Infant sleep positioner

Abstract

A sleep positioner comprises a body region having a top surface forming loop fasteners and first and second support cushions each having a flat bottom surface having at least one hook fastener. The support cushions are removably positionable on the top surface of the body region to form a space therebetween to receive and maintain an infant in a supine position. A support pillow extends from at least a portion of the body region and includes a cushion member having a support region, to support at least a portion of the head of the infant, at least partially surrounding a pressure relief region. The pressure relief region is configured to receive at least a portion of the back side of the head such that pressure applied to the back side of the head is reduced when lying in the supine position.

1 . A sleep positioner for maintaining an infant in a supine position, the sleep positioner comprising: 
 a body region having a top surface forming loop fasteners;    a first support cushion and a second support cushion, the first and second support cushions each having a flat bottom surface, each of the flat bottom surfaces having at least one hook fastener, wherein the first and second support cushions are removably positionable on the top surface of the body region to form a space therebetween to receive and maintain the infant in the supine position; and    a support pillow extending from at least a portion of the body region including a support region at least partially surrounding a pressure relief region, wherein the support region is configured to support at least a portion of the head of the infant, and wherein the pressure relief region is configured to receive at least a portion of the back side of the head such that pressure applied to the back side of the head is reduced when lying in the supine position;    wherein the body region extends outward in a direction away from the support pillow such that a width of the body region is larger than a width of the support pillow, whereby the first and second support cushions are connectable to the body region at locations laterally beyond the support pillow.    
   
   
       2 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a sound component to generate sounds for the infant.  
   
   
       3 . The sleep positioner of  claim 2 , wherein the sound component generates a sound simulating a heartbeat.  
   
   
       4 . The sleep positioner of  claim 2 , wherein the sound component further includes a timer, the sound component to stop generating the sounds upon the expiration of the timer.  
   
   
       5 . The sleep positioner of  claim 2 , wherein the sound component is at least partially located inside a cavity defined by the first support cushion and wherein the sound component includes an activation mechanism to activate the sound component, the sound component activated by depressing a region of the first support cushion located above the activation mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . The sleep positioner of  claim 5 , wherein the first support cushion comprises a removable cover covering the sound component, wherein removal of the removable cover exposes the sound component.  
   
   
       7 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibrator component at least partially enclosed by the first support cushion.  
   
   
       8 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a recordable sound component including a record mechanism to record a voice and a playback mechanism to playback the recorded voice.  
   
   
       9 . The sleep positioner of  claim 8 , wherein the recordable sound component further includes a detection mechanism to detect a sound made by the infant and to activate the playback mechanism upon detection of the sound.  
   
   
       10 . The sleep positioner of  claim 8 , wherein the recordable sound component is located in a cavity defined by the first support cushion.  
   
   
       11 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a microphone to capture sounds made by the infant and to transmit the sounds to an external receiver.  
   
   
       12 . The sleep positioner of  claim 11 , wherein the microphone is located at least partially within the support pillow.  
   
   
       13 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the first support cushion has an arcuate upper surface.  
   
   
       14 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the first support cushion includes a pocket to hold a pacifier.  
   
   
       15 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the support region comprises a gel insert.  
   
   
       16 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the support region comprises a shape retaining material that retains at least a portion of a shape of the infant's head.  
   
   
       17 . The sleep positioner of  claim 28 , wherein the shape retaining material comprises a viscoelastic material.  
   
   
       18 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the support pillow is inflatable.  
   
   
       19 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a wedge coupled with at least a portion of the bottom surface of the body region and a bottom surface of the support pillow, the wedge having an inclined surface for positioning the body of the infant at an inclined angle.  
   
   
       20 . The sleep positioner of  claim 19 , wherein the wedge comprises a gel material.  
   
   
       21 . The sleep positioner of  claim 19 , wherein the wedge comprises a viscoelastic material.  
   
   
       22 . The sleep positioner of  claim 19 , wherein the wedge is inflatable.  
   
   
       23 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the body region has an outer periphery generally having a rectangular geometry.  
   
   
       24 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the body region comprises at least one of a quilted material, a gel insert, a viscoelastic material, an inflatable material, a temperature regulating material, and a scented material.  
   
   
       25 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the body region is a waterproof material.  
   
   
       26 . The sleep positioner of  claim 25 , wherein the waterproof material is vinyl.  
   
   
       27 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the first support cushion has a length in the range from about 6 inches to about 8 inches and a width in the range from about 2 inches to about 4 inches.  
   
   
       28 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the support pillow further includes an arcuate flange disposed on the support region, the arcuate flange configured to maintain the head of the infant on the support pillow.  
   
   
       29 . The sleep positioner of  claim 28 , wherein the arcuate flange is padded.  
   
   
       30 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief region comprises a recessed portion in the support pillow.  
   
   
       31 . The sleep positioner of  claim 30 , wherein the recessed portion comprises an aperture extending through the sleep pillow.  
   
   
       32 . The sleep positioner of  claim 30 , wherein the recessed portion has a cross-sectional shape that is selected from a group consisting of a circle, an oval, an ellipse and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       33 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief region is less resilient that the support region.  
   
   
       34 . The sleep positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the support pillow has an outer periphery consisting of one of a circular geometry, a semicircular geometry, and a rectangular geometry.  
   
   
       35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . A sleep positioner for maintaining an infant in a supine position, the sleep positioner comprising: 
 a body region having a top surface forming loop fasteners and a bottom surface that is constructed of a waterproof material;    a first support cushion disposed on the top surface of the body region;    a second support cushion having a flat bottom surface an arcuate upper surface, the flat bottom surface having at least one hook fastener to removably position the second support cushion on the top surface of the body region so that a space is defined between the first support cushion and the second support cushion, the space operable to receive and maintain the infant in the supine position;    a sound component positioned at least partially inside one of the first support cushion and the second support cushion; and    a support pillow, extending from at least a portion of the body region, including a support region at least partially surrounding a pressure relief region and a padded member disposed about a periphery of the support region, wherein the support region is configured to support at least a portion of the head of the infant, and wherein the pressure relief region is configured to receive a portion of the back side of the head such that pressure applied to the back side of the head is reduced when lying in the supine position.    
   
   
       37 . The sleep positioner of  claim 36 , wherein the sound component generates a sound simulating a heartbeat.  
   
   
       38 . The sleep positioner of  claim 36 , wherein the sound component further includes a timer, the sound component to stop generating sounds upon the expiration of the timer.  
   
   
       39 . The sleep positioner of  claim 36 , wherein the first support cushion has a flat bottom surface having at least one hook fastener to removably position the first support cushion on the body region.  
   
   
       40 . The sleep positioner of  claim 36 , wherein the support pillow further includes a microphone component to capture sounds made by the infant and to transmit the sounds to an external receiver.  
   
   
       41 . A method for maintaining an infant in a supine position, the method comprising: 
 providing a sleep positioner comprising a body region having a top surface forming loop fasteners, first and second support cushions each having a flat bottom surface including at least one hook fastener to removably position the first and second support cushions on the top surface of the body region, and a support pillow having a support region at least partially surrounding a pressure relief region, wherein the support region is generally flat and the pressure relief region is generally flush with or recessed relative to the support region and wherein the body region extends laterally outward from the support pillow such that a width of the body region is larger than a width of the support pillow; and    placing an infant in a supine position in a space formed between the first support cushion and the second support cushion, with the infant's head resting on the support region, and with at least a portion of the infant's head being disposed over the pressure relief region such that pressure applied to the back side of the head is reduced;    adjusting at least one of the first support cushion and the second support cushion to fit against a side of the infant such that at least a portion of the first and second support cushions are laterally beyond the support pillow.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising providing a sound component to generate sounds for the infant.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising providing a microphone component to record sounds made by the infant and to transmit the sounds to an external receiver.