Summary of uses

	Summary of Uses for
	Travelbud® Support System and Butterfly Support

This summary is intended as a means of communication for healthcare professionals who are using the Travelbud and Butterfly Support for infants and children. We will continue to update and add information as we receive it. For the Nurses, O.T.'s and P.T.'s who are using these systems, please send a photograph whenever possible.

The success of each use, listed here, will vary depending on the infant or child’s need. Please let us know what applications work well for your particular need(s) and advise us of any problems you encounter or custom pieces you require. Contact laurie@snuglbuds.com

Travelbud Support System
Adduction:: Flat - bottom cushion offset and pulled between legs, using a strap to bundle.; Seated - position in seated equipment, use support strap between legs and attach strap to sides of middle cushion, pull side pockets of bottom cushion under and between legs to form a triangle.

Erb’s Palsy: Side lying position with one strap under shoulder to position and a second strap to position the arm.

Low Muscle Tone: Support in a wide variety of positions and equipment.

LBW: Nesting, side/inclined sleep support, support/positioning for feeding, general positioning.

Spinal Bifida: Positioning aid, exercise pad

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Used to bundle, carry and support.

Parents in wheel chair: Bundle the infant and use long straps from the chair to the bundle to make carrying on the lap easier. Also gives the parent a soft/safe cushion area for placing the infant as required.

Flat uses: Bed, nest, change pad, exercise pad, side sleep support, etc.

Inclined flat uses: Bed, play pad, exercise pad, side sleep support, supine sleep support and feeding support.

Top cushion folded under: Prone exercise pad using the support strap to keep infant from sliding.

Seated Equipment: Car seat, strollers, high chairs, swings, bounce chairs, tumble forms, etc.

Additional pieces of foam, plastic inserts and straps can help customize the Travelbud. The following is a guide to some of their usage.

Plastic inserts can be placed inside the cushion, behind the foam, to provide more support in seated applications like high chairs and strollers.
Thicker foam can be inserted into the side pockets to reduce compression and increase lateral support.
Foam pieces, in the side pockets, can be cut to fit under an infants arms to help keep the torso straight.
Foam can be removed from side pockets to create openings.
Straps or custom nest bumper (thicker straps) can be attached to the end and sides of the main cushions to form a nest. The velcro will attach anywhere on the back of the cushions so placement can be varied.
Straps can be ordered longer/shorter as required and can be attached anywhere on the back of the cushions.
Straps can also be made from the material that accepts the hook velcro for strap over strap placement.

Strap placement over an infant will be determined by the infants need.

Example: side sleep positioning.

Position the infant with their back close to one side of the center cushion. Make sure their head is well onto the top(A) cushion. Start at the infants back and roll the side(B) pocket until it is snug against the back. Attach the strap(C) to the side(B) pocket behind the bum or hip and place the strap over the hip/diaper area. Roll the front side(D) pocket until it is snug against the infants tummy and attach the strap to the outside of the pocket.

Straps can also be used to:

position an infant or child for exercise routines.
create nests and bumpers.
bundle an infant with Osteogenis Imperfecta.
help position a child in seated equipment.
parents in wheelchairs can use the Travelbud to positon and hold an infant on their lap. Longer straps can be used to help secure the Travelbud to the wheelchair. The Travelbud also gives the parent a soft place to put the child as they move from room to room.

A small pillow insert can be used with the Travelbud to further hold or position an infants head when seated or supine. The Butterfly Support can be used as well.

The entire Travelbud can be mounted onto a larger surface like a crib mattress. Use adhesive hook velcro on the mattress and place the Travelbud on the velcro. The unit will friction fit most bassinets. Makes inclined sleeping easier.

Car Seats

When using the Travelbud, or any other after market product, in a car seat, caution and care must be taken to ensure the car seat harness is used correctly. Understanding how car seats work is very important. Please see car seats for more information.

Use of the Travelbud should not change the harness system.

Determine which slot the harness must come through to correctly fit the infant and adjust the harness as per manufacturers instructions. Usually two fingers of slack in the harness at the chest/collarbone area.
Place the Travelbud into the car seat and ensure it is flat and smooth against the back of the seat and seat bottom. The top of the back cushion should be level with the car seat harness strap.
The car seat harness must be positioned, flat and smooth between the Travelbud cushions. The harness must come straight through and over the infants shoulders.
Place the infant into the Travelbud.
- ensure the infant is seated correctly with their back and bum in full contact with the car seat.
- Gently squeeze both side pockets, of the Travelbud, against the edge of the car seat, moving from shoulder to bum and bum to knees. This helps ensure the child is seated correctly and allows the Travelbud to form snugly against the child.
- If the hip support is required:
  - pull the support strap up between the infants legs and leave loose.
  - position one of the provided straps over the hips and attach on either side of the middle cushion.
  - gently pull the support strap into position and reattach under the infants bum.
Finish doing up the car seat harness as per the manufacturers instructions.
You will notice the car seat harness is now snug against the infants chest, no more that one finger between the chest/collarbone and harness strap.

The Travelbud should not change the
car seat harness in any way.

Butterfly Support

For infants and toddlers the Butterfly Support positions the upper body, head and neck. Ideal for use in swings and strollers. Can be used for positioning when nursing. Ideal for premature infants as it helps reduce fatigue during nursing.

Premature Infants

The Butterfly Support is used in NICU's and Special Care Nurseries for midline head centering. It supports and positions the infant's head and upper body for partial side lying and supine. The Support has been used with ventilate and non ventilated infants.

Head preference, a common problem with premature infants. They are often facing to the right. Head preference is reinforced due to prolonged stays in the NICU where the majority of caregivers are right handed and right side lying is often the preferred position in isolettes.

The support makes it easy to rotate and position the infant for supine or partial side lying.

Torticollis, positional or congenital muscular torticollis where the infant has a strong lateral pull with rotation towards the affected side.

Use the support to promote midline centering.

VP Shunt for hydrocephalus where the infant tends to turn away from the shunt side.

Use the support to create a balance for supine positioning.

Plagiocephaly, flattening of one side of the skull due to persistent pressure.

The support makes it easy to vary the infants position to help prevent plagiocephaly.

Head and Neck Hyperextension. This hyperextension is often seen in babies with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Use the support to inhibit the hyperextension and promote elongation of neck extension in supine position. The support helps raise the back of the head and create a good chin tuck.

ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex) in neurologically impaired babies where the reflex does not disappear.

Use of the support will help inhibit the ATNR and promote midline of the head and upper extremities.

Term Reviews, where infants return to the hospital for follow up assessment.

Use the support to position the infant for tone and midline assessment. Often recommended to parents as a support for home use.

Premature Infants at Home

The Butterfly Support can be used, by parents, at home to promote midline centering of the head and upper body. It can be used for partial side lying and supine positioning when the infant is awake and under supervision. The support works well in swings and strollers when the infant is reclined. It is not intended for sleeping. Check with your healthcare provider for the recommended position for sleeping. For infants who must be inclined, check the Travelbud for further information on side lying or supine positioning.

We have an active product improvement policy and appreciate your comments and suggestions. If you find additional uses for the Travelbud or Butterfly Support, please let us know:

what the application is

how you have used the Travelbud or Butterfly

what, if any additional pieces you have used

please include a photo

See Premature Infants and Special Needs and Hospitals for additional information.

If you have any suggestions or questions please call, fax or email laurie@snuglbuds.com

Laurie Tandrup
Mother of Two Buds

Phone (403) 967 - 2902 Fax (403) 967-2837

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