The Kangarobe™

Recent literature underscores the urgent need for ergonomically designed, safe support products tailored for the unique challenges of the high acuity (Level III and Level IV) NICU environment. These products should aim to facilitate a comfortable experience for both the parent and the critically ill infant, while securely managing multiple medical lines without compromising parental comfort. At present, many NICUs resort to makeshift solutions like taping lines and tubes to parents or chairs, coupled with blanket coverage for warmth. These ad hoc methods raise significant safety concerns, including the risk of accidental falls, medical equipment dislodgement, and unplanned extubation. Moreover, the lack of standardization exacerbates the inconsistency in securing medical devices effectively.

Kangaroo Care, or skin-to-skin holding, improves physiological stability, growth, and bonding for preterm infants, but in high-acuity NICUs it is often skipped. The web of respiratory, feeding, and vascular lines makes it hard to move a fragile baby onto a parent safely. We looked closely at how Kangaroo Care is attempted at the bedside and where it breaks down: lines taped to parents or chairs, blankets used for warmth, and no consistent way to secure devices, along with the safety risks those workarounds create, from dislodged equipment to unplanned extubation. Working with neonatologists and NICU nurses, we defined what a purpose-built garment would need to do: manage many kinds of tubing securely and reconfigurably, keep the infant warm and covered, fit a wide range of parents, and stay sanitary from one family to the next.

We designed the Kangarobe using human-centered design, prototyping and refining it alongside the clinical team. The hardest requirement was flexible, secure line management, so the garment centers on a grid of snap fasteners and loops that pair with disposable foam wraps and single-use Velcro®. Tubing can be routed and held wherever a given baby needs it, then removed cleanly so nothing unsanitary carries over. Full robe-style coverage keeps the parent comfortable, a belt beneath the baby adds positional support, and a vertical access window lets clinicians reach the infant for procedures without ending the session.

From 2021 to 2023 we ran a feasibility study of the Kangarobe with 25 infant-parent dyads in a Level IV NICU, testing it with infants who depend on respiratory support. Parents and nursing staff rated safety, comfort, ease of use, and procedural access on a five-point scale. The response was strongly positive: 72 to 80% of parents and nurses rated ease and comfort favorably, and 76% agreed the garment secured medical lines well. Parents using the Kangarobe held their infants for an average of 171 minutes per session, up from a typical 75, and the vertical access window let clinicians perform procedures without interrupting Kangaroo Care.

The Kangarobe™ is a soft, full-coverage garment that functions akin to a robe, designed for parents to safely engage in KC with their infant in the NICU. Crafted from a machine-washable blend of 60% cotton and 40% polyester, the garment offers a versatile one-size-fits-most design. For enhanced positional support, a strategically placed belt can be placed beneath the baby. Engineered for adaptability, the Kangarobe™ features an array of snap fasteners and loops strategically located across the shoulders and chest. Loops are used with disposable foam wraps or bracelets with single-use Velcro®, allowing for the secure placement of several types of respiratory, feeding, and vascular tubing. The garment is designed to support various respiratory devices, including low and high-flow nasal cannulas, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems, and ventilator tubing. Opting for disposable Velcro® closures over permanent ones mitigates the risk of unsanitary debris accumulation in the permanent Velcro®, thereby ensuring long-term effectiveness.

PIs: Neonatologists William Rhine, MD and Aviva Presser Aiden, MD, Ph.D.

Design Team: Ruth Ann Crystal, MD, Jules Sherman, MS, MFA

Patent: US 11,819,142

The Kangarobe is available for sale starting October 2026. Please contact Kangarobe@gmail.com