Since its invention in1992, hundreds of thousands of babies worldwide have slept safely in the original, tested, Safe T Sleep® Sleepwrap® babywrap. This is in spite of 0-2 year age group statistics that show a continuing incidence of preventable falls, suffocations, injuries, clicky hips and ‘flat deformed’ heads.
Introducing the Houdini Strip
Since inventing the Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap, developing different models for different markets and devising the practical little HEADwedge, Safe T Sleep has now done it again and has launched a simple, yet effective safety addition to the Sleepwrap: the ‘Houdini Strip’. The little Houdini Strip helps to give extra closure-protection to the babywrap part of the Sleepwrap, making it even safer for little Houdinis.
Significantly, the product remains a comfortable ‘wrap’ with no harsh or potentially dangerous fixtures. Practical, trialled, time-tested, quality designed Sleepwraps are offering parents and caregivers peace of mind in the face of recognised, ongoing infant sleeptime dangers. Preventable infant falls were the initial motivator for Miriam developing the Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap. Statistics in most ‘developed’ countries (in the 0-2 age group) show that nearly one in five hospital admissions due to falls, involve falls from cot/crib and beds in this age group, even from low cot settings and low beds as it is often ‘how’ the baby falls and what they fall against.
Sleepwraps—improving safety for your baby
A mother of three, former positive-parenting educator with a nursing background, Miriam Rutherford-van Gisbergen, originally designed the Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap to be used in conjunction with loving, nurturing, positive, trust-building parenting skills to allow her a few extra moments to attend to her 9month old first born, aspiring climber and subsequently for her other babies for also safer and more comfortable sleeping; both at home and away. The Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap also helps to keep babies face’s clear, reducing the risk of suffocation. With young infants, it can be used over traditional swaddling for extra safety by preventing the swaddle coming loose—an issue in a recent 15 year study in the UK.
Even when using traditional swaddling, modern swaddles or sleeping bags, many parents are still choosing to use the Sleepwrap as well for more restful, snug sleeping as well as extra protection and for their own peace of mind. Statistically, almost a quarter of the world’s SIDS (or ‘cot/crib Death’) babies are found with their faces covered; others are found with heads jammed hard up against cot bars or underneath bedding or large soft toys;
For older babies, The Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap helps reduce the risk of falls and injuries, and also aids in a safer transition from cot/crib to bed and provides a more practical, compact, lightweight method of sleeping when travelling, visiting, camping and boating. Older babies, out of the high SIDS risk period, may also be taught to turn within the babywrap and sleep in their desired sleep position.
Use with the little Safe T Sleep HEADwedge to help prevent flat/deformed heads
The younger the baby, the softer the head, fortunately, the Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap, in conjunction with the little Safe T Sleep HEADwedge, have already been used successfully with young babies under 6months old over many years to help ensure that baby’s head stays in alternate positions at each sleep. This helps to prevent flat spots developing. Parents express that the little HEADwedge also reminds them which side baby’s head was on last.
A key international Cranio-Facial Plastic Surgeon, Dr Tristan de Chalain, undertook Independent Hospital clinical trials of the Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap and formally assessed its ability to effectively enable varied, stable sleep positions to be selected and maintained, while still complying with current official safer sleeping advice. “Prevention is nearly always better than cure” says Miriam.
Comfort and freedom of movement to benefit babies, and families
Made from 100% specifically woven, breathable organic, top quality cotton fabric, the Sleepwrap leaves arms and legs free to allow a wide range of natural, flexible movements according to individual babies ages and stages of development. Babies aged 0-2 years-plus are able to do everything they are developmentally ready to do at their particular stage of development. The only things they cannot do are all the things which may pose a danger to them.
The Sleepwrap comes in a variety of bed sizes—fitting standard mattresses from bassinet to king beds and everything in between, anywhere in the world! “The Sleepwrap is merely an aid to positive parenting practices. Just as a carseat has been designed for safety while travelling, the Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap has been designed for safer sleeping and those few moments before and after sleep” says Miriam.
Just as babies become attached to a familiar cuddly blanket or toy, when used with loving, nurturing parenting skills, the Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap can become a familiar comforter associated with sleep; providing security and safety even in unfamiliar environments: “My own daughter loved her Sleepwrap so much that she used to lie on her bed at age three years of age, and do it up herself with a happy look of contentment on her face.”
“If baby sleeps safely, restfully and well everyone benefits. It certainly benefits caregivers and families and makes parenting more enjoyable,” says Miriam.