Patent Publication Number: US-2013227786-A1

Title: Baby swaddle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit and priority of Australian Patent Application No. 2012900822, filed Mar. 2, 2012. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to bedding and coverings for newborn and infant children for use while sleeping. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a baby swaddle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     Newborn and infant children are commonly swaddled or wrapped using blankets or slings. Wrapping is a useful method to help babies settle and sleep on their back. Wrapping can have a calming, sleep-promoting effect on young babies, can promote more sustained sleep and reduce the frequency of spontaneous awakenings. However, some studies have also shown that wrapping in infants sleeping on their back is associated with reduced Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) risk. 
     There have been many infant bed coverings, pouches and the like of varying styles and designs developed over the years which enable the caregivers to control the infant&#39;s position for sleeping at night. A swaddling pouch can be in the form of an adjustable wrap in which the infant is placed within the pouch, aligning the baby&#39;s shoulders with the top of the pouch and then wrapping a wing or tail portion around the pouch and securing the wing or tail to an opposite side for a snug fit. The wing or tail is generally secured using hook and loop fasteners which can easily be unfastened. 
     Alternative swaddling pouches include a pouch for securely holding a baby with an opening having a closure mechanism along a bottom edge for fitting the baby into the swaddle. 
     In this specification, the terms “comprises”, “comprising” or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a baby swaddle that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to a baby swaddle. According to one aspect, although not necessarily the broadest or only aspect, embodiments of the present invention reside in a swaddle having a body having a first layer and a second layer which are attached along at least one side edge to form the body, the body having a top opening and a bottom opening, and a pouch at a bottom of the body. At least one closure mechanism is located along the top edge for adjusting a neck hole between a closed configuration and an open configuration. 
     In other aspect, the pouch may be formed from a third layer attached to at least part of the first and/or second layer. The second layer may be longer than the first layer with the pouch formed by upwardly folding the second layer. The first layer and the second layer may be attached along two side edges. At least part of the side edges may form an hourglass profile. A cover or flap may be attached to, or may extend from the top edge to cover the closure mechanism. The closure mechanism provided on the top edge may be a press stud. 
     In still further aspect, the body may be made of a stretchable material. The body may be made of one of following materials: soft bamboo; wool; merino wool, or combinations thereof. The material may be breathable, antibacterial and/or suitable for hot weather. 
     A baby swaddle in accordance with the disclosed subject matter which provides provide a baby swaddle that is lightweight and simple to use and which keeps the baby in a wrapped position to control a startle reflex that normally awakens an infant, that addresses or at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art. 
     Further features and forms of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawing is provided by way of example only, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a baby swaddle according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the baby swaddle of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a baby swaddle according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to a baby swaddle which keeps the baby in a wrapped position to control the startle reflex so that the baby can sleep longer without overheating in hot weather. However, it should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be used to provide a baby swaddle which can be used for various applications involving handling an infant such as carrying, nursing or the like. It will be appreciated that variations may need to be made as required for such applications. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a baby swaddle  100  provided in accordance with embodiments includes a body  110  having a pouch  150  which is designed to receive and securely hold an infant&#39;s body therein. Throughout the specification the terms newborn, baby, infant, toddler and child shall be used interchangeably. However, it will be acknowledged that the baby swaddle is designed to be used with a young child at any one of the aforementioned stages. 
     The baby swaddle  100  is suitably sized to accommodate the infant having a height or length sufficient to securely wrap the infant and width to cover the torso and arms of the infant while leaving the legs to flex within the swaddle. The baby swaddle  100  and in particular the body  110  can be provided in varying sizes depending on the age of the newborn, infant or toddler. Generally speaking, the size range of children from the ages of 0 to 24 months, and more particularly 0 to 12 months, will vary depending on the specific monthly age of the child. 
     In some embodiments, the baby swaddle  100  is made of a single fine layer of stretchable bamboo material. Bamboo material is soft and cool to touch and has great thermal properties. For example, the bamboo material is two degrees cooler in warmer weather and two degrees warmer in cooler weather. The bamboo material is also highly breathable and antibacterial. 
     However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments other suitable material and fabric weights can be adopted. For example, other stretchable, breathable materials, such as, but not limited to wool, and in particular merino wool, can be used to provide a warmer, heavier swaddle. 
     In some embodiments, the body  110  includes a first layer  140  of material which forms the front of the body  110  and a second layer  141  of material which forms the back of the body  110  of the swaddle  100 . The second layer  141  is longer in length than the first layer  140  of the body  110  to extend beyond a bottom edge  142  of the first layer  140 . The pouch  150  is formed at a bottom end  130  of the body  110  by sewing a third layer  143  of material to the second layer  141  along a bottom edge  118  and to the first layer  140  and the second layer  141  along a pair of side edges  114 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the body  110  may be formed from a single sheet of material joined along one side edge  114 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the first layer  140  and the second layer  141  of material are sewn along the pair of side edges  114  to provide an opening  131  at a bottom end  130  of the body  110  for accessing the infant from the bottom end. The third layer  143  extends over the bottom edge  142  of the first layer  140  to cover the opening  131  so that an infant&#39;s feet will remain securely swaddled within the body  110 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the pouch  150  can be an extension of a bottom edge of the second layer  141  which is folded upwardly and sewn along its vertical edges  114 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a top end  111  of the body  110  has a neck hole  120  formed at a top edge  112  through which an infant&#39;s head and neck can extend. It is envisaged that the material forming the neck hole  120  is stretchable to allow for growth in the size of the infant&#39;s neck and shoulders. The top edge  112  around the neck hole  120  includes at least one closure mechanism  160  for adjusting the neck hole between a closed configuration to secure the swaddle  100  around the neck and an open configuration to enable the swaddle to be passed over the infant&#39;s head and/or body. In some embodiments, the baby swaddle  100  includes at least two closure mechanisms  160  on the top edge  112  such that the neck hole  120  can be adjusted to better suit the size of the infant&#39;s neck. For example, a newborn infant may need both closure mechanisms  160  fastened. However, an infant with a bigger neck may need one or more of the closure mechanisms  160  left open to use more of the neck hole  120  or the full size of the neck hole  120 . 
     The closure mechanism(s)  160  is preferably in the form of a press stud or ‘popper’. The press stud is the preferred option because it will not unfasten easily in the closed configuration as with some of the prior art baby swaddles. However, it is envisaged that any other suitable closure means can also be adopted. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a safety cover or flap  165  can be provided to cover the closure mechanism(s)  150  to protect the infant, as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the safety cover or flap  165  can be attached to or extend from the top edge  112 . 
       FIG. 3  shows another version of the baby swaddle  100  in which the top edge  112  has a rounded profile on at least one side to create a shaped neck hole  120 . In some embodiments, the rounded profile is provided on both of the top edges  112 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the vertical edges  114  can curve inwardly and outwardly to form an hourglass profile  170 , allowing somewhat greater restriction of the infant&#39;s legs. 
     To place an infant within the baby swaddle  100 , the body  110  is gathered in a vertical direction like a stocking in two hands and brought up over the body of the infant either feet first or head first. The closure mechanism  160 , such as press studs are then fastened to secure the neck within the neck hole  120 . The remainder of the body portion  110  can then be brought downwardly over the infant&#39;s body ensuring that the infant&#39;s legs are completely tucked within the pouch  150 . 
     Hence, the baby swaddle  100  of the present invention thus provides a solution to the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a baby swaddle which keeps the baby in a wrapped position to control the startle reflex so that the baby can sleep longer without overheating in hot weather. The baby swaddle enables the parent to place the child in a supine sleeping position, and reasonably secure the legs and arms from a transverse movement, yet allowing room for movement within the pouch  150  of the baby swaddle so that the child does not feel too constrained. For example, the stretchable nature of the material allows the baby some movement of their arms and legs. The baby swaddle  100  is lightweight and in at least some embodiments has a seamless design, which allows the baby swaddle  100  to be fitted via the top or bottom of the baby swaddle. The bottom opening allows easy and quick access to the infant to change a nappy or provide seat belt access while allowing the top of their body to remain comfortably swaddled. 
     The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
     Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.