Other Uses - Children and Adults

The Zaky is used to help position the belly of the mom-to-be. Also helps to give just enough support to the neck and shoulders. It is best if the Zaky is scented by mom before the baby is born, and taken to the delivery of the baby. Place the scented Zaky with the baby when s/he is not being held.

The Zaky is used to comfort children and adults that have any type of disability (autism, ADHD, CP, etc)

Unfortunately, many of the babies that are born prematurely and that have a hospital stay, have some type of disability. The Zaky has helped children with special needs from the time they are born (or starting at any age), and it becomes a "security blanket" as they like the shape, the weight, the scent of mom/dad, and parents like it because is durable, washable, transportable, and versatile.

This use came about after talking to a soldier that said that for the 6 months of deployment, all he could think about was to hold his baby at his return. When he went to hold her she cried because she did not know her father. Even though he understood, it was difficult for him. His wife felt really bad because she felt she could not do anything to have prevented this reaction.

A mom of another soldier said that she had sent a Zaky to Irak for her son, so he could sleep with it and send it back by mail to her grand-daughter. The baby girl kept that Zaky always around and when her father came back, he could hold his baby as he longed to do. The Zaky helped them bond until his return!!

I really never thought about the importance of that first hug - the moment when the soldier comes back and finally can meet his baby.

We are working on a project where we send Zakys to our soldiers in Irak and Afghanistan that have babies less than 6 months of age, or a pregnant wife (we are just in our pilot project so we are starting with babies). The soldier sleeps with the Zaky and returns it by mail to his home. This is proven not only to introduce the absent parent to the baby, but it reduces the stress of both parents.

This can be done with any parent/grandparent/friend/sibling that is important for the baby but is away for business travel, long hospitalizations, daily work, etc.

The Zaky is left scented to comfort the child until the parent comes back. It helps with bonding, it reduces stress, and the parents know that the baby has their scent around until they come back. For those that stay away for longer periods of time, a perfume/cologne can be used to have the baby bond with the scent of the parent, however, the best way to scent it is to sleep with it or to place it behind the neck for a couple of hours, if possible. Some parents have the child sleep with the Zaky then take that Zaky with them!

Children and adults that are hospitalized for any length, from one night to a long stay due to cancer, burns or other treatments etc. benefit from The Zaky. Even if the families can stay 24/7, they find the Zaky comforting as it smells and reminds them of their loved ones.  It also helps with positioning after surgical procedures or for rehab, helps relief pressure to lacerations, etc.

Some moms swap scented Zakys with the child so both feel closer to each other (moms scent it for the child and the child scents it for his/her mom).

During emergency transport from one hospital to another, the mom can scent the Zaky while the baby is being prepared, and the Zaky leaves with the baby/child when the parent has to stay behind.

Friends and family can also sign it with a permanent marker and leave notes, just as if it was a cast. This gift will not be forgotten, and it will always comfort the patient.

The Zaky also holds the head straight-up for patients that must remain in bed.

Children that take naps or have quiet times find the Zaky very comforting as they can use it wherever they go (child care, baby sitters, grandparents’ home, etc). There is no age limit.

For healthy infants and toddlers: For babies of over 6 months of age, The Zaky is best introduced when the baby has "quiet time" with mom/dad. The idea is to help the baby associate the Zaky with sleep time. It is proven that when the babies get help from the Zaky, their anxiety level is reduced, hence, they sleep better.

It also helps with the baby's "Tummy Time" when it is placed under the chest and arms.

Senior Citizens find the Zaky comforting (especially if it is scented by their son/daughter/grandchild) and they are able to sleep better, be better positioned, and be calmer. We have found that after the death, loved ones like to keep the Zaky.