush figure, such that a head of the plush figure extends through the neck opening of the garment and arms of the plush figure extend through the plurality of arm openings of the garment, and such that the baby receives the soothing effect. 
   
     
     
         2 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment mechanism configured to secure the garment to the plush figure. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism is selected from the group consisting of buttons, snaps, hook and loop pile fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, zippers, clasps, toggles, and ties. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric of the garment is selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, linen, chiffon, crepe, denim, lace, leather, satin, silk, velvet, or synthetic fabrics. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the garment further comprises a sensory patch configured to enhance a soothing effect for a baby. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensory patch is comprised of an enhanced scent-absorbing fabric configured to absorb the scent of the caregiver. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of a shirt, sweater, polo shirt, vest, dress, skirt, jacket, and coat. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings of the garment includes an additional opening formed in the body portion at a location proximate the bottom opening. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 8 , wherein the additional opening is a tail opening configured to receive a tail of the plush figure during the second use mode. 
     
     
         10 . A method for using a convertible soothing system including a plush figure and a garment including a neck opening, a bottom opening, and a plurality of arm openings, wherein the garment is configured to provide a soothing effect for a baby, the method comprising:
 a first use mode, including:
 converting the garment into a sleeve shape; 
 inserting an appendage of a caregiver through the neck opening and the bottom opening of the sleeve-shaped garment; 
 wearing, by the caregiver, the sleeve-shaped garment on the appendage, wherein the sleeve-shaped garment absorbs a scent of the caregiver; and 
 removing the sleeve-shaped garment after a period of time; 
   a second use mode, including:
 converting the garment into a plush-wearing shape; 
 inserting the plush figure into the plush-wearing shaped garment, such that a head of the plush figure is received in the neck opening of the plush-wearing shaped garment and arms of the plush figure are received in the plurality of arm openings of the plush-wearing shape garment; and 
 providing the plush figure to the baby, wherein the baby receives the soothing effect. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the garment includes an attachment mechanism, and the method further comprises:
 coupling elements of the attachment mechanism so as to convert the garment to either the first use mode or the second use mode.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to be adjustable, such that in a coupled state, portions of the garment are wearable by either the caregiver or the plush figure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the garment includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a sensory patch to enhance the soothing effect for the baby, and wherein the method further comprises:
 in the first use mode:
 locating the sensory patch on the inner surface of the sleeve-shaped garment, such that the sensory patch is located adjacent to a skin of the caregiver, on an interior of the sleeve-shaped garment; and 
   in the second use mode:
 locating the sensory patch on the outer surface of the plush-wearing shape garment, such that the sensory patch is located adjacent to the baby, on an exterior of the plush-wearing shape garment, to enable enhancing of the soothing effect. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:
 in the first use mode, wearing the garment and the sensory patch, by the caregiver, for a variable period of time to increase or decrease a quantity of the scent of the caregiver that is absorbed.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sensory patch includes a material different than the material of the garment, and the method further comprises:
 in the second use mode, placing the sensory patch adjacent to the skin of the baby to further enhance the soothing effect.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the garment includes a tail opening, and the method further comprises:
 in the second use mode, inserting the plush figure into the plush-wearing shape garment such that tail of the plush figure is received in the tail opening of the garment.   
     
     
         17 . A convertible soothing system for soothing a baby, the convertible soothing system comprising:
 a plush figure; and   a garment for use with the plush figure and for wearing by a caregiver, the garment having a body portion having a substantially tubular configuration, wherein the garment is comprised of a fabric capable of absorbing a scent of the caregiver, and wherein the garment includes:
 a first use mode, wherein the garment is worn by the caregiver, such that the garment absorbs the scent of the caregiver; and 
 a second use mode, where the garment is worn by the plush figure, such that the baby receives the scent of the caregiver and a soothing effect. 
   
     
     
         18 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 17 , wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of a scarf, shawl, poncho, cape, tie, belt, hat, cap, glove, mitten, sock, and shoe. 
     
     
         19 . The convertible soothing system of  claim 18 , wherein the garment further comprises:
 a plurality of openings formed in a body portion thereof, the plurality of openings configured to receive the plush figure or an appendage of the caregiver, the plurality of openings including:
 a neck opening formed in the body portion at a first end thereof, wherein the neck opening of the garment is configured to receive a head of the plush figure or the appendage of the caregiver; 
 a bottom opening formed in the body portion at a second end thereof, wherein the bottom opening of the garment is configured to receive the appendage of the caregiver; and 
 a plurality of arm openings formed in the body portion at a location proximate the neck opening, wherein the plurality of arm openings of the garment are configured to receive arms of the plush figure.