Abstract: A method of and apparatus for nursing in which a container is filled with milk. The container has flexible membrane forming a pouch for holding the milk. A rim defines a stable opening of the pouch, and a lid is secured to the rim to cover the opening. The container is inserted into a nursing device and the lid is opened to expose the milk. A nursing nipple is secured to the nursing device with the container disposed therein.

Abstract: A teething device is provided which includes a fluid-filled membrane sized to be at least partially received in the mouth of a child, a housing attached to the fluid-filled membrane, a handle sized to be grasped by a child, a vibrator configured to impart vibration to the fluid-filled membrane and a pressure switch selectively connecting the vibrator to a power source when a threshold pressure is applied to an outer surface of the membrane.

Abstract: A booster seat comprises a base having a lower surface sized to rest upon a chair seat and an upper surface generally parallel to the lower surface, a seat back hinged connected to the base at a rearward portion of the booster seat and constructed to be folded toward and secured against the base for storage, an adjustable strap extending from the booster seat a length sufficient to secure the booster seat upon a chair, wherein the upper surface and the lower surface are spaced apart by at least about 1 inch when supporting a child weighing about 20 pounds thereupon to provide an elevated seating position, and wherein, with the seat back folded against the upper surface of the base for storage, the booster seat has an overall thickness, measured perpendicularly to the lower surface of the base, of less than about 3 inches.

Abstract: A nursing pillow has a flexible, positionable spine that allows the pillow to be deformed into a number of stable shapes. The spine is enclosed within a resilient body forming a medial region and first and second cantilever arms extending from opposite ends of the medial region to define a central opening between the arms in an unloaded, nominal shape. The spine is of sufficient stiffness to keep the pillow from returning from an adjusted shape to its nominal shape when unloaded. The spine may be formed of articulating links, or a malleable rod.

Abstract: A breast pump provides multiple orientations of the pumping lever with respect to the breast shield. A breast pump includes a liner extending from the breast shield, through the suction chamber, and out of the suction chamber, which liner shields other components of the pump from contamination by the flow of milk through the pump during pumping operation. A breast pumping device includes a pumping lever for manually providing a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber and an external pumping source, connected to the suction bell, that the user can activate to provide a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber. A breast pump provides a smaller change in the grip width from when the lever is fully-extended to when the lever is fully-retracted, allowing more comfortable manual pumping.

Abstract: A nursing pillow has a flexible, positionable spine that allows the pillow to be deformed into a number of stable shapes. The spine is enclosed within a resilient body forming a medial region and first and second cantilever arms extending from opposite ends of the medial region to define a central opening between the arms in an unloaded, nominal shape. The spine is of sufficient stiffness to keep the pillow from returning from an adjusted shape to its nominal shape when unloaded. The spine may be formed of articulating links, or a malleable rod.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of installing a barrier device at a passageway. The method includes attaching a barrier housing containing a retractable barrier to a structural element on one side of the passageway, extending the barrier a desired distance from the barrier housing, with the barrier so extended, setting an extension limit of the barrier to prevent subsequent extension of the barrier beyond the desired distance from the barrier housing and, with the extension limit set, retracting the barrier into the housing. The set extension limit can permit subsequent retraction and re-extension of the barrier up to the set extension limit.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of installing a barrier device at a passageway. The method includes attaching a barrier housing containing a retractable barrier to a structural element on one side of the passageway, extending the barrier a desired distance from the barrier housing, with the barrier so extended, setting an extension limit of the barrier to prevent subsequent extension of the barrier beyond the desired distance from the barrier housing and, with the extension limit set, retracting the barrier into the housing. The set extension limit can permit subsequent retraction and re-extension of the barrier up to the set extension limit.

Abstract: A booster seat comprises a base having a lower surface sized to rest upon a chair seat and an upper surface generally parallel to the lower surface, a seat back hingedly connected to the base at a rearward portion of the booster seat and constructed to be folded toward and secured against the base for storage, an adjustable strap extending from the booster seat a length sufficient to secure the booster seat upon a chair, wherein the upper surface and the lower surface are spaced apart by at least about 1 inch when supporting a child weighing about 20 pounds thereupon to provide an elevated seating position, and wherein, with the seat back folded against the upper surface of the base for storage, the booster seat has an overall thickness, measured perpendicularly to the lower surface of the base, of less than about 3 inches.

Abstract: A chair and carrier assembly comprises a base, a carrier receiving support mounted to the base and adapted to receive a carrier, and a carrier removably received in the carrier receiving support. The carrier includes a seat, for holding a child, and a handle including arms joined by a cross member, the arms being pivotally mounted to the seat, and including an elongated member transversely extending from the cross member for carrying the carrier when the handle is in a first position and for providing a passive restraint for the child when the handle is in a second position. The carrier is removable from the carrier receiving support.