anyone familiar with the zaky?

rockabye · Mar 25, 2011

Yes, we have had a few parents purchase zakys for their babies in the NICU. I like them a lot and think it is very comforting for the babies and helps with positioning. It is basically a beanbag shaped like a hand and arm and come in a bunch of colors. They are kinda on the expensive side. To be honest though, mom can sleep with any type of cloth to leave her scent on for the baby. Many mom's will use our burp cloths and we just place a sticker on them so other nurses know not to toss them away in the laundry.

Another great gift idea are those pacifiers attached to a little stuffed animal. The reason I like them so much is that it makes the pacifier much easier to stay in the babies' mouth. A lot of babies love their pacifiers, but sometimes it takes a lot of work to keep them from constantly falling out without someone holding the pacifier for them.

preemieRNkate, RN · Mar 26, 2011

We've had them on the unit quite a few times, I like them. They are nice to kind of curl around the baby and have the "hand" part rest around the baby's head, or if the baby is prone, right on his tush.

Sugarcoma, RN · Mar 27, 2011

thanks for your input guys! I went ahead and ordered the zaky as well as one of the pacifiers with the little plush toy attached and a guardian angel holy bear. the bear isn't that cute but it comes with a card that has the psalms 91;11 verse on it. even though i am not a really religious person, i thought that was a very appropriate verse for a preemie. i am really hoping my neice likes it.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 27, 2011

I THINK a parent from my unit invented the Zaky. I used to see them a lot with the preemies but not so much now that we use the Z flo positioners.

walkingrock, ADN · Mar 27, 2011

I've seen a few Zaky's brought in by parents, they are nice. Never heard of the Z flo positioners...just looked it up, very cool! We use cloth, quilted buntings and sandbags...but those Z flo's look much better!

umcRN, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2011

I also just looked up the zflow positioners..mainly because I had never heard of them being used for positioning, we use them in our unit strictly for wound prevention and their maintained by our wound team. They are used on those infants we have to heavily sedate, are immobile or are at risk for third spacing. Interesting to see their other uses

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 27, 2011

I also just looked up the zflow positioners..mainly because I had never heard of them being used for positioning, we use them in our unit strictly for wound prevention and their maintained by our wound team. They are used on those infants we have to heavily sedate, are immobile or are at risk for third spacing. Interesting to see their other uses

We use them on LBW infants and strap them in so they have something to push against and work their muscles. Term kids usually aren't seen on them unless they are WILD like going from RA to CPAP or something.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 27, 2011

I've seen a few Zaky's brought in by parents, they are nice. Never heard of the Z flo positioners...just looked it up, very cool! We use cloth, quilted buntings and sandbags...but those Z flo's look much better!

I know they're $$ and not supposed to be reused and be replaced when they don't hold their form anymore. Some places do.

umcRN, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2011

I know they're $$ and not supposed to be reused and be replaced when they don't hold their form anymore. Some places do.

yes! we have quite a few zflos that do not hold their shape anymore, we still use them though, of course we aren't using them for positioning and I think if I ever "strapped" a baby into one I would get quite the looks and probably written up! Hmm, definitely something to look into in the future though since we are already using them in our unit...might as well use them appropriately!

rockabye · Mar 28, 2011

LOL I think we turned this thread from anyone familiar with the zaky to anyone familiar with the z-flow! :lol2:

I believe per the manufacturer that the z-flo is only supposed to last 1 month and then be disposed of. We are supposed to wean them off the z-flo at around 1500g when preemies are being transitioned to open cribs. There are of course exceptions to this rule for babies very sick and immobile or those that need that extra support. The downside to z-flos is that they can't be used for x-rays and some have claimed that they interfere with oscillators. I'm not sure if z-flos are to be used with humidity because sometimes they get this weird "stink" to them. Anyone else notice that?

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 28, 2011

yes! we have quite a few zflos that do not hold their shape anymore, we still use them though, of course we aren't using them for positioning and I think if I ever "strapped" a baby into one I would get quite the looks and probably written up! Hmm, definitely something to look into in the future though since we are already using them in our unit...might as well use them appropriately!

The Z flos have covers for them (which are ugly and say "z flo" ALL over them) that have straps on them so you can strap the kiddo in. And I have noticed that smell with humidity. If a kid is on HFOV or has frequent xrays, I'll put the zflo in their closet or something because it's too much stress on a sick kid to be moving them around on those and the xray plates (especially when Giraffe beds have a place for plates w/o disturbing the baby..forget the zflo!)