Newborn and premature babies are often wrapped in a swaddling blanket in order to calm and soothe it, and/or to keep the infant warm while sleeping. Infants are also wrapped or swaddled to provide a feeling of comfort, much like the closeness felt in the womb.

Swaddling is also commonly applied to help resolve an irregular and unpredictable sleeping pattern of the infant, as caused by the involuntary arbitrary flailing movements of the arms and legs. These flailing movements form a continuous self-stimulation for the infant, keeping it from falling asleep. Swaddling reduces this continuous self-stimulation by tightly enclosing the infant, which restricts the movements of these extremities. It furthermore may exert compressive force on the infant, which produces a motorically calming effect. In swaddling, it is key to ensure that an infant remains tightly enclosed to maintain the infant's state of calmness.

Originally, simple four-sided blankets have been used to swaddle an infant. While such conventional blankets are often useful tools for swaddling newborns, it becomes increasingly difficult to use them so as to ensure the tightness thereof around the infant as the infant grows and becomes more and more able to push or kick their arms and legs within, or even out of the blanket, so to untighten or completely release it.

Currently available blankets have provisions to prevent the untightening or releasing of the swaddling blanket by movements of the arms. As an example, reference is made to the U.K. Patent GB 2 515 400 which discloses a swaddling blanket of which a lower section can be folded upwards to provide cover the feet and legs or folded upwards between the spreaded legs of the infant so that the legs are left exposed. The lateral wing sections of the blanket are folded over the infant and secured with a hook and loop fastening.

To aid in maintaining the infant in its swaddled position, and avoid shifting with respect to the blanket in the longitudinal or lateral direction, swaddling blankets of this type are also known in an embodiment wherein the blanket is provided with a band, which is secured to the inside surface of the blanket at the height of the chest and/or belly of the infant to be swaddled. Prior to folding the side wing sections over the torso, this band is to be folded laterally over the chest and/or belly of the infant, leaving the arms free. The chest band applies some compressive force to the chest and/or belly, to aid in the compression by the swaddling blanket. The wing sections of the blanket are subsequently folded the front of the infant and over this band, and secured thereto, for instance by hook and loop fastener strips. Thereby, the arms can be tucked in one by one by the left and right side wing sections, so to ease the swaddling by two hands of the person swaddling the infant.

EP2874941 discloses a swaddling wrap with a body-supporting section, a bottom flap for folding over the feet, and wing sections for folding over the torso. The wrap includes at the inside a removable pouch that removably attaches to the body-supporting portion, and is configured to wrap and fasten around the torso and arms of the infant while leaving the legs exposed. While securing the infant to the blanket in this manner generally suffices for maintaining its lateral position, in practice maintaining the longitudinal position may not be ensured - as caused by (small) movements of his head, torso and/or legs while sleeping.

As a consequence, the infant may come to shift with respect to the blanket in the caudal direction, that is, in the direction from head to toes, leading to undesirable situations. For instance, the upper part of the wing sections may become loosened and shifted upwards towards the face of the infant, so that the fabric of the blanket may come within the reach of the mouth of the infant. The infant may become able to (partly) loosen the arms to some extent, which may cause them to become stuck between the different layers of the wing sections and/or the band around the chest, or in between the wing sections and the neck. In this regard, swaddling blankets of which the lower end remains open after swaddling, possibly such that the feet or part of the legs are left exposed, may have an advantage over bag-shaped swaddling garments, or wraps with a pocket for the feet and/or legs, in that the fabric is engaged less, or not at all, by the feet and/or legs as a consequence of movements of the feet and/or legs - for instance, trampling movements - so that said caudal shifting of the infant with respect to the blanket, as caused by these movements, is reduced to some extent.

In a first aspect thereof, the invention aims to provide an improved swaddling blanket or at least an alternative for existing designs. In particular the first aspect of the invention aims to provide an easy to handle blanket that provides enhanced reduction of mobility of the infant with respect to the swaddling blanket. The first aspect of the invention provides a swaddling blanket according to claim 1.

The swaddling blanket comprises a body-supporting section and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The swaddling blanket can be brought in an extended position in which the inner surface is above the outer surface and the main blanket panel defines a substantially flat plane.

It is envisaged that in swaddling using the swaddling blanket, the swaddling blanket is firstly laid down on a flat surface, e.g. a mattress, with the inner surface exposed, such that the infant to be swaddled can subsequently be laid down on the flat horizontal plane formed by the inner surface of the body supporting section.

The body supporting section is configured for supporting a posterior area of the infant while the infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position, and the swaddling blanket is in its beforementioned extended position. It is envisaged that the infant to be swaddled is laid down supinated on said inner surface in a certain position, to remain in this same position relative to the part of the inner surface it covers by its posterior surface, during swaddling and while being swaddled, and during the release from the swaddling blanket, until being removed from the inner surface. The body supporting section is therein suitable to support the infant at the posterior surface of the infant in this period.

The main blanket panel further comprises two lateral wing sections. These wing sections may be configured to be positioned and releasably attached to one another on an anterior surface of a trunk of the infant, as starting from the extended position of the swaddling blanket while the infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position.

This positioning is envisaged to be accomplished by, after positioning the arms of the infant along the sides of his/her trunk, folding a first one of the wing sections around the arm at the corresponding lateral side of the trunk, in the direction of the arm at the opposite lateral side, until an inner surface of the wing is positioned on the trunk of the infant. Thereafter a second one of the wing sections is envisaged to be folded around the arm at the

corresponding lateral side of the trunk, in the direction of the arm at the opposite lateral side, until an inner surface of the wing is positioned above the trunk of the infant, such that it can be releasably attached to the first one of the wing sections. By the mutual attachment of the wing sections, the blanket assumes a use position of the swaddling blanket, in which the infant is tightly enclosed by the wing sections thereof. In this position, the infant is swaddled by the blanket - and the swaddling blanket provides a slight compression on the infant. The blanket comprises a crotch flap. This crotch flap is attached, or attachable, to a central inner surface area of the body supporting section at a first end of the crotch flap. In embodiment the central inner surface area to which the first end of the crotch flap is attached or to be attached, e.g. the position of a hook and loop fastener surface thereon, is at least 20 centimeters above a lower edge of the main blanket panel, e.g. at least 30 centimeters or even at least 40 centimeters above said lower edge, and with the lateral wings being such that the legs of the infant are over a majority of their length substantially wrapped by the blanket

The crotch flap limits a movement of the infant relative to the body supporting section in a caudal direction of the infant. As a result of the function of limiting a caudal movement of an infant relative to the body supporting section, the crotch flap thus prevents the caudal shifting of the infant with respect to the blanket when swaddled by the swaddling blanket. The effect is that risk for the occurrence of the abovementioned undesirable situations caused by said caudal shifting is advantageously reduced.

When not attached, but releasably attachable to the body supporting section at the first end of the crotch flap, it is envisaged that in swaddling using the blanket, the crotch flap may be attached to the body supporting section prior to, or after the infant has been laid down on the inner surface. The crotch flap is configured to be arranged in between the legs of the infant to a position above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. In an embodiment also the second end, or second ends, may be configured to be directly releasably attached to the inner surface of the main blanket panel.

A further advantageous property of the crotch flap is that it, in addition to its function of limiting a caudal movement of the infant relative to the blanket, it functions as a hip positioning flap for bringing and keeping the hips into a position that encourages the infant's legs to an ergonomic position. This position is more commonly known as the frog-position, which is found to assist in avoiding hip dysplasia in infants.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the crotch flap is releasably attached, or releasably attachable, to the central inner surface area of the body supporting section at the first end thereof. In this way, the crotch flap may, for instance, prior to or after laying down the infant on the inner surface of the body supporting section, at the first end be detached from the body supporting section. This may provide more flexibility to the arrangement of a swaddling method using the blanket - so to further assist in a more easy swaddling of the infant. For instance, the infant may be laid down on the blanket after detaching the crotch flap at its first end, so that it may be re-attached while the infant is already laying down on the inner surface of the body supporting section. This possibility for interim detachment of the crotch flap for instance facilitates storage of the blanket with crotch flap being attached to the body supporting section, while enabling attachment of the crotch flap only after the infant has been positioned correctly on the inner surface of the body supporting section.

In embodiments the crotch flap and the body supporting section are preferably configured such that at the first end this attachment of the crotch flap to the central inner surface area of the body supporting section is possible in variable positions, preferably variable positions at least variable in the caudal or height direction, for example over at least 2 centimeters, e.g. at least 4 centimeters, e.g. at least 10 centimeters, e.g. at most 30 centimeters, in the caudal direction.

In embodiments the crotch flap and the body supporting section are preferably configured such that at the first end this attachment of the crotch flap to the central inner surface area of the body supporting section is possible in variable positions, preferably variable positions at least variable in the lateral direction, for example over at least 2 centimeters, e.g. at least 4 centimeters, e.g. at least 10 centimeters, e.g. at most 30 centimeters, in the lateral direction.

Said variability in the position of attachment of the crotch flap to the central area enables an adjustability so as to match the size of the trunk and/or the legs of the infant. Thereby, the crotch flap is enabled to effectively fulfill its functions irrespective of the size and growth of the infant. The effect is that the blanket provides the mentioned advantages while being suitable for different newborn infants with different sizes, and during a time period in which a single infant significantly grows in size. In general, this period will be no longer than six months, as swaddling is recommended for infants up to an age of six months only.

The mentioned adjustability increases with a larger range in which the position of attachment can be varied. In a preferred embodiment, the crotch flap and the body supporting section are configured such that the crotch flap is attached or attachable to the central area of the body supporting section in a position in between the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant and the inner surface, while the swaddling blanket is in its extended position and said infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position.

It is envisaged that the crotch flap most effectively provides its functions in the use position of the blanket when at its first end being attached or attachable to the central area in a position thereon that is underneath the pelvic area of the infant laying thereon, each having a central part that is folded from that position over the pubis, one of the groins, hips and/or alternatively the most upper part of one of the legs of the infant, and extending further in a cranial direction towards the second end of the crotch flap.

Most preferably one single crotch flap is provided, which is at its first end attached or attachable to the central area in a position thereon that is underneath the pelvic area of the infant laying thereon, at its central part being folded from that position over the pubis, and extending further in a substantially cranial direction towards the second end of the single crotch flap. Alternatively, two crotch flaps may be provided, of which each is at its first end attached or attachable to the central area in a position thereon that is underneath the pelvic area of the infant laying thereon, at its central part being folded from that position over the pubis, one of the groins and/or alternatively the most upper part of one leg of the infant, and extending further in a cranial direction towards the second end.

In alternative embodiments, the first end of the crotch flap is attached or attachable to the central area in a position directly caudally from the pubis of the infant laying on the inner surface. In a preferred embodiment, at the crotch flap is releasably attachable to the central area of the body supporting section by means of a hook and loop fastener. This releasable attachment advantageously enables an easy to operate and effective releasable attachment of the crotch flap to the central area. Furthermore advantageously, the range of positions at which the one or more crotch flaps is attachable is at the same time easily made variable by extending the surface area of the hook and loop fastener. Furthermore, as a further advantage over embodiments, also envisaged herein, by which only a distinct number of different attachment positions can be realized, the continuity of the surface area of a hook and loop fastener enables a continuous range of positions for the attachment in both the longitudinal and/or lateral direction.

In alternative embodiments, other attachment methods are applied for the attachment of the crotch flap to the central area. Among these are, for instance, the use of snap adjustors, buckle adjustors, ring-and-hook adjustors (fabric covered, plastic, wooden), button adjustors (fabric covered, plastic, wooden), slide adjustors, tie adjustors, and magnetic adjustors.

In a preferred embodiment, the body supporting section comprises a torso flap , which torso flap is configured to be positioned on an anterior surface of the trunk of the infant in the extended position of the swaddling blanket while said infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position, such to at least extend over the width of the trunk of the infant.

The torso flap provides the function of further securing the infant in a position on the inner surface of the body supporting section, limiting lateral movement and/or rotational movement around the iongitudinai axis of the infant. Furthermore, it provides a compression on the trunk of the infant, intended to produce a calming effect.

Furthermore, the torso flap enables the function of restricting of the lateral and/or rotational movabiiity of the infant with respect to the body supporting section to be transferred to the torso flap. The infant can as a result be restricted in the mentioned movability by providing a single torso flap only, whereas this restriction as originally provided by the wing sections would have to be established by positioning these one by one on the anterior surface of the infant.

That is, without the torso flap being provided, the infant would have to be held in place during positioning of the first one of the wing sections on the anterior surface of the trunk, whereafter it should together with the infant be held during positioning of the second one of the wing above the anterior surface of the trunk. Holding of the infant no longer being required during this positioning of the wing sections with the infant being secured in place by the torso flap, may in this way further ease the swaddling.

Furthermore, the function of the restriction of the lateral and/or rotational movability being transferred from the wing sections to the torso flap advantageously further reduces the possibility for the infant to loosen the blanket by engaging the inner surface of the wing sections, for instance, by trampling movements of the legs with the feet engaging and possibly pulling the inner surface. As the infant is already restricted in its movability by the torso flap, any decrease of this restriction is less likely to be caused by forces on the wing sections as exerted by the infant through said movements.

The torso flap is preferably configured to extend from a position on the inner surface beneath the posterior surface of the infant at one lateral side of the trunk of the infant via a position on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant to a position on the lateral surface beneath the posterior surface of the infant at the other lateral side of the trunk of the infant while the swaddling blanket is in its extended position and the infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position. Therein, in particular a free end of the at least one torso flap is preferably positionable in between the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant and the inner surface.

It is envisaged that in swaddling, after positioning a central part of each of the at least one torso flap on the anterior surface of the trunk, the free end of thereof is tucked in behind the posterior surface of the trunk, such that thereafter the infant comes to lay on the so tucked in part of the torso flap. By the bodyweight of the infant, this tucked in part is clamped in between the posterior surface of the trunk and the inner surface of the body supporting section, which secures it in place in the use position of the blanket, so to thereby secure the infant in place and limit its movabi!ity in the lateral and/or rotational direction.

The width of the at least one torso flap, that is, the width of the at least one torso flap over which it extends in the lateral direction, is preferably such that it amply fits infants of all expected sizes. Therein, swaddling a smaller infant leads to the width of the tucked in part of the torso flap being larger in relation to the width of the infant. Preferably, therein the width of the torso flap is in the range of 38-42cm, most preferably, 40cm. The total length of the at least one torso flap, that is, the length over which the at least one torso flap extends over the trunk of the infant in the longitudinal direction, is preferably in the range of 12-16cm, most preferably, 14cm. The crotch flap is preferably releasably attachable, e.g. by its second end, to the torso flap. This arrangement enables the crotch flap to be shaped such to promote an ergonomic hip position of the infant. Furthermore, the mutual attachment of the flaps enabled by this arrangement further improves the infant to be restricted in its movability. The restriction caudal direction established by the crotch flap, as imposed thereby on the bottom of the trunk of the infant, enables the torso flap to impose a restriction in this direction as well at the armpits, when the upper edge of the torso flap is positioned at the height of said armpits. When the longitudinal or caudal position of the attachment of the first end of the crotch flap to the central area of the body supporting section is moreover variable, this restriction can in addition advantageously be established for a range of sizes of infants. Most preferably, one crotch flap is attached at the first end thereof to the inner surface of the body supporting section in a centered area corresponding to the pelvic area of the infant being positioned thereon in a supine position, to extend from this inner surface caudally via a position in between the legs of the infant and the pubis to a position in a laterally centered area of the torso flap above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, where the crotch flap is at the first end thereof attached to the torso flap.

Most preferably a hook and loop fastener is provided on the surface of the torso flap facing upwardly on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant when positioned thereon, and on the surface of the second end of the crotch flap facing downwardly when positioned above the hook and loop fastener on the torso flap, in order to establish the mutual attachment, or mutual attachability of the flaps.

Therein, the hook and loop fastener provided on the torso flap most preferably extends in the lateral direction above the anterior surface of the infant only, corresponding to at most the width of the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. The hook and loop fastener extending above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant only, prevents the arms of the infant to come into contact with the hook and loop fastener by upward movements of the arms in the use position of the blanket, so to prevent any loosening thereby and/or injuries to the skin of the arms of the infant scraping along the hook and loop fastener surface.

Furthermore, the crotch flap is preferably hour-glass-shaped, so that the first and second ends thereof have a larger width than the central part thereof. In particular, the ends therein preferably have a width in the range of 11 -15cm, most preferably, 13cm, and the central part, intended to extend at least in between the legs of the infant and over the pubis, most preferably has a width in the range of 4 -8cm, most preferably, 6cm.

The hook and loop fastener provided on the first and/or second end of the crotch flap preferably extends over substantially the whole width of said first and/or second end, respectively.

The length of the crotch flap is preferably in the range of 30-34cm, most preferably, 32cm. The flaps are preferably configured such that this attachment of the crotch flap to the torso flap is possible in a position relative to the at least one torso flap that is variable in the longitudinal or caudal direction. The flaps are preferably configured such that the crotch flap is reieasably attachable to the torso flap at the second end thereof, in a position relative to the torso flap that is variable in the longitudinal direction.

The variability of the position at which the crotch flap is attached or attachable to the torso flap advantageously further extends the adjustability of the embodiment to the size of the infant, to the profit of the applicability thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the wing sections are configured to be positioned and reieasably attached to one another above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, as starting from the extended position of the swaddling blanket while said infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position, such that the wing sections at least partly overlap one another in a lateral direction.

It is envisaged that in positioning the wing sections, after positioning a first one of the wing sections in the manner specified before on the anterior surface of the infant, having the second one of the wing sections overlap the first one of the wing sections requires holding and pressing down only the second one of the wing sections on top of the first one of the wing sections in order to secure both of the wing sections in place for mutually attaching the wing sections.

In particular, therein the wing sections are preferably configured such that this positioning and this mutual attachment, or attachabilty, is possible in such a way that the lateral position of the mutually attached wing sections with respect to each other is variable in the direction of the width.

A variability of the position relative to each other at which the wing sections are attached or attachable to the torso flap advantageously further extends the adjustability of the embodiment to the size of the infant, to the profit of the applicability thereof. Preferably the mutual attachment of the wing sections is established by means of a hook and loop fastener. As mentioned before, this attachment advantageously enables an easy to operate and effective reieasabie attachment and/or releasable attachability of the wing sections to one another.

Furthermore advantageously, the range of positions at which these wing sections are attached or attachable thereby is at the same time easily made variable by extending the surface area of the hook and loop fastener.

In embodiments, other attachment methods are applied for the attachment and/or attachability of the crotch flap to the central area. Among these are, for instance, the use of snap adjusters, buckle adjustors, ring-and-hook adjustors (fabric covered, plastic, wooden), button adjustors (fabric covered, plastic, wooden), slide adjustors, tie adjustors, and magnetic adjustors.

In a preferred embodiment, in addition to the hook and loop fastener, the wing sections are mutually attached by a zipper in the use position of the swaddling blanket. This zipper substantially extends in the longitudinal direction in an area extending no further cranially than the hips of the infant. Therein the zipper is provided such that ample movability of the hips is still allowed, so to enable an ergonomic frog-position of the infant. In embodiments the torso flap and at least one of the wing sections are configured such that the at least one of the wing sections is positionable and releasabiy attachable to the at least one torso flap of the body supporting section from the extended position of the swaddling blanket while the infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position, and the at least one torso flap is positioned on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. It is envisaged that this arrangement further aids in the ease of swaddling using the blanket, as it allows to release the first wing after attaching it to the torso flap. This possibility enables to hold a first arm of the infant while positioning the first one of the wing sections on the at least one torso flap and to subsequently release this first arm after attaching this wing to the torso flap, and to hold a second arm of the infant while positioning the second one of the wing sections above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant.

In embodiments the configuration of the at least one of the wing sections is such that the position at which the at least one of the wing sections is attached, or is attachable, to the at least one torso flap relative to the at least one torso flap is variable over the width. A variability of the position at which the at least one of the wing sections is attached or attachable to the torso flap advantageously further extends the adjustability of the embodiment to the size of the infant, to the profit of the applicability thereof. Preferably, the parts of the blanket that in the use of the blanket come into contact with the skin of the infant, that is, the inner surface of the body supporting section, the wing sections, an inner surface of the at least one crotch flap, and the inner surface of the at least one torso flap, if present, are made of a soft fabric. Among these are, for instance, jogging fabric, 100% cotton, or jersey fabric. Most preferably, fabric out of 95% cotton and 5% elastan is used, wherein the smooth side forms the outer surface of the body supporting section and the outer surface of the wing sections.

In a second aspect thereof, the current invention aims to reduce the abovementioned caudal movability of the infant with respect to the swaddling blanket, while at the same time providing an adjustability to the lateral and longitudinal size of the infant, by providing a swaddling blanket according to claim 17.

The swaddling blanket comprises a body-supporting section and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The swaddling blanket has an extended position in which the inner surface is above the outer surface and defines a substantially fiat plane.

The body supporting section is configured for supporting a posterior area of the infant while said infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position, and said swaddling blanket is in its extended position.

The blanket comprises a torso flap, which torso flap is configured to be positioned on an anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, such as to extend from a position on the inner surface beneath the posterior surface of the infant at one lateral side of the trunk of the infant via a position on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant to a position on the lateral surface beneath the posterior surface of the infant at the other lateral side of the trunk of the infant, while the swaddling blanket is in its extended position and said infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position. Therein in particular the free end of the torso flap is positionab!e in between the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant and the inner surface. The blanket comprises at least two lateral wing sections. These wing sections are configured to be positioned and releasably attached to one another on an anterior surface of a trunk of the infant from the extended position of the swaddling blanket while the infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position. One of the wing sections is configured to be positioned and releasably attached to the at least one torso flap of the body supporting section from the extended position of the swaddling blanket, while the infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position, and said at least one torso flap is positioned on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. The blanket further comprises at least one crotch flap. This crotch flap is, in the extended position of the swaddling blanket, releasably attached or releasably attachable to the torso flap at the second end thereof. It is furthermore releasably attached or releasably attachable to a central inner surface area of the body supporting section at a first end thereof. The crotch flap and the body supporting section are configured to limit a movement of the infant relative to the body supporting section in a caudal direction of the infant, while the infant is laying on the inner surface in a supine position and the at least one crotch flap is attached to the body supporting section. The flaps and the central area of the body supporting section may be configured such that position at which the flaps are attached or attachable to one another, and the positions at which the first end of the crotch flap is attached or attachable to the central area are variable in the lateral direction, and /or in the longitudinal direction. This variability advantageously further extends the adjustability of the embodiment to the size of the infant, to the benefit of the applicability thereof.

In a third aspect thereof, the invention aims to reduce the abovementioned caudal movability of the infant with respect to the swaddling blanket, by providing a method to swaddle an infant according to claims 19 or 20.

Use is made of a swaddling blanket which comprises a body-supporting section, having an inner surface and an outer surface. The blanket comprises at least two lateral wing sections.

The method comprises the steps of:

1 ) laying down the swaddling blanket in an extended position of the swaddling blanket in which the inner surface is above the outer surface and defines a substantially flat horizontal plane; 2a) laying down an infant on the inner surface in a supine position, such that the body supporting section supports a posterior area of the infant;

3a) positioning one or more wing sections on an anterior surface of a trunk of the infant; and

4) attaching the one or more wing sections to one another above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant.

Herein the swaddling blanket further comprises at least one crotch flap. This crotch flap is attached or attachable to the central inner surface area of the body supporting section at a first end thereof.

In between steps 2a) and 3a), a method further comprises the steps of:

2b) positioning the at least one crotch flap on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant; and

2c) attaching a first end of the crotch flap to the central inner surface area of the body supporting section, such that the at least one crotch flap at least extends from a position laterally in between the legs of the infant to a position above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. Therein the at least one crotch flap limits a movement of said infant relative to the body supporting section in a caudal direction of the infant still laying on the inner surface in a supine position.

In a method according to the invention, the method further comprises after step 2a) and prior to step 3a) an attachment of the first end of the crotch flap to the central inner surface area of the body supporting section.

In a method according to the invention, the method further comprises after step 2a) and prior to step 3a) a detachment of one or more of the ends of the crotch flap.

The method may further comprise, directly after any detachment of any end of the at least one crotch flap, a longitudinal and/or lateral displacement of the detached end relative to the position of the particular end prior to detachment. Furthermore, it may comprise the attachment of the displaced end directly after said displacement.

More in particular, said displacement of any end of the at least one crotch flap relative to the position of the particular end prior to detachment may take place over a distance in the range of several centimeters in the lateral direction and/or over a distance in the range of several centimeters in the caudal or longitudinal direction. In a preferred method according to the invention, the blanket comprises at least one torso flap, which is secured to and arranged on the inner surface. Therein the method further comprises, after step 2a) and prior to step 3a), the step of positioning the at least one torso flap on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, such that the at least one torso flap at least extends over the width of the trunk of the infant.

In particular, therein, the method preferably further comprises, after step 2a) and prior to step 3a), the step of positioning the free end of the at least one torso flap in between the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant and the inner surface. This is done such that the at least one torso flap extends from a position on the inner surface beneath the posterior surface of the infant at one lateral side of the trunk of the infant via a position on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant to a position on the lateral surface beneath the posterior surface of the infant at the other lateral side of the trunk of the infant.

Furthermore, in particular, this method may in step 3) comprise the positioning of a first one of the wing sections on the at least one torso flap. Therein, after step 3a) and prior to step 4), the method comprises the steps of:

3b) reieasably attaching the first one of the wing sections to the torso flap; and subsequently

3c) positioning a second one of the wing sections above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant.

In particular, therein, step 3a) further comprises holding a first arm of the infant while positioning the first one of the wing sections on the at least one torso flap and subsequently releasing the first arm, and step 3c) further comprises holding a second arm of the infant while positioning the second one of the wing sections on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. In a fourth aspect thereof, the invention aims to reduce the abovementioned caudal movability of the infant with respect to the swaddling blanket, while at the same time providing an adjustability to the lateral and longitudinal size of the infant, by providing a method to swaddle an infant according to claim 29. Use is made of a swaddling blanket which comprises a body-supporting section and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The blanket comprises lateral wing sections and at least one torso flap. The method comprises the steps of:

1) laying down said swaddling blanket in an extended position of the swaddling blanket in which the inner surface is above the outer surface and defines a substantially flat horizontal plane;

2a) laying down an infant on the inner surface in a supine position, such that the body supporting section supports a posterior area of the infant;

2b) positioning the free end of the at least one torso flap in between the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant and the inner surface, such that the at least one torso flap extends from a position on the inner surface beneath the posterior surface of the infant at one lateral side of the trunk of the infant via a position on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant to a position on the lateral surface beneath the posterior surface of the infant at the other lateral side of the trunk of the infant;

3a) positioning a first one of the wing sections on the at least one torso flap;

3b) releasably attaching the first one of the wing sections to the torso flap; and subsequently

3c) positioning a second one of the wing sections above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant; and

4) attaching the one or more wing sections to one another above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant.

In this method the swaddling blanket further comprises at least one crotch flap. This crotch flap is, in the extended position of the swaddling blanket, releasably attachable to the at least one torso flap at a second end thereof. It is furthermore releasably attachable to a central area of the body supporting section at a first end thereof.

In the method, in between steps 2a) and 3a), the method further comprises the steps of:

2c) positioning the at least one crotch flap on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant; and

2d) attaching a first end of the at least one crotch flap to the central area of the body supporting section, such that the at least one crotch flap at least extends from a position laterally in between the legs of the infant to a position above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. The at least one crotch flap therein limits a movement of said infant relative to the body supporting section in a caudal direction of the infant still laying on the inner surface in a supine position. In a fifth aspect thereof, the current invention provides a method to release an infant from a swaddling blanket according to claim 30. The method comprises the abovementioned steps of a method to swaddle an infant in a reverse order. The invention further relates to a swaddling blanket having a crotch flap and/or a torso flap as discussed herein.

It will be appreciated that any feature or combination of features discussed herein with reference to one aspect of the invention can be readily applied in conjunction with one or more of the other aspects of the invention as discussed herein.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a top view of a swaddling blanket according to the invention in its extended position,

Fig. 2 shows a bottom view of a swaddling blanket according to the invention in its

extended position,

Fig. 3 shows a top view of a swaddling blanket according to the invention in its use position, devoid of an infant being positioned therein,

Fig.4 shows a bottom view of a swaddling blanket according to the invention in its use position, devoid of an infant being positioned therein,

Fig.5 shows a top and bottom view of a torso flap of a swaddling blanket according to the invention,

Fig.6 shows a top and bottom view of a crotch flap of a swaddling blanket according to the invention.

Fig.7 shows in a top view of a swaddling blanket according to the invention in its extended position, a possible arrangement of a torso flap and a crotch flap thereof,

Fig.8 shows in a top view of a swaddling blanket according to the invention in its extended position, a possible arrangement of a torso flap and a crotch flap thereof,

Fig.9 shows in a top view of a swaddling blanket according to the invention in its extended position, a possible arrangement of a torso flap and a crotch flap thereof.

The Figs.1-9 relate to a preferred embodiment of a swaddling blanket according to the invention. Figs.1-4 illustrate the swaddling blanket and its parts attached thereto in its extended position and its use position, while Figs.5-6 provide details of preferred embodiments of the torso flap and the crotch flap. Figs.7-9 indicate possible arrangements of the torso flap and the crotch flap.

Turning first to Figs.1-4 to elaborate on the mechanical construction of the embodiment, Fig.1 shows a top view of the swaddling blanket when in an extended position thereof. As indicated, the swaddling blanket 1 comprises, a main blanket panel with a body- supporting section 4.

The main blanket panel has an inner surface 2 and an outer surface 3. The swaddling blanket 1 is in its extended position thereof, in which the inner surface 2 is above the outer surface 3 and defines a substantially flat plane.

The body supporting section 4 is configured for supporting a posterior area of the infant while said infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position, and said swaddling blanket 1 is in its extended position as shown.

The main blanket panel further defines or comprises two lateral wing sections 6,7, here configured to be positioned and reieasabiy attached to one another on an anterior surface of a trunk of the infant, when starting from the extended position of the swaddling blanket 1 while said infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position.

The swaddling blanket 1 further comprises a crotch flap 8.

The crotch flap 8 is, in the extended position of the swaddling blanket 1 shown in Fig.1 , attached to a central inner surface area 4a of the body supporting section 4 at a first end 8a thereof.

The crotch flap 8 is configured to, while the infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position and said crotch flap 8 is attached to the body supporting section, at least extend from a position laterally in between the legs of the infant to a position above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. Thereby it limits a movement of said infant relative to the body supporting section 4 in a caudal direction of the infant. As is preferred, the crotch flap 8 is releasably attachable to the central area 4a of the body supporting section 4. As is preferred, the crotch flap 8 and the body supporting section 4 are configured such that at the first end 8a the crotch flap 8 is releasably attachable to the central area 4a of the body supporting section 4 in a position that is variable in the longitudinal direction, and over a width in the lateral direction. This is established by the crotch flap 8 being releasably attached to the central area 4a of the body supporting section 4 by means of a suitably dimensioned hook and loop fastener. This hook and loop fastener here is applied to the central area 4a in the shape of a decorative 'Β', and, as is shown more clearly in Fig.6, applied to the first end 8a of the crotch flap 8 in the shape of a trapezoid.

In particular, to establish the mentioned variability, the width of the hook and loop fastener surface is in the range of 8 - 12cm, e.g. of about 10cm, and the length thereof is in the range of 15 - 20cm. Furthermore in particular, to establish the mentioned variability the width of the hook and loop fastener surface on the crotch flap 8 at the first end 8a is in the range of 4 - 12cm, more in particular in the range of 6 - 10cm, whereas the length is in the range of 8 - 12cm, e.g. off about 10cm. As is preferred and as is illustrated in Fig.1 , the crotch flap 8 and the body supporting section 4 are configured such that the crotch flap 8 is at the first end 8a thereof attached to the central area 4a of the body supporting section in a position in between the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant and the inner surface 2, while the swaddling blanket 1 is in its extended position and said infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position. This is here established by the position of the decorative 'B' on the body supporting section 4 being adjusted to the size of the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant.

As preferred, the blanket 1 comprises a torso flap 5. This torso flap 5 is configured to be positioned on an anterior surface of the trunk of the infant in the extended position of the swaddling blanket 1 , while said infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position, such to at least extend over the width of the trunk of the infant. This is established by the torso flap 5 being foldable laterally over its attached end 5b with respect to the inner surface 2.

As established by its width and the position on the inner surface 2 at which the attached end 5b is located being adjusted to the width of the trunk of the infant to be positioned on the inner surface, the torso flap 5 is configured to extend from a position on the inner surface 2 beneath the posterior surface of the infant at one lateral side of the trunk of the infant via a position on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant to a position on the lateral surface 2 beneath the posterior surface of the infant at the other lateral side of the trunk of the infant. A free end 5a of the torso flap 5 is positionable in between the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant and the inner surface 2, while the swaddling blanket 1 is in its extended position and said infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position.

As preferred, the crotch flap 8 is reieasably attachable to the torso flap 5 of the body supporting section 4 at the second end 8b thereof. As shown as well in Fig.5, this is established by a hook and loop fastener surface 5d being provided on the torso flap 5, here as example in a rectangular shape.

The flaps 5,8 are configured such that the at least one crotch flap 8 is reieasably attachable to the at least one torso flap 5 at the second end 8b thereof, in a position relative to the at least one torso flap 5 that is variable in the longitudinal direction, and/or over a width in the lateral direction.

This is established by the length and width of the hook and loop fastener surface 5d, and the length and width of the hook and loop fastener surface on the crotch flap 8 at the second end 8b being chosen such to allow for this variability by the relative positioning of the surfaces in attaching these. Therein, the hook and loop fastener surface 5d at the same time extends above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant only, when the infant is positioned on the inner surface 2 in supine position and the torso flap 5 is positioned on the anterior surface of the trunk.

In embodiments the width of the hook and loop fastener surface 5d is in the range of 13 - 17cm, e.g. of about 15cm. In embodiments, the length of the hook and loop fastener surface 5d is in the range of 8 - 12cm, e.g. of about 10cm. In embodiments the width of the hook and loop fastener surface on the crotch flap 8 at the second end 8b is in the range of 10 - 15cm, whereas the length is in the range of 2 - 4cm, e.g. of about 3cm. As can be verified in Figs.3 and 4 in addition to Figs.1 and 2, the wing sections 6,7 are, as preferred, configured to be positioned and releasably attached to one another above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, from the extended position of the swaddling blanket 1 while said infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position, such that the wing sections 6,7 at least partly overlap one another in a lateral direction. This is established by the chosen width of the wing sections, and by means of a, here heart-shaped, hook and loop fastener surface on the outer surface of a first one of the wing sections 6 and by means of a hook and loop fastener surface on the inner surface of the second one of the wing sections 7. As is preferred, the wing sections 6,7 are configured to be positioned and releasably attached to one another on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, from the extended position of the swaddling blanket 1 while said infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position, such that the lateral position of the mutually attached wing sections 6,7 with respect to each other is variable over a width within the range of 2-30cm. In embodiments, this is established by the width of the surfaces being in the range of 6 -1 3cm, e.g. of about 8 -11cm.

As preferred, the torso flap 5 and the first one of the wing sections 6 are configured such that wing 6 is positionable and releasably attachable to torso flap 5 of the body supporting section 4 from the extended position of the swaddling blanket 1 while said infant is laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position, and the torso flap 5 is positioned on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant. For this purpose, a hook and loop fastener surface is provided on the inner surface of wing 6, to attach with the hook and loop fastener surface 5d on the torso flap 5. Therein the position of wing 6 relative to the torso flap 5 is variable over a width, e.g. within the range of 2 - 30cm. This may be established by the width of the surface being in the range of 6 - 13cm, more in particular, 8 -1 1cm.

A preferred method to swaddle an infant is provided by making use of the preferred embodiment of the swaddling blanket as shown in Figs.1 - 9.

Turning firstly to Fig.1 , this method comprises the following steps. 1 ) Laying down the swaddling blanket 1 in an extended position of the swaddling blanket 1 in which the inner surface 2 is above the outer surface 3 and defines a

substantially flat horizontal plane. In particular, therein, the torso flap 5 should be folded back over the end 5d until it lies fiat with the surface 5d facing downwardly. Furthermore in particular, therein the crotch flap should be in the position shown in Fig.1 .

2a) Laying down an infant on the inner surface 2 in a supine position, such that the body supporting section 4 supports a posterior area of the infant. In particular, therein the armpits of the infant should have a longitudinal position corresponding to the edge 5e of the torso flap 5. The lateral position of the infant should be such that the neck is above the edge 4b of the body supporting section 4.

2b) Positioning the free end 5a of the at least one torso flap 5 in between the posterior surface of the trunk of the infant and the inner surface 2, such that the at least one torso flap 5 extends from a position on the inner surface 2 beneath the posterior surface of the infant at one lateral side of the trunk of the infant via a position on the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant to a position on the lateral surface 2 beneath the posterior surface of the infant at the other lateral side of the trunk of the infant. This may in particular be accomplished by engaging the free end 5a and folding the torso flap 5 over the left side of the infant, in between the left arm and the torso, and subsequently, in the direction of arrow i in Fig.7, over the chest, and the right side in between the trunk and the right arm of the infant. The free end 5a may then be tucked in between the back of the infant and the inner surface 2 of the body supporting section 4. 2c) Positioning the second end 8b of the at least one crotch flap 8 on the torso flap 5 above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, such that it advances from its position in Fig.1 to its position in Fig.7. This may in particular be accomplished by engaging the first end 8a, and folding the crotch flap 8 in between the legs of the infant, over the pubis, until the first end 8a is above the hook and loop fastener surface 5d. This is indicated by the arrow ii in Fig.7.

2d) Attaching a second end 8b of the at least one crotch flap 8 to the torso flap 5, such that the at least one crotch flap 8 at least extends from a position laterally in between the legs of the infant to a position above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant and limits a movement of said infant relative to the body supporting section 4 in a caudal direction of the infant still laying on the inner surface 2 in a supine position. This may in particular be accomplished by pressing the hook and loop fastener surface on the second end 8b onto the hook and loop fastener surface 5d of the torso flap 5.

3a) Positioning a first one of the wing sections 6 on the at least one torso flap 5, in particular by folding wing 6 over the left arm of the infant to advance from its position in Fig.1 to that of Fig.3, such that the heart-shaped hook and loop fastener surface on the inner surface of wing 6 is above the hook and loop fastener surface 5d of the torso flap 5. In Fig.7, this step is indicated by arrow iii. Optionally, during this step the left arm of the infant may be held in place while positioning the wing 6 on the at least one torso flap 5 and subsequently released.

3b) Releasably attaching the first one of the wing sections 6 to the torso flap 5, in particular by pressing the heart-shaped hook and loop fastener surface on the inner surface of wing 6 onto the hook and loop fastener surface 5d of the torso flap 5.

3c) Positioning the second one of the wing sections 7 above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, in particular by folding wing 7 over the right arm of the infant, so to advance from its position in Fig.1 to that of Fig.3, such that the heart-shaped hook and loop fastener surface on the inner surface of wing 7 is above the heart-shaped hook and loop fastener surface on the outer surface of wing 6. In Fig.7, this step is indicated by arrow iv. Optionally, the right arm of the infant may be held in place while positioning wing 7 above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant.

4) Attaching the wing sections 6 and 7 to one another above the anterior surface of the trunk of the infant, in particular by pressing the heart-shaped hook and loop fastener surface on the inner surface of wing 7 onto the heart-shaped hook and loop fastener surface on the outer surface of wing 6.

When desired, when the swaddling blanket 1 is in its extended position the crotch flap 8 may be detached from the body supporting section 4 at both ends, for instance in order to subsequently adjust its position relative to the body supporting section 4. In case of this subsequent adjustment, the invented method may comprise, directly after any detachment of any end 8a, 8b of the at least one crotch flap 8, a longitudinal and/or lateral displacement of the detached end 8a, 8b relative to the position of the particular end 8a,8b on the body supporting section 4 prior to detachment, and the attachment of the displaced end 8a, directly after said displacement. Possible displacements of such kind in the lateral direction, as well as possible relative positions of the flaps, are shown in Figs.7-9. Therein, arrow vi indicates a possible lateral displacement of the first end 8a of the crotch flap 8, and arrow vii a possible lateral displacement of the second end 8b of the crotch flap. Arrow viii indicates a possible longitudinal displacement of the first end 8a of the crotch flap.

As in this embodiment of the swaddling blanket 1 is enabled by the dimensions of the hook and loop fastener surfaces at the ends 8a and 8b of the crotch flap, the B-shaped hook and loop fastener surface on the body supporting section 4, and the rectangular hook and loop fastener surface on the torso flap, this displacement may take place over a distance in the range of 0-30cm in the lateral direction and/or over a distance in the range of 0-30cm in the longitudinal direction.

An infant may be released from the swaddling blanket 1 according to this embodiment, by a method comprising the previously described steps in a reverse order.