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You provide safety, love, and protection.
When moms are pregnant, the womb automatically meets four basic needs for the baby: oxygen (breathing), warmth, nutrition, and protection. The lack of at least one of the first three is life threatening. At birth, if your baby cannot do any first three on his own, he will get assistance from a machine (life support) or else he will die.
If the baby cannot breath he is hooked up to a ventilator/canula,etc., if he cannot get warm he is placed in Kangaroo Care, in an incubator or under a warmer,
if he cannot eat he would have an IV or a feeding tube.
Your baby, just as any baby, is born unable to feel PROTECTION on his own. While "lack of protection" is not life-threatening it is extremely important for his development.
Protection, when it is not given by the womb, comes best from the touch, voice, boundaries, warmth, and scent given by the mother and father. No matter the size of the baby, he cannot comfort or position himself at birth, nor he is able to feel protected on his own. Contrary to popular believe, a newborn baby cannot be spoiled by being held too much, nor he is able to "manipulate" the parents - sometimes all the baby needs is a hug and a touch that means "you are not alone."
When the baby is not being held in Kangaroo Care with the Kangaroo Zak, The Zakys simulate the feeling of being held, by providing boundaries, comfort, a soothing hand, and the scent of the parent, allowing your baby to feel and a sense of protection 24/7 and fall asleep.
It is only when babies are sleeping in DEEP sleep that they can grow and develop the brain.
Proper and repeated use of the Zaky helps the baby learn self-relaxation behaviours that allow him/her to return to a state of calm.
Self-regulation includes the tasks involved in the physiological regulation (maintain body temperature, regular cycles of day and night) and rest until basic needs are met.
The Zaky provides stimulation through the mother's scent, warmth, smoothness, and firmness.
One of the strategies of self-regulation is to help babies to put their hands in their mouths, The Zaky provides the ability to maintain this position without restricting movement
A baby learns his mother’s scent through the amniotic fluid in the womb; he could hear your voice and your heartbeat. You provided warmth, breathing, nutrition, and protection. If each parent scents the Zaky by sleeping with it on the chest or placing it behind the neck for a couple of hours, the baby recognizes the scent of mom and starts learning the scent of dad, facilitating early bonding and the comfort to fall asleep.
If the baby has colic, can’t sleep, or needs extra comfort, warm the Zakys by placing them in the dryer for a couple of minutes then place them on the baby. Some parents choose the Pink Zaky to be scented by mom, and the blue Zaky to be scented by dad.
Have you noticed when toddlers feel scared or hurt, they run to their mothers/fathers? And often, her love and kiss will dissipate the pain and fear. Your baby is no different. Your baby feels much better if he knows that you are there, or if he feels your presence with the Zakys. It is also important for his development and sense of security.
As an adult, you can’t sleep when you feel stressed and/or unprotected - babies are no different, yet we are surprised if they don't sleep - they rest better when they feel protected and comfortable. Swaddling is not recommended, and unfortunately, you cannot hold him all the time. The Zakys become an extension of you, especially if they smell like you (by placing it behind the neck or on the chest for at least one hour or all night), until it is time to hold him again!
The Zakys are so easy to use, and they increase sense of control and confidence of the parents.
The Zakys provide a “security blanket” for babies when they are moved or transferred to different environments. Again, it gives a sense of protection when everything else is changing: the lighting, the noise, the scents, the temperature, etc. The Zakys are transportable and very versatile. It also helps the baby stay calm when it is taken care of by someone other than the parents. Mothers say they feel more comfortable at work if they leave the Zaky with the baby when they have to be back at work. When you are busy or away, The Zaky simulates your presence and helps you bond with your child. Moreover, it has been successfully used as a bonding and a non-medicinal pain management aid since 2001 in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. When you are not there, leave a scented Zaky to assure him that he is not alone.
The Kangaroo Zak