What is the Kangaroo Zak (KZ)?

Instructions: How to Wear and Use the Kangaroo Zak (KZ)

Features

Warnings about Kangaroo Care

Warnings about the Kangaroo Zak

What is the Kangaroo Zak™? /Instructions/Features/Warnings

Please note that the mom in these instructions has a brown Kangaroo Zak to be discreet for the pictures but disregard it and do not use anything under the Kangaroo Zak.

MultiplesKZ The Kangaroo Zak™ is the only innovative device ergonomically designed with the sole objective of facilitating safe, prolonged, and effective kangaroo care sessions in the hospital from birth until 3 months of age.

It provides comfort, proper positioning, and sense of security to the baby, virtually eliminates the risk of accidental falls and slipping that causes dislodging of medical equipment. It also facilitates immediate access to the baby in case of emergency and it is the only device in the market that facilitates hands-free holding regardless of the size of the baby. .

During this continuous contact the baby (and parent) can reach deep sleep necessary to heal, grow and develop the brain.

The Kangaroo Zak™ (KZ) is a soft, breathable, stretchy and strapless top made with natural fibers that wraps around the torso of the adult and closes on the side with a zipper.

Two adjustable sizes are available: Size 1 adjusts to Small / Medium / Large (size of the mother's blouse) Size 2 adjusts to XL / 2XL / 3XL.

The Kangaroo Zak is patented and successfully incorporates ergonomic principles with the philosophy of the Kangaroo Care Method to provide the most effective environment/habitat for the baby and for the parent so that the sessions are safe and prolonged and the benefits and results maximized.

Made for babies in the hospital (babies at home can only use the Kangaroo Zak with the proper training and instructions from the professional): NICU, Post-Partum.

Results achieved by the consistent use of the Kangaroo Zak to facilitate Kangaroo Care:

Support neurobehavioral organization and physiologic stability of the preterm infant.
Improve maternal breast feeding outcomes.
Reduce infant and maternal stress.
Support family centered care.
Realize all the benefits of Kangaroo Care in a consistent, safe, and effective manner.

The Kangaroo Zak ™ was designed by Yamile Jackson, a PhD in ergonomics and human factors engineering and a kangaroo mother herself. Since 2010 she is certified as a Kangaroo Caregiver Professional and is an instructor for the Kangaroo Care Certification Course offered by the United States Institute for Kangaroo Care.

Wearing and using the Kangaroo Zak (pictures)

Brochure - Kangaroo Zak for NICUs (PDF)

How to select the correct size of Kangaroo Zak™ (KZ)

Please read this before continuing.

Parents must wear the Kangaroo Zak with NOTHING underneath leaving the zippers on the side to avoid pressure points on the back of the baby.
The baby is always moved using both hands: place one under the baby’s buttocks and the other around the back of the neck and with the fingers on his/her mandible (you need to help with the medical equipment, if any)
Each Kangaroo Zak includes a blanket and a washing bag at no extra cost. Below these instructions is how to size the Kangaroo Zak

To wear the Kangaroo Zak (KZ) opening the zipper

1. Open the KZ. Decide if you want the zipper up or turn it around and zip it down depending on your needs and preference	2. In this example we are zipping it up. Wrap it around the parent's torso. Nurse can assist if parent is on a wheel chair or on a bed.	3. Select the size that is comfortable for the parent and close the zipper. The KZ will stretch to fit the size of the baby	4. Close the zipper all the way	5. Parent is ready to start Kangaroo Care.

To wear the Kangaroo Zak (KZ) with zippers closed

1. Close the KZ zipper in the correct size before wearing it.

2. Decide if, once worn, you want the zipper up or turn it around and zip it down depending on your needs and preference

Lift your arms and put the KZ like a tube top. Leave the zipper on the side.

3. Parent is ready to start Kangaroo Care. The Kangaroo Zak has the following imprint:

"While you hold me, we bond and I heal, grow, and develop my brain"

To transfer the baby (Sitting or Standing)

1. Lower the Kangaroo Zak to expose the chest	2. transfer the baby and place the baby in proper kangaroo position before covering him/her	3. Lift the Kangaroo Zak over the baby (securing the correct Kangaroo Position) covering up to the lobule of the ears	4. You can always see the position of the baby by the contour of the baby's body. Effective Quality Control.	5. Once the baby is positioned and secured, enjoy your session.

Transfer the baby standing reduces transfer time/distance & exposure time

1. Wear the Kangaroo Zak. Lean over the baby and lift him towards the chest with both hands. Place the baby over the Kangaroo Zak(to minimize mother's exposure of breasts).	2. Make sure the baby is in the correct Kangaroo Position and lower the KZ and lift it covering the baby. Nurses or therapists need to help with any medical equipment.	3.Cover the baby up to the ear lobe securing the baby in place.	4. Once the baby is safe inside the KZ with the zipper fully closed, then the parent can sit down with the help of the hands.

In Case of Emergency
Power/Generator Outages Loss of Power to Incubators Emergency Evacuations, Etc.
The Kangaroo Zaks are a must-have devices in the NICU's Emergency Kit. In case of emergency, the staff wear the Kangaroo Zak to kangaroo the babies and still have hands-free to help other babies or do other tasks.	IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE BABY FROM KANGAROO CARE: You may lower the Kangaroo Zak and release the baby immediately.	IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE BABY FROM KANGAROO CARE: Or, you may also open the zipper and release the baby in less than 2 seconds.

Resting / Sleeping during Kangaroo Care Sessions IMPORTANT: We do not recommend parents sleeping without using the Kangaroo Zak because of the risks of accidental falling or sipping down dislodging any equipment. Kangaroo Zak must be fully closed and baby fully covered before the parent can sleep.

1. Parents naturally want to sleep while in Kangaroo Care. Make sure the zipper is fully closed and the baby is in proper kangaroo position.	2. Parents can recline and sleep or relax while in Kangaroo Care. The safety, proper position, contaiment, and boundaries are provided by the Kangaroo Zak.	3. Parents can place the hands on the baby.	4. Check the position of by looking at the countour of the baby through the Kangaroo Zak.

Other Considerations/Features

For warmth if needed, place a blanket (included free with each Kangaroo Zak) on top of the Kangaroo Zak™ or around the shoulders of the parent Stabilize the mom's head with The Zaky™ while she scents it.	Since the mom has her hands free, she can interact with other family members/staff. The KZ holds babies of any size even if the NICU does not have recliners. Also, parents can read, knit, watch movies, text, work on the computer/tablet/phone, because they can use their hands while holding.	Scent The Zaky by placing it on the skin of the parent. Leave The Zaky(s) with the baby when the Kangaroo Care session ends.	Fathers use the Kangaroo Zak and feel more comfortable holding the baby, thus holding more often and for prolonged time. By design the shoulders of the parents are exposed so the parent can cover or not depending on his/her own temperature and of the NICU's.


The Kangaroo Zak is also ideal for postpartum. It virtually eliminates the risk of accidental falls when used properly.	Every baby that qualifies for Kangaroo Care can be held hands-free with the Kangaroo Zak.	The Kangaroo Zak is the only ergonomic device for kangaroo care that is centered on the family and that guarantees prolonged sessions.	Rule of Thumb: preemies kangaroo for 6 months. and full-term for 3 months. Parents should kangaroo at least 80% of the time they are in the NICU.


Hold multiples safely with the Kangaroo Zak. This mother is scenting The Zakys to leave with the babies after the Kangaroo Care session is over.	Full-term babies kangaroo for 3 months. The Kangaroo Zak is made specifically for babies in the hospital and staff must teach the parents before the baby's discharge on how to kangaroo at home.	The Kangaroo Zak holds the babies in place so the medical equipment is not dislodged. We do not recommend tying or securing the equipment with strings or hooks as it prolonges the access time to the baby in case of emergency.	We offer money-back guarantee to hoepitals. Request information here.

To select the correct size of Kangaroo Zak™ (KZ):

Only two sizes are needed to fit 95 percentile of the NICU moms.

To select the proper size and its adjustment, the Kangaroo Care professional must consider your size and that of the baby and assist with proper fitting. The Zangaroo Zak must fit snug to provide boundaries but not so snug as to compromise the baby’s respiratory effort.

Rule of Thumb: use the mother's for the current size of her blouse (the Kangaroo Zak will stretch to fit the size of the baby). For the father is the comparable size of the woman's. Adjust as necessary.

Each Kangaroo Zak™ adjusts to 3 sizes as follows:
- Size 1 adjusts to fit S/M/L
- Size 2adjusts to fit XL/2XL/3XL

Contact us if you need smaller or bigger sizes: We have them available in non-adjustable (closed with a stitch with no zippers) sizes from XS to 6XL.

For information about the Kangaroo Care Method and what parents should know before the session, click here


Skin to Skin contact instructional video (subtitles in English) Institute of Neonatology, Belgrade, Serbia This Institute uses the Zaky and Kangaroo Zak as Standard of Care		Since that video was produced, the Institute of Neonatology of Serbia uses the Kangaroo Zaks to hold every baby including multiples.

Kangaroo Zak is the best choice for standard of Kangaroo Care in Post-partum units globally.

It is ergonomically made by a Kangaroo Mother that is certified in Kangaroo Care and has a PhD in ergonomics engineering.

As with the Zaky, the baby comes first: s/he is positioned well, and then and only then, secured with the Kangaroo Zak. As opposed to "stuffing" the baby down and over-handling/stimulation to provide the correct kangaroo care positioning.

It is made specifically for parents to hold the babies skin-to-skin during hospitalization (NICU and Post-partum), regardless of size or medical condition (as long as the baby is stable enough to be moved to/from the parent). MultiplesKZ

It is easy to use, comfortable, easy to transfer and to access the baby at any time, requires minimal training time for the nurse and the parent, so you can spend the time teaching about Kangaroo Care and its benefits.

By having only one layer of fabric over the baby, it creates a comfortable and constant containment with no excess fabric, pressure points or creases.

It eliminates the risk of dropping the baby during Kangaroo Care Sessions, and facilitates a safe transfer. With supervision, parents can rest and even sleep knowing that the baby is secure and well positioned. For added comfort, warm the Kangaroo Zak in the blanket warmer or the dryer for a couple of minutes before wearing it.

May be used to kangaroo multiples - select the correct size depending on the mother and the size of the babies.

Depending on the parent's preference and the temperature of the hospital, it may be used by itself, with a hospital gown or open shirt/blouse/sweater. A blanket may be used over the Kangaroo Zak if needed.

Hospitals only have to stock 2 sizes that fit 6 different sizes of parent (Size 1 adjusts to S/M/L, and Size 2 adjusts to XL/2XL/3XL). To select the proper Size and its adjustment, the medical professional must consider your size and that of the baby and assist with proper fitting. The Kangaroo Zak must fit snug to provide boundaries but not so snug as to compromise the baby’s respiratory effort.

Parents easily learn from the healthcare professional how to do the standing transfer safely and alone.

Always follow all guidelines as described in the Kangaroo Mother Care Method literature.
Parent must sit up straight or recline (i.e., avoid horizontal, prone, or sidelying) so that the infant is never horizontal.
Do not bath the infant in Kangaroo Care
Do not disturb an infant sleeping in Kangaroo Care, and avoid excessive handling
Do not bottle-feed the baby if a successful lactation is desired
Avoid any contact with sick people
Like with any other medical/nursing intervention, healthcare professionals must make sure that parents learn about Kangaroo care, the benefits, correct positioning, learn warning signs, contraindications, and how to use the Kangaroo Zak properly, before discharging the baby.
Ensure that by the time the baby is discharged, parents know how to do Kangaroo Care at home so that the care does not stop.
The Kangaroo sessions should be no less than 1 hour and last as long as possible. Repeat every day of the week, if at all possible.
Baby must wear a hat and a diaper while in Kangaroo Position.
Very low birth weight preemies may need a blanket for warmth in addition to the Kangaroo Zak.
Make sure the baby is correctly positioned at all times and that parents learn when to call for help.
Kangaroo care is different to the practice of babywearing. In Kangaroo care, the adult and the baby are skin-to-skin and chest-to-chest, using the Kangaroo Zak for safety and comfort. In Babywearing the adult and the child are fully clothed, the child may be in the front or back of the adult, can be done with many different types of carriers and slings, and is commonly practiced with infants and toddlers.

Parent must sit or recline (never prone, sidelying, or horizontal).
Kangaroo Zak must be used only under the supervision and/or training by a healthcare professional with specific knowledge about the Kangaroo Mother Care Method.
The Kangaroo Care professional must train the parents on how to do Kangaroo Care and how to use the Kangaroo Zak prior to discharging the infant so that the care is not interrupted.
Zippers of the Kangaroo Zak must be positioned away from the skin of the baby to avoid pressure points.
The baby will only be secured in place with the zipper fully closed and the Kangaroo Zak covers the baby up to the earlobe.
Do not cover the face or head of the baby with the Kangaroo Zak or with any fabric.
To select the proper size and its adjustment, consider the size of the parent and the baby and assist with proper fitting. The Kangaroo Zak must fit snug to provide boundaries but not so snug as to compromise the baby’s respiratory effort.

Accessing the baby during Kangaroo Care

To minimize loss of temperature, you may assess the baby's skin color, etc by stretching the KZ.
The KZ does not restrict movement of the baby.

To access the torso of the baby, fold the KZ down as necessary.

The ZK can be folded down as much as needed. Warning: the baby will not be secure unless s/he is fully covered to the ear lobe with the KZ.

To access the bottom half of the baby, for heel sticks, change of diaper, etc., fold the KZ up and provide extra containment with the double layer of the KZ over the baby's back.

Parents can wear the KZ under the clothes. You may warm it up in the towel warmer or a dryer before wearing it.

Each Kangaroo Zak is adjustable to 3 sizes. Select the zipper that makes the KZ more comforable to the mom. The KZ will stretch to fit the size of the baby.

If the baby has a numerous leads on the bottom half of the body, you may open the zipper, place the leads through the bottom, and close the zipper.
Also, you may also partially open the zipper to access the baby, breastfeed, or pump.