15. Do hospitals allow moms to scent the Zaky, and if so, how?
Yes. Babies are calmer when they feel mom is around, and being able to scent the Zaky is an important benefit as it not only helps the baby but also the family members by getting more involved with the care of the baby and feeling that they are doing something for her/his wellbeing.
Here are some suggestions from different hospitals:
If moms may wash the Zaky at home she can place it on the chest (like Kangaroo care) for a night or behind the neck for a couple of hours. Some hospitals do not allow the mother to wash and/or scent it at home so she can scent it while visiting the baby in the Unit.
Mom can bring a small bottle of her perfume or dad's aftershave and the nurse uses only ONE drop in the Zaky after every wash. Some hospitals do not allow perfumes inside the Unit.
Mom brings a drier sheet (i.e., Bounce, etc) and the nurse places it inside the vinyl bag (provided with the Zaky) with the Zaky for one or two hours so it smells like the scents at home.
Many babies use the Zaky unscented because mom is not available and it is still very effective.
16. Can the Zaky be warmed in the hospital and can it be used under a heating source (incubator/heater)?
Yes. To warm it for the patient, the Zaky may be placed in the towel warmer or in the drier for a couple of minutes. It may be used directly in the skin of the baby if the baby can touch a blanket. The Zaky is breathable and does not make the baby perspire where is in contact with the skin. It may be used in incubator and heaters, with patients of any size. By design and for safety, the filling will not get warm/hot under a heating source - only the fabric will get warm, similar to a regular fleece blanket.
17. Does the Zaky help those patients that are not visited by their family members?
Yes! All babies benefit from the boundaries, the soothing touch, sense of protection, and the comfort of the Zaky, even if the mother cannot scent it.
Unfortunately, and for different reasons, some of the patient’s family members cannot/would not visit the babies during hospitalization. These babies are more likely to associate touch with pain because when they are touched is mostly to do a medical procedure and they are not held or touched by their loved ones in a nurturing way. The Zaky is very important for these babies as it provides the touch, boundaries, and a sense of security that otherwise they do not receive. It also assists the nurses in providing that nurturing touch that they cannot provide all the babies all the time
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