Zaky^® Infant Pillow

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Zaky Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Why is it Important for Preemie Babies to Have a Zaky?

The Zaky has been successfully used in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Texas Medical Center since 2001. Research shows that the Zaky helps not only the mother by feeling as though she is leaving a part or her with the baby and becoming more involved with the baby's care, but it also helps the nurses, caregivers, and the baby in positioning, comfort, and sense of security and support.

Babies need breathing, warmth, eating, and protection. The first three are critical for survival and are given in the hospital if the babies are not able to do it by themselves (i.e., ventilators, warmers, and feeding tubes). Protection, however, is primarily provided by moms and their touch. The Zaky is designed to give this sense of protection and security that the mother gives when she is away.

In the last trimester of pregnancy, babies kick more, stretch and develop their muscles to use when they are born. The womb provides the boundaries needed to bring the babies back to a fetal position. When they are born, moms and dads are taught to swaddle their babies with a blanket to simulate the boundaries of the womb and so that their babies can feel something familiar and to help the baby calm down.

When babies are born prematurely, they still need to move and stretch and kick, but in gravity there are no boundaries that allow them to go back to the fetal position; moreover, they have tubes, needles and monitors that don't allow it. So they stretch and as the hospital monitors indicate they get stressed (i.e., heart rate rises).

Mothers are shown how to reposition their baby and hold their baby simulating the boundaries that he knew in the womb, and the baby calms down. The Zaky allows babies to develop their muscles, feel protected, and use their calories to grow and be calm. With the Zaky, the hospital monitors clearly show a more stable baby – the baby can still move and develop her muscles, but she feels a boundary (the Zaky), but the Zaky does not interfere with the medical equipment.

Moreover, the scent of the mother on the Zaky helps calm the baby even more and her energy is saved to grow and develop – not spent trying to find protection. (The Zaky can be scented with the scent of family members so the baby feels something familiar even when in someone else's care and assists in the transition from the hospital to the car and then to home.)

Is the Zaky JUST for preemies?

No. The Zaky is perfect for any baby that needs the comfort of a mother’s hand – and what baby doesn’t?

How do I scent the Zaky so it smells like me?

To soothe your baby even more, place the Zaky around the back of your neck for a couple of hours or sleep with it directly on your chest so the Zaky picks up your scent. If you wear a particular perfume on a regular basis, one drop of your favorite perfume will also work well.

How much does the Zaky weigh?

The Zaky weighs a little more than a pound (500 grams). The size is similar to a medium size woman's hand and forearm.

Can I bring the Zaky to the hospital when I give birth to my baby?

The Zaky is great to bring to the hospital when your baby is born. Scent it with your own scent beforehand to help your baby when he/she is in the bassinet next to you or give it to the nurse when your baby is taken to the nursery. This way you give your baby “your hand” with your scent, and the nurse can use it to support and position your baby. Also, because your baby smells and feels something constant from birth, the Zaky helps the transition to going home.

My maternity leave is almost finished, how does the Zaky help if I am not there?

The Zaky is great when you have to leave your baby with someone else -- at your baby’s daycare facility, when he stays with a babysitter, or goes to visit the grandparents. The Zaky will provide a constant and familiar support giving your baby a sense of security. The Zaky also assists the caregivers on positioning your baby and your baby will feel and smell mom. If you can, scent your Zaky when your baby needs to go with someone else.

I am a new father and I cannot be there with my newborn child. Can the Zaky help?

If you must go away for a long period of time, leave a Zaky and a loving note to your partner that says something like: "I am leaving my hand so our baby feels my touch until I return..." Zaky’s are perfect for military personnel who are stationed overseas.

I live away from my new grandchild, how does the Zaky help?

Send your scented Zaky to your daughter/daughter-in-law with a note saying something like: "Here is a hand that can help you until I can be there to be with you personally."

Isn't the Zaky too heavy to place over a baby?

The Zaky weighs approximately 1.2 pounds and is used at Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) for babies that weigh as little as 1.4 lbs. By shifting the filling to the "forearm," the weight of the "hand" is controlled depending on the size and the condition of the infant. For healthy infants weighing over 6 lbs., you can decide how much weight to actually place on the baby.

How do I wash the Zaky?

The Zaky is fully washable and it comes with a Zaky washing bag. If you don't have the bag available, you can also use a pillow case or a regular washing bag. Make sure you protect the Zaky by washing it properly. Use warm water and low heat for the drier.

What is the Zaky made of?

The Zaky is made of 100% anti-pilling soft fleece and the filling is plastic pellets. It makes the Zaky soft, safe, and allows the Zaky to contour to the shape of the baby. The Zaky also has reinforced seams.

Up to what age the Zaky works?

The Zaky is not a toy. The Zaky cannot be used without an adult's supervision. The Zaky works with babies of all ages as one size fits all. It is also fantastic to give older children when you go away for days or when they must remain hospitalized and you cannot be there with him/her.

Can I warm the Zaky?

The Zaky can be warmed by placing it in the drier for a couple of minutes.

How does the Zaky help with my baby's posture?

The Zaky provides support to your baby’s shoulders, hips and legs on the stroller, swing, bouncy chair, etc. or when lying on his side or back. The most comfortable position for your baby is when the spine is straight. Babies do not have the ability to keep their back straight, and bigger babies try to find a boundary by leaning to the side, however, this position compromises the spine. Use the Zaky to support the baby by placing it on the sides of your baby to provide support and protect her spine. Keep away from your baby’s face.

Can I use the Zaky in the car seat, bouncy seat, strollers or the swing?

Infant car seats are designed for babies that are up to 20-22 pounds, so the new born baby will be too small for the seat. Use two Zakys, one on each side of the baby to support from the shoulders to the hips to the legs with the forearm and the hands touching the feet. In the car seat, for safety reasons, do not use it under the baby or as head support as the car seat comes with a crash-tested head support. The Zaky can be safely used in strollers, swings and every place that the baby is sitting up to reduce the strain on the spine.

Why are boundaries to important for babies?

Babies are warm, protected, and cozy in the womb. When they arrive they like to feel those boundaries and that is one of the reasons the babies rest better when a hand is placed on top of them. Towels and blankets help but they do not provide the weight and support of the Zaky.

Is there anything I should be aware of when using the Zaky?

Yes, please be aware of the following:

• The Zaky is NOT A TOY
• Do not use it on or around the face
• DO NOT leave your child unattended while using the Zaky
• Discontinue its use IMMEDIATELY if any seam is not intact
• Do not share the Zaky among babies to prevent contamination
• Consult the medical personnel when using it with a sick child.

Can I bring it to the hospital if my baby is hospitalized?

The Zaky was originally designed for a premature baby that remained hospitalized for five months. Research has been done at a NICU and the nurses rated the Zaky in the top 3 items in terms of effectiveness in comforting and supporting the babies. Whether your baby is premature at the NICU, or hospitalized for a procedure or emergency, the Zaky is fantastic not only to comfort your child but it is also a favorite item for the nurses as it helps them in positioning and giving comfort to your baby. It is like leaving a hand with your baby when you cannot hold him.

Zaky Rearch

Pilot (Fall 2005) - Barcelona, Spain - "The benefits of the Zaky for mothers, babies, and medical personnel" (information about this research will be posted at a later date)
Completed:
Title: "Human Hand Mimetic Comforts High Risk Neonates"
Presented at: XVIII Annual International Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Conference 2004: Houston, Texas, USA, May, 2004
Principal Researcher:
M. Terese Verklan, Ph.D., CCNS, RNC
Director, Clinical Research, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System.
Associate Professor, Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas, USA
Co-Authors:

Karen Martin, RN
Developmental Coordinator, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital
Houston, Texas, USA

Yamile Cendales Jackson, Ph.D., PMP
President and CEO, Zakeez™
Houston, Texas, USA

Abstract

According to the March of Dimes (2004), there are currently 470,000 premature births each year in the United States. The number of premature births has been increasing in the past 20 years at a rate of .014% a year, and the number of viable premature births should increase in the near future due to increased technologies available to treat these neonates. A controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of items currently used to comfort the neonates, including a patented device called “the Zaky™”, an item that mimics the shape, size, weight and touch of a static human hand and forearm (similar to a fleece sack with the shape of an elbow-length glove and filled with plastic beads) that may be converted into a pediatric bolster support device. The study was conducted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas where the first prototype of this device has been used for over two years, and where the final product was introduced and tested in 2004. All nurses from this NICU received an equivalent training program when the prototype product was first introduced to the NICU. This prototype consisted of a cotton glove with its cavity filled with plastic pellets and closed at the cuff.

The results of a subjective perception and satisfaction questionnaires indicated that the prototype of the device (hand-only) ranked third out of eleven items currently used to comfort and support the infants among participants in the experiment. The final device, which adds the forearm and the ability to convert into a pediatric bolster support device, was tested on infants weighing less than 4000 grams at birth (8.8lbs). Our results showed clearly that the device adds to the patient’s comfort, support and sense of security. Nurses predominantly agree in saying that “the Zaky™”is a valuable tool that assists them on their work, especially when caring for multiple infants simultaneously. Moreover, they would recommend it to other NICUs. As a nurse stated, “The Zaky™ has been instrumental in comforting both term and preterm babies when a human hand cannot remain with them. Placing the ‘hand’ so that it caresses the head or lower extremities provides boundaries such that the baby remains in a quiet behavioral state for longer periods, thus saving precious energy and facilitating growth. By having parents place the device, they feel like they have left a part of them that will soothe their baby when they can’t be there”

The findings of this pilot study help identify the preferences and trends within a population of NICU nurses in regards to the device. These findings will also assist to further understand and define the needs for designing and developing future products that can assist the caregivers and the mothers of high-risk neonates during hospitalization and at home.

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