ever use a 'Zaky'?

Specialties NICU

Published

Specializes in NICU, CVICU.

Hello!

http://www.zakeez.com/en/zaky/zaky.php

Recently we had a couple of these sent to our unit to see if they would be something that we might like to start using. Personally, I thought the theory behind them is interesting, but once I actually saw the product I was somewhat creeped out! I can only imagine the first time someone opened the cover on an isolette and saw a random arm and hand holding a baby. I'm trying to be open-minded, afterall maybe they just take some getting used, so I was hoping some of my esteemed fellow NICU nurses might have some input.

Have you ever actually used/seen one? Did you like it? If you have used one, what did you do about the 'scent'? The brochure mentions taking it home to sleep with it or put some perfume/cologne on it, but that doesn't sound very clean to me. Some of the babies can be so sensitive to everything, I have horrible images of having to put this in an isolette after a parent has doused it in perfume or slept with it and it smells strongly of cigarettes and only who knows what else.

Thanks for reading my rambles, any experiences/thoughts?

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

My hospital got a donation of them about 1 month ago. I dont think we've used any.

I think they are the oddest things ever!!! They look so funny and I cant imagine giving a child a "hand" to lay with.. its just odd.

Just wanted to comment :)

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Specializes in NICU.

I'd never even seen or heard of these until last night. One of the babies I had last night ..... the mom brought one in that she just washed. So I assume it was hers, not the hospitals, as I'd never seen them before and she took it home to wash it.

I thought it was kinda nice for positioning, like the frogs .... but they're HUGE! I had a little 900-grammer and the thing was bigger than she was, almost too heavy for her. I think they'd be nice for the bigger kids though .... you know those kids that you wish you had a BIG frog for lol.

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Save your money and roll up a blanket.

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NO - but will send the info to our developmental people...thanks.

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Specializes in NICU.

We have had babies transfered into our unit with a Zaky, which are used in some hospitals. Personally, I don't care for the flesh color I've seen. Very creepy. I did have a Mom tell me that she liked the shape of it, with it's hand and fingers, because she felt that she was still cradling her baby after she went home for the night. We would never allow our parents to use cologne or perfume on their Zaky.

I have used one, and liked the size and weight of it, even for our smaller

babies. It was easy to shift the beads in them to redistribute the weight. We sometimes will use 2 "Freddie frog" positioning aids on our larger infants. I can see needing only one Zaky for the same use. I'd like to see it made in softer-looking colors, or baby prints. I would definitely use them if they were stocked in our unit.

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We use the Zakys in our NICU and they are awesome, parents also love it. We use it for positioning/developmental care. I especially like the arm of the zaky when used as a boundary with the hand cradeling the head. We prefer to use the zakys instead of other positioning devices as it looks and feels human and it is very flexible and soft.

We use it also in combination it with other devices sometimes, but generally use only zakys. For nesting it is better when using two. I like the weight and the lenght. We have it in beige, but I've seen in other colors too.

We like to make a roll with the arm of it, we also like the fact that you can shift the filliing inside depending on the size of the patient. We use it with babies of all sizes especially with micro-preemies.

Regarding the scent, some parents in our NICU scent it by putting it on their chest while on visit. So they feel something familiar near. This is not only comforting for the baby but also for the mother that cannot do much. Every time we wash it, parents can scent it again.

I read once the section in the Zaky website with ideas and testimonials from other nurses. You can check it.

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Specializes in NICU.

That looks...different. But neat. I wonder if our NICU has tried them (I don't start work til August 6). I will definitely have to bring that up. Thanks for sharing.

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sth new for me...I guess i'm still new in NICU

Looks really creepy.

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