The Zaky Hand - A Therapeutic Pillow for NICU Babies

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Give Your Baby a Bonding Hand with a Zaky Pillow

The Zaky is an ergodynamic positioning pillow. This unique pillow was designed by a former NICU parent, Dr. Yamile Jackson, after her own NICU experiences with her son Zachary.

One of the most difficult things for NICU parents to do is to realize that they cannot stay with their NICU baby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At some time you have to leave the hospital and your precious baby behind in the care of others.

As noted by the Zakeez company:

    With The Zaky you help your baby feel comfortable, accompanied, protected and secure. It is the soothing touch that helps him cry less and sleep better when you are not holding him.
The Zaky Hand produced by Zakeez inc. is a way of providing comfort to your NICU baby when you are not able to be with him or her.

Image: Zakeez inc.

The Story Behind the Zaky 

Zachary weighed 2 lbs when he was born at Memorial Hermann Hospital during Tropical Storm Allison. flooded Memorial Hermann Hospital. The hospital lost power during the storm and in order to live, Zachary needed a special NICU warmer and the breathing machine.

For 10 hours Zachary was kept alive "by hand" until he was evacuated. His mother held him against her chest with skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo Care) to give him warmth, help his heart-rate and stress, while his father and nurses (Anderson Moya and Mike) hand-ventilated him.

Ultimately after their NICU experience, Zachary's mother, Yamile Jackson who holds a PhD in ergonomics & human factors engineering, designed and created the Zaky to provide comfort to other NICU babies.

The Zaky Collection Available on Amazon 

The Zaky Hands come in a variety of colors and in different hands-right and left.

Zakeez ZLR Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Lime-Right

Amazon Price: $57.54 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Zakeez ZRL Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Rose Left

Amazon Price: $48.95 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Zakeez ZGR Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Gray Right

Amazon Price: $47.95 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Cradled in Zaky Hands 

Image: Zakees Inc.

Benefits of the Zaky Hand 

The Zaky Hand helps cradle and comfort your NICU baby even when you are not there to do so.

The Zaky - Gray Right Hand in the Amazon Spotlight 

Zakeez ZGR Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Gray Right

Amazon Price: $47.95 (as of 11/25/2009)Buy Now

The Zaky in a right hand often chosen by right-handed parents.

Ways to Provide Comfort with the Zaky 

Here is a list of just some of the benefits provided by this ergonomic, bonding, therapeutic positioning pillow.
  1. The size and weight simulates the hand and touch of the mother.
  2. It may be used on top, around and under the baby to provide boundaries (except on the face).
  3. Babies feel reassured as if someone is touching them, which assists in their need of feeling protected.
  4. It assists nurses and care givers as she can leave a Zaky® with each baby.
  5. Parents feel as they are leaving one hand with their baby, helping them feel more involved in the care of the patient.
  6. May be warmed in the towel warmer at hospitals and on the dryer at home.

The Zaky - Rose Left Hand in the Amazon Spotlight 

Zakeez ZRL Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Rose Left

Amazon Price: $48.95 (as of 11/25/2009)Buy Now

The Zaky in a left hand often chosen by left-handed parents.

Some of the Many Uses for the Zaky 

  1. Children of working or traveling parents
  2. Colicky and uncomfortable babies that constantly want to be held
  3. Healthy and/or full-time babies at home, child-care facilities, and pre-schools
  4. Premature babies weighing 1lb or more, and children undergoing medical procedures
  5. Small babies in car seats, strollers, bouncy seats, etc., to keep proper and safe positioning
  6. Children of any age with special needs
  7. Military families with mom/dad on duty
  8. Long-term hospitalization away from each other (i.e., cancer, burn, therapy, rehab, etc)
  9. Grandparents who want to send a hug to their grandchildren
  10. Children at adoption centers and foster-care homes
  11. Gift to employees/clients with new babies with a card that says: "Now it is our turn to give you a hand"
  12. As gifts for baby showers - it is the most unique and useful baby gift in the market today

The Zaky in Blue in the Amazon Spotlight 

Zakeez ZBL Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Sky Blue Left

Amazon Price: $48.95 (as of 11/25/2009)Buy Now

The Zaky in blue for parents of boys or who like blue.

The Zaky in the NICU 

The award-winning ergonomic, bonding, therapeutic positioning pillow was designed especially for premature babies that have to be left at the hospital away from their parents.

The special hand allows you to "leave a hand with a loved one" and "give your baby a hand" when you are not there.

By mimicking the shape, weight and touch of a human hand, the Zaky® provides comfort to NICU babies (and others) giving support and a sense of security. In the NICU setting, the Zaky® can be another helpful hand assisting with positioning.

In addition the Zaky® can be scented with the scent of mom, dad, or siblings. Scenting the Zaky® can provide a great deal of comfort and assist the baby's transitions to different environments in the hospital, in the car or once at home. The Zaky® is something constant and helps to reduce the shock many baby's experience with different lighting, scents, sounds, temperature, etc.

The Zaky in Rose in the Amazon Spotlight 

Zakeez ZRR Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Rose Right

Amazon Price: $48.95 (as of 11/25/2009)Buy Now

The Zaky in pink for parents of girls or who like pink.

More information about the Zaky 

Zakeez - "give your baby a hand" (tm)
Zakeez offers an innovative approach to infant support: The Zaky mimics the hand, shape, weight, and touch of a human hand to comfort the baby and provide support, sense and security and assistance with positioning
Zakeez - Research
The research behind the Zaky.
Zakeez - Benefits and Features -"give your baby a hand" (tm)
Some of the benefits and features of the Zaky.
Zachary Inspires Part of a TNT Movie
Zachary's experience during the flood of Houston in 2001 was the inspiration for the character "Baby Jeremy" in the TNT movie, "14 Hours."

The Zaky in Lime in the Amazon Spotlight 

Zakeez ZLR Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Lime-Right

Amazon Price: $57.54 (as of 11/25/2009)Buy Now

The Zaky has even gone green with this lime version.

Watch the Story Behind the Zaky 

The Zaky Story by Medical Reporter Melissa Wilson
Melissa Wilson presented a medical report about the use and benefits of the Zaky at the Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital on May 16, 2005 for FOX 26 News.
Preemie product a worldwide hit - Updates from August 2009
A Sugar Land mom made a type of hand-shaped pillow to leave with her premature son at the NICU. The Zaky has now become so popular, you can find it at over 300 hospitals and child-care facilities worldwide.

Zakeez - OBOZ Program 

The Zakeez Oboz Program allows you to donate a Zaky® to your NICU all you have to do is pay for minimal administration fees, shipping and handling. In 2009 because of interest in donating, they changed their policies:

    Any adult may purchase at least three (3) Zakys at regular price ($49.95 each) to donate to a hospital and we will match your donation one-to-one On Behalf Of Zachary!

    If you purchase 3 Zakys, they will send 6 Zakys to the hospital. Some restrictions apply, please see their website for more details.

    Cannot be combined with any other offer. Shipping and handling to the Continental US is still $7 per order per shipping address.
The Zakeez company has already donated over 2,000 Zakys to NICUs worldwide to help their sickest children.

I donated two Zaky hands to one of the hospitals that took care of my daughter.
Zakeez - OBOZ Program - "give your baby a hand" (tm)
Zakeez offers an innovative approach to infant support: The Zaky mimics the hand, shape, weight, and touch of a human hand to comfort the baby and provide support, sense and security and assistance with positioning

The Left Zaky in Cream in the Amazon Spotlight 

Zakeez ZCL Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Cream Left

Amazon Price: $48.95 (as of 11/25/2009)Buy Now

The Zaky also comes in cream color for those who prefer a more neutral colored hand.

Reviews of the Zaky 

A collection of reviews on the Zaky, some that follow the latest gadget trends (and probably were never NICU parents).
The Zaky - A Comforting Hand for Your NICU Baby
A new review of the Zaky for the NICU Parent Support Blog.
Leave a Zaky hand with Your NICU Baby
My review on the Zaky from the NICU Parent Support Blog a way of providing comfort when you are not there.
The Zaky ergonomic infant pillow
A review of the Zaky from Baby Gizmo.
Zaky Baby Pillows - Medgadget - www.medgadget.com
A look at the Zaky Baby pillows from Medgadget, a medical technologies weblog.
Zaky Pillow is unique and effective
Zaky Pillow is unique and effective, a review from Coolest Gadgets.
Zaky: Attachment Parenting by Proxy
Why is the Zaky, a fifty-dollar beanbag arm, flying off the shelves?
Zaky, It's Like Leaving a Part of You with Your Baby
A Zaky review from The UberReview.
Zaky Baby Pillow
A review of the Zaky Baby Pillow from KICK the FIRE, rants, raves, gizmos, gadgets, and weird stuff!
Thingamababy: Zaky Infant Pillow: Dismembered Hands to Comfort Your Baby
A review of the Zaky from Thingamababy.

The Right Zaky in Cream in the Amazon Spotlight 

Zakeez ZCR Zaky Theraputic Positionaing Pillow- Cream Right

Amazon Price: $48.95 (as of 11/25/2009)Buy Now

The Zaky can be used to comfort older babies as well.

A Grateful Parent finds out about the Zaky 

A parent commented on the review that I did for the NICU Parent Support Blog:

    It seems my little miracle will be arriving much earlier than anticipated in June instead of August, and with a toddler at home...I would love to have the comforting touch with my newborn when I can't be with him. I will have to look this up and order one today! Thanks again!!

Blog Posts about The Zaky 

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Your Thoughts on the Zaky 

What do you think about the Zaky? Is it Comforting or Weird?

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I think it's a way to comfort a baby.

breckh says:

This is amazing I'm an NICU RN and we always look for ways to cuddle our preemies and this is great. I will show this to my nurse manager and see if we can order these for our NICU unit.
Great job

spirituality says:

Great way to comfort these baby's that really should still be in the womb. This gives them a bit of that feel.

Comfortdoc says:

We would have gotten one for our daughter had they been around at the time during the time she was in the NICU.

I think it's too weird.

 

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This lens benefits the March of Dimes, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

by Comfortdoc

Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor...

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