It's an exciting time for parents to bring a new baby into the family. Yet with all the joy and wonder a baby adds, one of the first things parents lose is sleep. Even when they doze off for a few hours, the thoughts of their baby’s vital signs and movements often jolts them awake.
Sleep is as important for parents as it is for their little ones. A baby monitor is a necessary investment for parents to keep close tabs when their baby is out of sight. Not only does a baby monitor give parents peace of mind, but they can get some much-needed shut-eye.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Movement Breathing Monitors
Most new parents learn about baby movement and breathing monitors only after they have had their baby.
Are Baby Monitors Safe for My Baby?
Babies are extremely delicate and all harmful objects need to be removed from their vicinity. The same goes for baby monitors. As long as the device is not within reach of your baby while they are sleeping in the crib or standing up, then it is perfectly safe. Keep the device and the cords in a place where your baby has absolutely no chance of reaching it. The sensor pads and the clip-on devices are made baby-safe.
Are Baby Monitors Accurate?
The newer baby breathing monitors are now adopting technology that is trusted by medical professionals and have been considered accurate by the medical authorities for ages. Pulse Oximetry technology, for instance, is used to measure the oxygen level in the blood, and heart rate in most medical practices and many baby monitors are now using the same technology. According to the American Thoracic Society, the readings by Pulse Oximeter are reasonably accurate. Critical Care Medicine, also cites the many studies that have proved the accuracy of Pulse Oximeter over time.
Are Baby Movement and Breathing Monitors Worth It?
A baby movement and breathing monitor is a worthwhile investment to make sure your child is safe and well. These specialty monitors give nervous parents extra peace as their baby sleeps. Some breathing monitors help parents keep tabs on their child's breathing patterns and send alerts if abnormal breathing is detected. Movement monitors may prevent babies from sleeping on their stomach. Baby movement and breathing monitors can help parents understand their baby's sleep patterns, allowing them to develop a sleep routine when their baby is ready.
- Owlet Dream Sock Baby Monitor - "Best All-Purpose Baby Breathing Monitor"
- Angelcare AC027 Baby Movement Monitor - "Best Long-range Baby Movement Detector"
- Snuza Go! Baby Monitor - "The Best Travel Partner"
- Babysense 7 - "The Preemies Best Guardian Angel"
- Sense-U Baby Breathing Monitor with Camera and Audio 3 - "The Best Ultramodern Night-Time Video Monitor"
Owlet Dream Sock Baby Monitor -"Best All-Purpose Baby Breathing Monitor"
- The app and device syncs with almost all smart devices
- Monitors heart rate, oxygen levels, and movement
- Alerts the parents as soon as alarming readings show up
- Collects extremely accurate real-time data with clinically-proven technology
- The alert system wakes up the parents without disturbing the baby
- Compact design with a weight of 1 lb.
- Small size of 3.5 x 3.5 x 0.7’’
- Easy to use
- The sock is made of soft material and is comfy for the babies
- The sock size is nonadjustable and doesn’t fit all the babies
- Pricier
- It has a high EMF of 8 V/m
- Can only be used when the baby is sleeping
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The Owlet Dream Sock Baby Monitor is one of the highest rated baby monitors. Keeping close track of your baby's sleeping habits, this one-of-a-kind smart baby monitor gives parents peace of mind. This well-rounded baby monitor provides very accurate data according to the fact that it is incorporated with clinically-proven pulse oximetry technology and monitors the baby’s heart rate and breathing. As we mentioned earlier, Pulse Oximeter is trusted by medical fields all across the globe.
The unit comes with four fabric socks that can be easily washed and wrapped around the baby’s foot. These soft socks are BPA-free, waterproof, latex-free, lead-free, and pediatrician approved.
The Bluetooth connection in the wearable device relays the data to the base machine for as far as 100 feet. The monitor syncs with the parents’ smartphones and alerts them via a light, app display, and sound notifications when the readings indicate a danger.
The data collected through Owlet's proprietary software gives parents advanced insights about their baby's sleep activity and sleep patterns. The app tells parents how much deep and light sleep their baby gets at night. Parents have a better understanding of their baby's sleep habits. The app provides a personalized sleep program for babies between 4 and 12 months old.
Angelcare AC027 Baby Movement Monitor - "Best Long-range Baby Movement Detector"
- The handheld unit triple-functions as a baby movement monitor, room temperature reader, and an audio baby monitor
- Long range of up to 820 feet outdoors and 300 feet indoors.
- Comes with two units for both parents
- Loud alarm
- Adjustable sensitivity
- Only works when placed under the baby’s crib’s mattress and not under any other surface
- Doesn’t connect with smartphones
- Short battery life
- Not portable
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The Angelcare AC027 Baby Movement Monitor comes with a sensor mat that is placed under the mattress to read the movement of the baby. There's a cable that connects the mat and the monitor and the latter needs to be positioned strategically.
If the sensor pad fails to detect movement for 15 seconds, the monitor makes a preliminary beep to rouse your baby. If movement is still not detected after five more seconds, the it immediately delivers a loud alarm to the parent unit.
The parent unit displays room temperature, sound options, light options, as well as a variety of other settings. The Angelcare movement monitor has a soft night light that keeps the babies’ room alight during the night The monitor comes with a rechargeable battery that runs for almost 4 hours and notifies when it’s low.
For added peace of mind, the parent unit makes a ticking sound to let you know that the monitor is working even when your baby is asleep.
Snuza Go! Baby Monitor - "The Best Travel Partner"
- Long battery life
- Stays securely in place
- Easy to use
- Weighs 1 ounce and measures 3-inches which makes it easy to travel with
- The alarm can be set to wake up the parents after 15, 18, or 20 seconds of inactivity
- Extremely sensitive motion sensors that detect lightest of movements
- Budget-friendly
- Comes with a free of cost protective case
- Frequent false alarms
- Requires some time to understand the setup
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While Snuza Go lacks the stimulation factor Snuza Hero has which refers to a slight vibration to rouse the baby, it is still one of the best go-to baby breathing monitors, and made it to several top-lists of 2019, as compared to the Hero.
Other than the simulation factor, Snuza Go and Snuza Hero share all the same features yet Hero is a lot pricier.
The Snuza Go! features a wearable monitor, which is easily clipped onto the babies’ diapers. The clip-on monitor has an audible alarm to alert the parents if the baby stops breathing within 15, 18, or 20 seconds.
In addition to its audible alarm, the lights also indicate babies’ lack of movement. The green light is a good sign, while the orange light is an alarming one. Most people face false alarms during their initial days with Snuza Go. To avoid false alarms, use extra care when attaching the clip-on monitor to your baby's diapers.
Snuza Go is famous among the traveling parents who find its compact and lightweight design easy to slip inside bags when on the move.
Babysense 7 - "The Preemies Best Guardian Angel"
- No wires
- Two full-coverage sensor pads leading to higher accuracy
- High sensitivity leading to immediate detection
- Preferred by a vast number of hospitals in Asia, Europe, and Australia
- No contact with the child and is hence comfortable
- Alarms and lights
- Fewer false alarms
- Easier to transport
- Does not work properly with thick mattress
- Not suitable for babies who are highly active during their sleep
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The Babysense 7 is a simple baby movement monitor that is easy to set up and use. If you don't want the hassle of a complicated user interface or superfluous features, the Babysense 7 is a good choice for parents who want a deeper sense of security when their baby is asleep. This non-touch baby monitor is a good fit for parents who want nothing more but to make sure their baby is moving as they sleep and is in no danger.
This brand of baby monitor is trusted by professionals in the hospitals of more than 35 countries. The two ultra-skinny sensor mats cover a wider area of the crib mattress and detect even the slightest of movements, while keeping the false alarms away. The warning alarm beeps if the sensors detect no movement for 20 seconds.
In comparison, competing monitors with only one pad cover less of your baby's crib, leading to more false alarms if your baby rolls or creeps too far away.
Nearby vibrations may interfere with the monitor and trigger a false alarm in the Babysense 7. Parents should avoid putting heaters, air filters, or other noisemakers near the crib which could set off a false alarm.
The monitor is extremely easy to use. The Babysense 7 is powered by AA batteries, so you don't have to worry about cords or wires. The monitor is easier to transport as you don't have cords and wires to deal with. Since the monitor doesn't require you to attach anything to your baby, they can enjoy a peaceful sleep.
Sense-U Baby Breathing Monitor with Camera and Audio 3 - "The Best Ultramodern Night-Time Video Monitor"
- 1080p HD video
- Breathing analysis
- Smartphone app
- Good for families with twins or multiple little ones
- Night vision
- Unlimited Range
- Two-way communication
- Can drain the battery on your phone or tablet
- Wi-Fi hotspots and 5G Wi-Fi networks aren't supported
- Expensive
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With the Sense-U Baby Breathing Monitor lets parents can keep tabs on their baby’s abdominal movement, sleeping position, and feeling temperature from anywhere. This baby monitor system comes with a base station, video monitor, a wearable device, and USB power cables. Parents can use the Sense-U app on their smartphone to monitor their baby anywhere.
When the monitor picks up something of concern, parents receive both sound and light notifications on the base unit, even without an internet connection. Parents also receive audible notifications on their smartphones, no matter where they are.
The monitor streams HD video and communicates it directly with the parents through the Sense-U smartphone app. The video monitor has two-way audio, night vision, and background audio.
Simply clip the wearable monitor into your baby’s diapers to receive notifications if your baby’s breathing rate is abnormal or their temperature of sensation is outside their normal area. The clip-on monitor lets parents stay on top of their baby’s sleeping position and sends a notice of tummy sleeping.
The Sense-U also supports up to five baby devices, perfect for parents of twins or multiples.
Conclusion
Now that we have provided you with a quick and detailed guide on all the top-rated baby monitors, their features, and also what they lack, it’s time for you to take the next step. As unfortunate as sudden infant death syndrome is, it is very common. These modern and versatile baby monitors allow the parents to prevent the worse from happening by waking them up just in time.
