INFANT SOOTHER

Abstract

A baby soothing system that includes a specially configured swaddling blanket, infant carrier, and (optionally) swinging assembly for, when assembled, simultaneously providing essential elements for infant's soothing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to infant soothers.

2. Background Information

With the assistance of a parent or caregiver, a baby needs to learn how to be soothed, and to learn to self-sooth, as the latter is an important lifelong life skill, i.e., from self-soothing as infants to self-regulation as adults.

When a parent comes home to an infant after a long day's work, or recovering from an illness, or dealing with some emotional crisis, etc., choices are limited. But dealing with a crying baby must be done calmly. And the crying baby must learn how to self-sooth and self-regulate. Such learning is by example, as well as by lesson.

An infant is completely dependent at birth for all of her or his needs. But an essential element of development is developing the capacity to self-sooth, which in turn would have a positive effect of the baby's sleep.

Many baby books “solve” the hardships of soothing a baby by emphasizing the importance of the “five S's,” namely, Swaddle, Side, Shush, Swing, Suck. But no commercially available product does all five. In fact, most patents only Swaddle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present inventor has conceived a design for a baby soother that simultaneously addresses the “five S's,” namely, Swaddle, Side, Shush, Swing, Suck. Specifically, it Swaddles the baby, keeps her on her Side, make Shushing sounds and/or other soothing sounds, is a Swing, and has a point near the head where a “binky” or other device can be attached so that she can Suck.

The present invention consists of a blanket, which may be square or round or other shape. This blanket could even be a preowned personal blanket. Whatever the shape or source of the blanket, it will have Velcro patches, ties, hooks or other straps that allow it to be tied to a second device.

The second device would consist of a swinging basket for the baby, and have adjustable speeds and heights. The basket may be shaped to hold the baby on her side, or it may have straps to hold the swaddled baby on her side, or it may have attachment points for the straps on the swaddle to hold the baby on its side. Thus, the swing with a basket in which the baby is resting and given the shape of the basket or the attachments within naturally force the baby to be on her side. The swing makes soothing sounds which can be on or off but one of those sounds may be a shushing sound. The swing may swing, vibrate, rotate, rock or produce any other rhythmic or even intermittent movement. Both the movement and the selected sounds may be on a timer.

There will be any attachment for an item that the baby can readily reach near its head. An example is an attachment with a string, lanyard or other device, and may be hanging so as to be just near the baby's mouth. Other items, like hanging toys, or a mobile, may be included and attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the swing and infant carrier elements of a preferred embodiment of the baby soothing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a depiction of the baby enveloping blanket component of the present system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the present invention of a baby soothing system is generally depicted, and generally identified by reference number 10. Baby soothing system 10 includes an infant enveloping blanket 12, an infant carrier 14, and a swing or support system component 26.

Referring to FIG. 2, infant enveloping blanket 12 (also falling within the description of a “swaddling blanket”) includes hook and loop fastener components 16 and 18 are distributed at or near the margins of infant enveloping blanket 12 to provide for wrapping and securing an infant therein with appropriate compression to achieve the swaddling effect.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hook and loop fastener strip pairing 20 is positioned for attaching a pacifier, or the like, in a position for access to a resident infant.

Referring again to FIG. 1, infant carrier 14 is either contoured (or, as depicted in FIG. 1, inclusive of an insert or pad 15) for accommodating an infant residing within infant enveloping blanket 12. The contours of the interior surfaces of infant carrier 14, or of pad 15, are designed for preferentially supporting an infant in a side-resting position, with adequate support for the head and accommodation of other body parts. Preferably, one or more security straps 22 are provided for securing an infant and the associated infant enveloping blanket 12 therein.

Positioned near the upper margins 24 of infant carrier 14 are attachment loops 25 for attachment to a swing assembly 26. It should be noted that, in addition to the type of swing assembly 26 shown in FIG. 1, the present system 10 may be utilized in alternative swing assemblies (not shown in figures), even such as tree swing assemblages, or a table-top platform with some form of agitation means for rocking, undulating, etc. (not shown in the drawings, but utilizing, inter alia, springs, rockers, biased pillars supporting a platform upon which the carrier 14 is positioned).

Referring again to FIG. 2, an electronic sound producing module 28 is reversibly secured within a pocket 30 which, in turn, is reversibly secured through hook and loop fastening material (not specifically shown in figure). Of course, alternative securing means (such as buttons) could be substituted for this and all other forms of fastening systems mentioned in this disclosure.

Electronic sound producing module 28 includes circuitry both for producing “swooshing” sounds, as well as motion sensors for activating such sound production in association with movement of infant enveloping blanket 12. An alternative embodiment of the present invention involves securing sound producing module 28 within infant carrier 14, in lieu of that in infant enveloping blanket 12.

Motion-activated sound production devices are readily available from other contexts, and may be acquired with desired sound producing configurations (any desired sound recorded thereon and reproduced upon activation thereby), and their specific circuitry or configuration need not be disclosed here for enabling disclosure purposes.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An infant soothing system comprising:

infant swaddling means, said infant swaddling means having a reversible attachment assemblage for reversibly engaging a pacifier;

swaddled infant carrier means having contoured infant positioning means for, when engaged with said infant swaddling means with an infant positioned therein, substantially restraining said infant in a position in conformance with contouring of said contoured infant positioning means; and

system movement means configured for engaging with said swaddled infant carrier means for, upon imparting of an effecting force, moving said swaddled infant carrier means in a cyclical fashion.

2. The infant soothing system of claim 1 wherein said swaddled infant carrier means comprising an outer, resilient shell and said contoured infant positioning means is configured from resilient, molded or carved material for exhibiting said contours and for nesting within said swaddled infant carrier means.

3. The infant soothing system of claim 1 further comprising sound generation means for reproducing pre-recorded sounds, said sound generation means having a motion-activated actuating switch, whereby said sound generation means actuates upon sensing movement, said sound generation means being interfaced with said infant swaddling means.

4. The infant soothing system of claim 2 further comprising sound generation means for reproducing pre-recorded sounds, said sound generation means having a motion-activated actuating switch, whereby said sound generation means actuates upon sensing movement, said sound generation means being interfaced with said infant swaddling means.