AU2016101975A4 - Baby swaddle - Google Patents

Abstract

the present invention provides a garment for a baby. The garment includes a body portion comprising front and rear panels that substantially enclose the torso of a baby and sleeves extending from adjacent armpit and shoulder regions at laterally opposite sides of the body portion and terminating at wrist portions for receiving the baby's arms. The garment includes a fastener for fastening the sleeves to the body portion along at least a portion of a length of the sleeves LO) CY) -LO 0 L(V) CD-- C4 C4 C,

Description

Title of Invention Baby Swaddle Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to the field of garments for babies including, in particular, swaddles and garments for use as sleepwear such as sleeping bags.

Background of invention [0002] It is weli established that one of the highest risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the position in which an infant is put to sleep. Research indicates that putting an infant to sleep on his or her back is the single most important risk mitigation strategy for SIDS.

[0003] Some studies suggest that swaddling assists babies to go to sieep and to remain asleep. It is suggested that swaddling an infant and placing them on their back in bed results in fewer spontaneous waking occurrences, associated with the startle reflex, by the minimisation of limb movement, particularly arm movement. Another benefit of swaddling is that by minimising movement of the baby it is less likely that they can roll onto their front which is important to minimise the risk of SIDS.

[0004] For swaddling to be effective infants need to be wrapped sufficiently tightly to restrain limbs and inhibit limb movement. The startle reflex is particularly prevalent in infants up to the age of six months although some research suggests that the reflex is prevalent beyond six months. A baby should not be swaddled too tightly as this can cause other adverse outcomes. There is some research to suggest that improper swaddling can increase risk of hip problems and improper hip development.

[0005] Swaddling infants is a skill that needs to be mastered by new parents. Even with practice some parents find it difficult to adopt the correct swaddling technique and some never master the technique correctly. The benefits associated with swaddling are lost if babies are not swaddled correctly and other unintended consequences might arise that are adverse to the health of the infant.

Summary of invention [0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a garment for a baby including: a body portion comprising front and rear panels that substantially enclose the torso of a baby; sleeves extending from adjacent armpit and shoulder regions at laterally opposite sides of the body portion and terminating at wrist portions for receiving the baby’s arms; and a fastener for fastening the sleeves to the body portion along at least a portion of a length of the sleeves.

[0007] Preferably, the fastener fastens the sleeves to the body portion along substantially the entire length of the sleeves from the armpit regions to the wrist portions.

[0008] Preferably, the fastener includes a zip fastener extending along substantially the entire length of the sleeves from the armpit regions to the wrist portions.

[0009] Preferably, the fastener is operable to fasten the sleeves to the body portion along an inwardly and downwardly extending line from the armpit region to a stomach region of the front panel with the wrist portions of the sleeves substantially immediately adjacent to each other.

[0010] Preferably, the body portion comprises either a bag portion that substantially encloses the torso and legs of the baby or a bag portion that encloses the torso and includes leg openings for allowing the legs of the baby to extend therefrom.

Brief Description of Drawings [0011] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the Figures, wherein: [0012] Figure 1 illustrates a garment for a baby in accordance with an embodiment of the invention wherein the garment includes a body portion, sleeves extending from the body portion and leg openings for a baby’s legs to extend therefrom; [0013] Figure 2 illustrates a view of the garment of Figure 1 from the rear; [0014] Figure 3 illustrates the garment of Figure 1 wherein the sleeves are fastened to the body portion along at least a portion of the length of the sleeves; [0015] Figure 4 illustrates a garment in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, wherein the garment includes a body portion and sleeves extending therefrom wherein the body portion is in the form of a bag containing the body and legs of a baby; [0016] Figure 5 illustrates the garment of Figure 4 from the rear; [0017] Figure 6 illustrates the garment of Figure 1 wherein the sleeves extending from laterally opposite sides of a body portion of the garment are fastened to the body portion along at least a portion of a length thereof.

Detailed Description [0018] Figures 1 to 6 illustrate two different garments 10, 100 for a baby in accordance with two embodiments of the invention. Each garment 10, 100 includes similar features and where like features are included in each garment 10, 100 like reference numerals are adopted.

[0019] Referring to the embodiment of the garment 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the garment 10 includes a body portion 20 comprising front and rear panels 22, 24 that are operable to substantially enclose the torso of a baby wearing the garment 10. The front and rear panels 22, 24 are joined along side edges 21, 23. The side edges 21, 23 extend from respective armpit regions 41, 42 on laterally opposite sides of the body portion 20 to leg openings 43, 44. A pair of sleeves 51, 52 extend from the armpit regions 41,42 and adjacent shoulder regions 53, 41 of the garment 10 to wrist portions 56, 57 at which the sieeves 51, 52 terminate. The sleeves 51,52 are adapted for receiving a baby’s arms when wearing the garment 10. The garment 10 also includes a neck opening 5 extending between the shoulder regions 53, 54 of the garment 10. Each of the sleeves 51, 52 includes an associated fastener 61,65 that is operable for fastening the sleeves 51, 52 to the body portion 20 along at least a portion of a length of each of the sleeves 51, 52, [0020] In the embodiment of the garment 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the fasteners 61,65 are in the form of zip fasteners which extend from the armpit regions 41, 42 to the wrist portions 56, 57 of each of the sieeves 51,52 and also extend from the armpit regions 61, 65 to a stomach region 25 of the front panel 22 of the body portion 20. Thus, each of the zip fasteners 61, 65 includes a fastening portion extending in respective diagonal lines from the armpit regions 41, 42 to immediately adjacent terminal ends in the stomach region 25 of the front panel 22 of the body portion 20.

[0021] Accordingly, in use, a baby wearing the garment 10 has their torso located within the body portion 20 with iegs extending from the ieg openings 43, 44. The baby’s arms are located in the sleeves 51, 52 with their hands protruding from openings at the wrist portions 56, 57 and the baby’s head protruding from the neck opening 5. The zip fasteners 61,65 are operable to be drawn from an open position in the armpit regions 41,42 to a closed position at terminal ends of the zip fasteners 61, 65 in the stomach region 25 of the front panel 22 of the body portion 20. Thus, the baby’s arms are held immediately adjacent to the baby’s torso when the fasteners are drawn from the armpit regions 41, 42 to the stomach region 25 and the wrist portions 56, 57 of the garment 10 are held adjacent to each other as illustrated in Figure 3.

[0022] Accordingly, the garment 10 is operable as an item of clothing for the baby and is also operable as a swaddling to restrain movement of the baby’s arms and to retain them in front and adjacent to the baby’s torso. Thus, the garment 10 is operable to prevent the baby’s arms from moving and thus minimising the opportunity for the startle refiex to occur or for the baby to turn his or herself over from resting on their back to their front.

[0023] In the embodiment of the garment 100 illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, the garment 100 includes the same features as the garment 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 with the exception that in the garment 100 of Figures 4 to 6 the body portion 120 does not include leg holes 43, 44. instead, the body portion 120 of the garment 100 iliustrated in Figures 4 to 6 is in the form of a closed bag that is operabie to contain the legs of the baby. Accordingly, the body portion 120 includes a front panel 122 and a rear panel 124 that are connected along laterally opposite side edges 121, 123 and along a bottom edge 124 to form a bag or a sack like configuration. However, in all other materially relevant respects the garment 100 illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 is identical to the garment 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

[0024] The present invention is susceptible to other modifications or variations or mechanical equivalents without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows

   1. A garment for a baby including: a body portion comprising front and rear panels that substantially enclose the torso of a baby; sleeves extending from adjacent armpit and shoulder regions at laterally opposite sides of the body portion and terminating at wrist regions for receiving the baby’s arms; and a fastener for fastening the sleeves to the body portion along at least a portion of a length of the sleeves.
2. 2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the fastener fastens the sleeves to the body portion aiong substantially the entire length of the sieeves from the armpit regions to the wrist regions.
3. 3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a zip fastener extending along substantially the entire length of the sleeves from the armpit regions to the wrist portions.
4. 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the fastener is operable to fasten the sleeves to the body portion along an inwardly and downwardly extending line from the armpit region to a stomach region with the wrist regions of the sieeves substantially immediately adjacent to each other.
5. 5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises either a bag portion that substantially encloses the torso and legs of the baby or a bag portion that encloses the torso and includes leg openings for allowing the legs of the baby to extend therefrom.