Dr.Segal reviews the Cuddle Karrier and its attendant benefits for parent and child.

SYDNEY SEGAL CM, OBC, MA, MD, FRCP(C)

April 6, 1996. Mr. Colin Knauf 631 Seymour Court North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 3S7. Dear Mr. Knauf: Re: Cuddle Karrier. For any observer, it is always a delight to see the happiness on the face of a parent with a baby, parent obviously confident and organized, and the infant held securely in arms or strapped to the chest. The parent may be strolling in the fresh air, shopping, or moving groceries in or out of a car, satisfied that the baby is comfortably napping or watching the surroundings, and perhaps hearing the reassuring voice during those months of establishment of the parent-infant attachment. These parents will have developed a routine for baby carrying, and a routine group of supplies to have on hand during such an outing. A CREATIVE CONCEPT. Your idea of using a type of "fanny pack" zipper container, belted to the waist of the parent, seems as logical as the carpenter's tool belt. Each tool is readily within the reach of one hand. In the case of your creation, it would require only one hand to reach for a diaper, or snack, or other object, without having to put the baby down on whatever surface may happen to be available - not always the most hygienic arrangement for the baby. REDUCED RISK OF INJURY. But there is another scenario we see occasionally, dealing not with convenience and enjoyment, but plagued by the risk of injury under various unplanned circumstances. These would be the sudden reaction when the strap of a bulky diaper bag slips off the parent's shoulder, or when the bag has been forgotten in the car or in the store and there is less choice about where to place the infant during retrieval. It is not possible to estimate the frequency of infant injury during the panic when unplanned and insecure temporary placement of the infant becomes a sudden necessity, or when the baby must be left unattended in the car during the diaper bag retrieval.

679 Blueridge Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7R 2J4
Phone: (604) 987-4529 Fax (604) 987-1059

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Picture the added loss of composure for the parent when there are also some toddlers in the family to be supervised during such a crisis. It would seem that these unfortunate experiences would constitute a chore and burden where there should be enjoyment, but more importantly, where the risk of injury supervenes. The opportunity to unify the source of essential supplies with the belt of the parent, would remove the risk of misplacing the diaper bag. The very real risk of maneuvering the bag, the baby, and perhaps some purchases is seen at times to present undue chance taking for dropping the infant. A PREDICTION. Thus, it would seem logical to dispense with the bulky diaper bag, and your creative alternative with one diaper and a snack or bottle appears to be a preferable substitute. It being an untried innovation, one can only offer a prediction that future usage may prove to be popular, just as infant seat belts in the past had to be given the test of time. On the basis of a 50 year period of observation as a pediatrician, I feel confident in predicting that the Cuddle Karrier will meet with increasing appeal. TETHERING SMALL OBJECTS. Less critical, but certainly noteworthy, has been your adaptation of astronaut arrangements whereby jars of snacks or other objects may be tethered to the inside of the zipper bag, thereby avoiding contact with the contaminated floor, in the event of such an object falling out while a zipper is open. It is my feeling that a video demonstration of these points would be useful for demonstrating the full reality of the points made above. DESIGN AND DURABILITY. The design of the container, form fitting to the parent's waist, and stiffened to retain its shape, would also seem more helpful to avoid having to hold it open while trying to insert an object into it against an easily collapsing cover. While I feel justifiably authoritative with respect to injury prevention, I expect that you may seek some other kind of expertise to assess the durability of the materials, and the apparently substantial strength in the stitching methods by which the container is held together with the zippers. Yours truly,Sydney Segal, M.D.

679 Blueridge Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7R 2J4 Phone: (604) 987-4529 Fax (604) 987-1059

679 Blueridge Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7R 2J4
Phone: (604) 987-4529 Fax (604) 987-1059