Embrace Infant Warmer Will Save Babies' Lives

on February 26, 2010 at 7:24 AM

It's always a better day when I read about something that helps to save the lives of babies.

The Embrace Infant Warmer is a simple, cheap incubator that could save the lives of 1 million premature and health compromised babies in India in the next 10 years. Watch the video or click to hear social entrepreneur Jane Chen describe it on Ted.com.

Incubators cost $20,000 -- not realistic for this struggling country. Currently, new moms and midwives will rig up dangerous or ineffective contraptions like water bottles or hanging lightbulbs to try to keep babies warm.

The Embrace Warmer looks like a mini sleeping bag and costs just $25. A mom or midwife melts a packet of sealed wax with hot water, which is designed to radiate heat at normal body temperature. The pack which slips into the sleeping bag, keeps baby's body temperature up for 4-6 hours, and when it cools off, you just douse it with hot water again to heat it back up.

Brilliant.

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: childbirth, in the news, newborns, safety

Comments (8)

Cafe Jenn

on Feb 26, 2010 at 9:14 AM

Thanks for posting that Cynthia. What a lifesaving technology for countries that can't afford the more expensive incubators. I bet these would be great even in those areas of the US that are so poor, too.

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pinstripefedora

on Feb 26, 2010 at 11:39 AM

That is really cool!

tiffanymartinez

on Mar 2, 2010 at 9:29 AM

That's deep! An incubator saved my sons life! I think I will buy one of these, esp. since its only $25!!!! SO worth it.

MaMas06

on Mar 4, 2010 at 2:15 AM

This is so awesome! I for one am glad that ppl are inventing such devices to save babies lives. Every bit counts.

Carey2006

on May 13, 2010 at 4:16 PM

WOW!!! $25 vs $20,000!!!!!! I'm glad to know that such a thing exist!!!!!

sodapple

on May 17, 2010 at 3:40 PM

that's a good item to keep in mind not only for us but friends and family that might need it someday

asil

on May 25, 2010 at 10:39 PM

very nice! wish i had known about this when i had my second... she was in the NICU but we were able to take her home after 10 days... and of course, she was having issues keeping her body temp up at home... this would have made things a lot less stressful! (what do you do when you aren't supposed to leave blankets in with your baby, yet baby is cold? this is PERFECT!)