Infant garment and methods for treating positional plagiocephaly

Abstract

A method for treating/preventing positional plagiocephaly in an infant by providing a support surface, positioning the infant on the support surface, positioning the support surface such that the infant's head tilts to a first side when the infant is on the support surface, repositioning the support surface such that the infant's head tilts to a second side opposite the first side when the infant is on the support surface, and repeating these steps such that the infant's head is not longer susceptible to positional plagiocephaly. The invention also relates to an infant garment with an upper portion having an infant torso covering portion and an inclined member engaged with the infant torso covering portion of the infant garment.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . An infant garment comprising: 
 an upper portion comprising an infant torso covering portion; and    an inclined member releaseably engaged with the infant torso covering portion of the infant garment in at least a first position and a second position such that when the inclined member is in the first position, an infant lies in a first position and when the inclined member is in the second position, an infant lies in a second position.    
     
     
         2 . The infant garment of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined member comprises plastic, wood, metal, or foam.  
     
     
         3 . The infant garment of  claim 1 , wherein the infant torso covering portion further comprises a pocket adapted to receive the inclined member.  
     
     
         4 . The infant garment of  claim 3 , wherein the inclined member releaseably engages the upper torso portion utilizing the pouch.  
     
     
         5 . The infant garment of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined member utilizes a fastening system to engage the inclined member with the garment.  
     
     
         6 . The infant garment of  claim 1  further comprising a covering material that covers at least a portion of the inclined member.  
     
     
         7 . The method of preventing plagiocephaly in an infant comprising: 
 providing an infant garment comprising an upper torso portion and a inclined member engaged with the upper torso portion;    fitting the infant garment on an infant; and    selectively placing the infant in a first predetermined sleeping position such that the inclined member forces the infant to sleep with the infant's head in the first predetermined sleeping position or a second predetermined sleeping position such that the inclined member forces the infant to sleep with the infant's head in the second predetermined sleeping position thereby preventing plagiocephaly.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the inclined member releaseably engages the upper torso portion of the infant garment.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the inclined member comprises plastic, wood, metal, or foam.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the infant torso covering portion further comprises a pocket adapted to receive the inclined member.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inclined member releaseably engages the upper torso portion utilizing the pouch.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the inclined member utilizes a fastening system to engage the inclined member with the garment.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising a covering material that covers at least a portion of the inclined member.  
     
     
         14 . An infant garment comprising: 
 an upper portion comprising an infant torso covering portion; and    an inclined member engaged with the infant torso covering portion of the infant garment.    
     
     
         15 . The infant garment of  claim 14 , wherein the inclined member releaseably engages the infant torso covering portion of the infant garment.  
     
     
         16 . The infant garment of  claim 14 , wherein the inclined member comprises plastic, wood, metal, or foam.  
     
     
         17 . The infant garment of  claim 14 , wherein the infant torso covering portion further comprises a pocket adapted to receive the inclined member.  
     
     
         18 . The infant garment of  claim 17 , wherein the inclined member releaseably engages the upper torso portion utilizing the pouch.  
     
     
         19 . The infant garment of  claim 14 , wherein the inclined member utilizes a fastening system to engage the inclined member with the garment.  
     
     
         20 . The infant garment of  claim 14  further comprising a covering material that covers at least a portion of the inclined member.  
     
     
         21 . A method for treating/preventing positional plagiocephaly in an infant, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a support surface;    (b) positioning the infant on the support surface;    (c) positioning at least a portion of the support surface such that the infant's head tilts to a first side when the infant is placed on the support surface;    (d) repositioning at least a portion of the support surface such that the infant's head tilts to a second side opposite the first side when the infant is on the support surface; and    (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) until the infant's head is no longer susceptible to positional plagiocephaly.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the support surface comprises the inner surface of a sleeping garment worn by the infant.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the support surface is configured and positioned under the infant's torso so as to raise one shoulder of the infant relative to the infant's other shoulder.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the support surface is at least a portion of the surface of a mattress.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the support surface is the upper surface of a wedge-shaped pad.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the support surface comprises a infant retention cavity to facilitate retention of the infant in one location on the support surface even when the support surface tilts.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the support surface comprises an at least partially deformable surface to facilitate retention of the infant in a predetermined location on the support surface even when the support surface tilts.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the support surface is positioned prior to positioning the infant on the support surface.  
     
     
         29 . An infant garment comprising an upper portion for covering the infant's torso, wherein said upper portion includes means for lifting one of the infant's shoulders relative to the other shoulder when the infant is placed on its back so as to cause the infant's head to rest at least partially on one side.