GB2459184A

GB2459184A - Support for Baby Pacifier

Info

Publication number: GB2459184A
Application number: GB0906295A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samantha Sutherland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-15
Filing date: 2009-04-14
Publication date: 2009-10-21
Also published as: GB0906295D0; GB0806786D0

Abstract

A device for enabling an infant to self-administer a pacifier 2 , comprising a support for a pacifier 1 and a means for affixing the support to a surface 3,5 . It may comprise a pad 6 to which a dummy 2 or other pacifier is attached and which is in turn affixed upon bedding 4. The support may be mounted in a plurality of positions, preferably at sufficient height and location to allow an infant to self-administer the pacifier whilst lying down. The pacifier can be a dummy or teething ring and the support for the pacifier mounted on a variety of surfaces associated with an infant, such as a bed, cot, car seat, pushchair, buggy and pram. Further the support can be in the form of a toy or can be placed onto the wrist of the infant using a wrist band.

Description

Baby Pacifier This invention relates to a baby pacifier. In particular, it relates to apparatus for enabling a baby to easily locate and use a pacifier.

It is common for babies and infants to seek the reassurance of a pacifier (dummy) which the baby can suck and which seems to give comfort to the baby and provide a feeling of well being and security.

Usually, dummies or pacifiers are administered to the baby by a parent or other carer.

There are times, however, such as when the baby is laid down to sleep, when a carer is not available to immediately provide such a pacifier to the infant when required.

It has been known to suspend pacifiers from a cot bar for example, so that it is available 1 5 for the infant to grab when required. However, there are risks associated with this, not least the risk that the cord or other means used to suspend the dummy may get caught around the infant's neck with a possible strangulation risk.

The present invention arose in an attempt to provide improved methods for an infant to self administer a pacifier.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for enabling an infant to self administer a pacifier, comprising a support for a pacifier and means for affixing the support to a surface.

The invention further provides a device for enabling an infant to self-administer a pacifier, comprising a support for a pacifier which enables the infant to self-administer the pacifier. _7 -

The apparatus preferably also comprises a pacifier. This may be a dummy, teething ring or other teething and/or device.

The support is preferably a padded member in some embodiments. It may be attached to a surface such as a blanket or other bedding, and be adapted to support the pacifier at such a height and position that a baby or infant laid upon the surface can take a relevant part of the pacifier into its mouth ie self-administrative pacifier.

The pacifier may be located in any of a plurality of selectable positions or within a continuous range of positions to provide various height options for different babies.

The bedding or other surface may be part of an article which is padded or slightly padded. It may be quilted. The support may be securely affixed to the surface so that it is in a fixed position relative thereto. Alternatively, there may be a plurality of selectable positions or a continuous range of positions the support can be affixed in, to allow for different conditions, age and size of infant or other parameters. The support may be fixed to a bed, sheet or surface by removable means such as VelcroTM, co-operating button and buttonhole fastener, cords and loops, or many other forms of fastening.

The pad will generally be of a breathable material.

The device may be attached to a bed, cot, cot-bed, bed, so-called Moses basket', car seat, pushchair, buggy, pram or any other surface an infant may be laid upon. For many of these, means such as Velcro TM, buttons, etc can be used for attachment but for car seats, pushchairs, etc slits may be provided in the surface enabling straps or other means to be fed through to secure and position the support pad for the baby.

The support pad is preferably of sufficient length and/or the pacifier is positioned so that when in use a baby's nostrils lie beyond the extent of the pad, so that when the baby is sucking at the pacifier its air-passages are free of the pad.

The surface may be a cot bar or other part of an infant's bed.

The support in an alternative embodiment may be a means for attaching a pacifier to a child's body, preferably a wristband.

In further embodiments, the support may be a toy or other comforter or reassuring article, for example a soft or cuddly toy.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a pacifier attached to a wristband.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a pacifier attached to a reassuring article.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a pacifier attached to a support pad attached to a blanket; Figure 2 shows a pacifier attached to a support pad which is attached to a cot bar; Figure 3 shows a pacifier attached to a child's toy; and Figures 4, 5 and 6 show embodiments of pacifiers attached to a wristband attached to an infant's wrist.

Referring to Figure 1, in a first embodiment a pacifier support is in the form of a pad (or padded member) 1 to which may be affixed a dummy 2. This may be done by means a material strap or band, typically a watch-type strap capable of extending around the pad. The dummy may alternatively be affixed by Velcro TM loop or other means to the pad. The pad itself 1 is mountable on any convenient surface and in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is mounted upon a blanket 4. This will be a quilted or padded blanket or non-padded.

Alternatively, the pad may even be mounted directly on a mattress or otherwise.

It is preferably mounted by means of cooperating mounting means which in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises a Velcro TM section 5 affixed to the blanket and a corresponding Velcro TM section (not shown) attached to one side (ie the underside) of the pad 1. The Velcro TM section 5 is most preferably of greater extent than the pad as shown so that the precise position of the pad with respect to the blanket can be varied depending upon use.

The blanket surface 4 comprises a generally flat but flexible boftom support or sheet of sufficient size to easily accommodate a child's head and which may, for example, be of the same or slightly less width than the width of a cot or other bed the infant is laid on. The length of this support is sufficient to bear an infant's head with the rest of its body extending down a bed upon which the support is laid. On the underneath (not shown) of the blanket surface there is most preferably provided a means for attaching the support to a sheet provided on the bed and this may comprise co-operating VelcroTM fastener on the support, co-operating button, buftonhole, or many other types of fasteners which can serve to secure the support 1 against the sheet. Alternatively, this may simply be laid loose.

In use, an infant or baby is laid upon the blanket or other surface in a position such that its mouth can reach the dummy. Thus, the dummy will be provided at a suitable position on the pad such that when the pad is affixed to the blanket, the dummy lies at a particular height and position above this which is conducive to a typical infant on its side or back being able to receive the pad on its mouth. This will be of the order of centimetres for example but will easily be achieved by trial and effor.

The support pad 1 may take the form of a cylindrical pillow-like pad or other forms. It may be any convenient shape and is preferably of an outer material with inner padding, all of which is breathable. It will be relatively thick compared to the support and would normally be made of a breathable material such that if an infant wedges his nose and mouth against the padded pillow there is no risk of suffocation. By providing this pad in a fixed position relative to the flat flexible sheet, an infant, when its head is laid upon the blanket can either turn its head itself or have its head turned such that the teat of the pacifier can be located by the infant and sucked into the infant's mouth. Even relatively young babies have the ability of some head movement to locate and latch on to a teat because of the natural desire to suckle at a breast.

Thus, if the baby is laid down on its back but with its head facing the padded support, it would normally be able to find a teat when required and this provides a feeling of comfort to the infant. The support enables small movements to enable the baby to access the pacifier most comfortably. When the infant falls asleep, or otherwise does not require the pacifier, the child will simply move their had sufficient to dislodge it.

The infant can therefore self-administer the dummy, ie either by simply moving its head a little if it is placed with its head in right disposition or by rolling its head when the infant is old enough to do this.

To ensure there is no risk of chocking or blocking of the infant's air ways, the size of the pad, and/or the relationship between the point where the dummy 2 is affixed to the pad and the edge of the pad 6, is smaller than the distance between the child's mouth and its nostrils.

Thus, when the infant is lying with the dummy in its mouth, its nostrils, and therefore its airways, lie spaced a distance from the edge of the pad. This is illustrated by the dashed-line 7 in the figure which is spaced from edge 6 of the pad when the dummy is generally in the infant's mouth.

Thus, the pad is sufficiently small not to hinder the child's breathing. Typically, the dimensions may be of the order of cm.

The attachment strap may be a single material strap. It may have a portion of Velcro TM or other material on its ends so that it can be affixed around the pad and then used to hold the dummy in place. Tnstead of a blanket or similar, the dummy may be affixed to any other item.

The pad may, in some embodiments, be integral with the blanket. That is, it may be a single element with a padded part, or may be of two or more parts permanently or semi-permanently attached to each other.

Figure 2 shows one example where the dummy is attached, via a support pad 1, to a surface of a cot bar 8. Thus, in this example, a separate blanket 4 does not need to be provided.

The dummy may be affixed directly to the cot bar or other surface or member by a suitable strap or other affixing, but will preferably be affixed via a support pad 1 to provide some cushioning to stop the infant hurting itself against rigid bars or otherwise. The use of a padded member 1, of appropriate dimensions and appropriate distance between the dummy mounting point and the ends of the pad, can also of course ensure that breathing is not obstructed.

Figure 2 shows a frirther embodiment in which a dummy is affixed to a familiar item to the child, in this case a soft toy 9. The infant can therefore be laid anywhere with its reassuring toy or other comforter close to hand and be able to suckle at the dummy 2. The dummy may be affixed by a strap or VelcroTM loop which is temporarily or preferably permanently attached to the toy. The strap is shown at 10. Many other items which are familiar to a child, preferably soft padded ones, may be used for this purpose. instead of a strap, other means may be used to affix a dummy but a strap is found to be convenient. The toy should be vely light so as not to pull on an infant's teeth.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment in which a dummy 2 is affixed by means of a wristband 11 to infant's wrist or arm. That is, the support in this case is the wristband. The wristband may be affixed in a convenient manner with VelcroTM fastenings, for example The wristband/watch like strap can be secured or attached in any convenient way to an infant wrist or arm. This may have different or adjustable fastenings to allow for different wrist sizes. The infant will then soon learn that by moving his wrist to a suitable position he can locate the pacifier relative to his mouth.

Similarly, Figure 5 shows, instead of a dummy, a pacifier known as a teething ring 12 affixed via a wristband to an infant's wrist. Note that the teething ring, or any other pacifier, may be used in any embodiment of the example instead of the dummies which are shown.

Figure 6 shows an infant with a wristband and associated pacifier 12 aftached, whereby the infant has raised the pacifier to his mouth and is self-administering it.

The embodiments shown are illustrative only. Many other versions may be envisaged in which enable an infant to self-administer a pacifier.

1 5 In any embodiments, the pacifier is preferably attached so it can be sterilised, or removed by an adult to sterilise it.

Fluorescent or luminous materials may be used for the pacifier and/or pad, wrist strap, soft toy or other pacifier holder to facilitate location thereof Different embodiments may be most desirable for use at different ages or developmental stages of a baby or infant. A pad-type support blanket version may be most suitable from birth to about 6 months old for example. A wristband version may be usefil from about 4 months old or when a baby has sufficient co-ordination to put their hand to their mouth. A toy -type embodiment may be used from birth. However these ranges are not limiting and any embodiment may have utility at any stage or size of infant.

Claims

Claims 1. A device for enabling an infant to self-administer a pacifier, comprising a support for a pacifier which enables the infant to self-administer the pacifier.
2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, further including a pacifier mounted to the support.
3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the support is a pad attached to a surface.
4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein when the pad is attached to a surface, the pacifier is supported at such a height and disposition relative to the surface that a baby or infant laid upon the surface can take a relevant part of the pacifier into its mouth.
5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is of suitably dimensioned relative to the pacifier that when a baby or infant takes a relevant part of the pacifier into its mouth, the nostrils of the infant are not obstructed by the support.
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is mounted upon a surface and whereby the support is mountable in any of a plurality of selected positions or within a continuous range of positions.
7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support has a portion providing a flexible surface upon which an infant's head may lay, and a pad adapted to support a pacifier at a position relative to the support that an infant may self-administer the pacifier.
8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is mounted upon a bed, cot, cot-bed, car seat, pushchair, buggy, pram or any other surface an infant may be laid upon.
9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is a wristband adapted to affix a pacifier around an infant's wrist for self-administration.
10. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support is a reassuring article, such as a toy or other comforter.
11. A device as claimed in Claimi 0, including means for aft aching the pacifier to the article.
12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pacifier is a dummy or teething ring.
13. A method for enabling an infant to self-administer a pacifier, comprising attaching the pacifier to a support which enables the infant to self-administer the pacifier.
14. A method as claimed in Claim 13, comprising aftaching the pacifier to a pad which is affixable to a surface whereby, when affixed, the pad supports the pacifier at a height and disposition above the surface at which an infant can self-administer the pacifier.
15. A method as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the pacifier is aftached to an infant's wrist or a reassuring article.
16. Pacifier apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of enabling an infant or baby to self-administer a pacifier, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.