Best Smart Baby Monitors: A Midwife's Guide to Advanced Sleep Breathing Monitoring
Emily Copley
Lead Maternity Carer/Registered Nurse & Midwife
Updated 8th of Jan, 2024
Worrying about your baby while they sleep is a tried and true pastime of new parents everywhere. While regular baby monitors can help you keep an eye (and an ear) on your little one, smart monitors take the traditional monitor up a notch, providing tracking features that can record things like your baby’s breathing, and even their sleep patterns and alert you if something looks off.
Most parents like the extra data and the extra peace of mind that they can provide.
In the quest to provide the utmost care and protection for our little ones, the issue of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) weighs heavily on the minds of parents and caregivers alike. SIDS remains the leading cause of death among infants aged 1 month to 1 year old, and while its exact cause eludes us, research has shed light on certain factors that may increase vulnerability. These factors include placing babies to sleep on their stomachs, exposing them to environments that are either excessively hot or cold, and the potential impact of respiratory infections leading to breathing difficulties. In this review, I will explore the best baby sleep monitors that have demonstrated a focus on these factors that could lead to SIDS, providing parents with the peace of mind they seek while their little ones slumber.
In my 10 years of experience as a midwife, I have witnessed the transformative impact of baby monitors in providing parents with peace of mind and ensuring their little ones sleep safely. This review comprises four of my favorite baby sleep monitors that I recommend to parents, based on factors such as design, accuracy, ease-of-use, advanced features, safety, durability, portability, customization options, affordability, and additional benefits. If you’re looking for a baby sleep monitor, read on to find the perfect match for your family’s needs.
RANKED # 1
FetalPlus Baby Sleep & Breathing Monitor
As a midwife, I recommend the FetalPlus Baby Sleep & Breathing Monitor to new parents. At just $129.95 after discount, it costs a fraction of most other products of the same caliber while offering more features.
It attaches to the baby’s diaper and doesn’t budge overnight. It monitors the real-time sleep position of your baby, displays it on your phone app, and alerts you when the baby rolls over. It monitors the baby’s respiratory rate in breaths per minute, detecting problematic breathing patterns that could indicate respiratory distress. The device also measures ambient temperature through a tiny hole and alerts you if your baby gets too hot or cold, or experiences a sudden temperature drop.
With its Wireless Smart Gateway, this monitor allows remote tracking without distance limitations.
- Accurate sensor monitoring: It utilizes accurate sensor monitoring to track baby's key data in real-time. Unlike traditional camera monitors, which rely solely on visual observation, this monitor offers comprehensive data-driven insights, allowing parents to have a deeper understanding of their baby's sleep patterns and breathing.
- Tracks key factors that might put babies at extra risk of SIDS: This monitor tracks the baby's respiratory rate, body temperature, and sleeping position in real time.
- Radiation-free: This monitor utilizes Bluetooth ultra-low power technology, emitting EMFs at one-thousandth the level of a smartphone, making it virtually negligible and entirely safe for babies.
- Accurate rollover detection: The app provides instant notifications when your baby changes their sleep position, ensuring you can promptly adjust them to the recommended back sleeping position. In our test, the alarm is triggered in less than 1 second after a rollover occurs.
- Push notifications to your phone: Unlike traditional camera monitors that require you to constantly stare at the screen, real-time alerts are sent to your phone, keeping you connected without the need to check it frequently. The alerts, in our tests, is audible even when the phone is on do not disturb mode.
- Customizable alerts: You have control over what/when to be alerted. Set the respiratory rate, body position, or temperature baseline, and receive alerts when the data deviates from the pre-set parameters.
- Extended connectivity: The device comes with a wireless gateway, no need to purchase separately like some other brands require, allowing remote monitoring from anywhere.
- Long Battery life : powered by a long-lasting cell battery that provides up to 30 days of continuous usage.
- 30 Days Money Back Guarantee
- US based. Free Shipping Available
- Accepts HSA/FSA Cards
- Shop Now, Pay Later with Sezzle
- Requires re-clipping after diaper changes
9.3
My No.1 Choice
Precision
Advanced tech-features
Operating range
Ease-of-use
Notification and Alerts
Design
Value For Money
LIVE Promo Code: Use discount code X30 at checkout to get $30 OFF your purchase.
#2
Owlet’s dream sock is a wearable monitor secured to your baby’s foot with an ankle strap. It assesses the baby’s sleep quality using indicators like your baby’s movement, heart rate, oxygen level, and wakings. It triggers an alert if your baby is uncomfortable or needs assistance returning to sleep. It also provides personalized information about the ideal time window for your baby to rest based on age and sleep history.
Its insights are limited to an oversimplified view of sleep quality. Although it alerts you if your baby needs help returning to sleep, it lacks in-depth data on what caused the disturbance.
- Comes in several sizes if you’d like to size up
- Monitors average oxygen level: Utilizes PPG technology to track multiple Sleep Quality Indicators such as heart rate, average oxygen level, movement, and wakings.
- Lights and musical notifications when baby’s sleep quality changes
- Uses baby’s age, when and how long they last slept to predict the ideal sleep window
- Accepts HSA/FSA Cards
- Hefty price tag: The Owlet Dream Sock is priced at $299, considerably more expensive than our top pick
- Directly touches baby's skin: It directly touches the baby's skin, which can lead to discomfort and potential skin issues. Some parents have reported concerns about irritation and redness on their baby's skin due to prolonged contact with the sock.
- No option to mute alarms: Many parents reported a common problem with the sock monitor – its base doesn't have a mute option. When the child accidentally bumps the sock at night, the base triggers an overly loud lullaby, abruptly waking both parents and their little one.
- Connectivity issues: Many parents reported connectivity issues beyond a range of approximately 5 ft from the base. This can be a drawback if your baby’s crib is positioned further away than that.
8.8
Precision
Advanced tech-features
Operating range
Ease-of-use
Design
Safey features
Value For Money
#3
The Sense-U Baby Monitor 3 is an advanced device that offers similar functions to the FetalPlus Baby Sleep Breathing Monitor. With real-time monitoring of breathing, rollover alerts, and temperature sensing, it provides parents with peace of mind. However, priced at $199, its value for money may not be as favorable.
- Tracks baby's abdominal movement, sleep position and feeling temperature
- Real time alerts to your phone
- Accepts HSA/FSA Cards
- Extended connectivity: Remote monitoring from anywhere if you purchase the version with the smart base.
- Accepts HSA/FSA Cards
- Price tag: The version with the base station is priced at $199, approximately $50 more expensive than the FetalPlus, despite offering the same features.
- Lights on the base station can be annoying: moms have shared their feedback regarding the base station's bright lights, which can be quite bothersome during the night. Unfortunately, the lights cannot be turned off while the device is plugged in.
- Connectivity issues: Many parents reported Bluetooth connectivity issues between the base station and the monitor.
7.8
Precision
Advanced tech-features
Operating range
Ease-of-use
Design
Safey features
Value For Money
#4
Snuza Hero
The Snuza Hero offers abdominal movement monitoring, alerting with vibration and audio cues when movements are absent. However, it falls short by lacking crucial features like sleep position and temperature monitoring.
- Tracks baby's abdominal movement
- Real time alerts after 15 seconds
- Easy to operate
- Lack of key functions: it lacks essential features like sleep position monitoring and temperature tracking.
- Limited range: It does not connect to a phone, meaning the alarm's working range is limited to where it can be heard.
7.7
Precision
Advanced tech-features
Operating range
Ease-of-use
Design
Safey features
Value For Money
#5
The HALO SleepSure Smart Baby Monitor offers a range of features similar to the FetalPlus Baby Sleep Breathing Monitor, providing parents with valuable peace of mind. However, it’s important to consider that the HALO SleepSure comes at a higher price and has a shorter battery life of 24 hours compared to its counterpart.
- Tracks key aspects: Tracks 4 key sleep measures in real-time; heart-rate, skin temperature, rollover and movement.
- Historic data: Automatically records sleep sessions so you can identify trends and patterns that can help create bedtime routines. Records up to 30-nights of data.
- Customizable Settings
- Poor value for money - Priced at $249.99, the Halo SleepSure lacks the crucial heart rate/ breathing alert function, which is essential for monitoring a baby's well-being during sleep.
- Short battery life: Only 24 hours of usage, requiring daily recharging.
- No heart rate alerts: This device monitors baby heart rate, but does not provide alerts about this measure.
- Directly touches baby's skin: Like the Owlet, the Halo SleepSure It directly touches the baby's skin, which can lead to discomfort and potential skin issues.
7.5
Precision
Advanced tech-features
Operating range
Ease-of-use
Design
Safey features
Value For Money
Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Baby Monitors
Absolutely – if your baby is immunocompromised, premature, or a low birth weight baby, or if staying in the know about your newborn’s breathing and sleep quality matters to you, a smart baby monitor will be a great investment. With the data it provides, you can attain valuable insights into your baby’s health and quickly route medical help if needed.
There is no evidence that proves that these monitors can prevent SIDS. But it can alert you to factors, such as stomach sleeping or overheating, that may contribute to SIDS. Some measures to prevent SIDS include keeping the baby’s crib free of loose objects or blankets and ensuring they sleep on their back.
Baby monitors can inform you whether your baby’s vital signs are within normal range, But they are not medical-grade devices and shouldn’t be relied upon to diagnose, treat, or prevent any health condition.
Any monitor should never replace a medical professional’s advice if you think your baby may be showing signs of SIDS, sleep apnea, or another condition.
Some parents use it for the first few months. While others — especially those with newborns who were premature, underweight, or have other risks — may continue using it for a longer period. Note that prolonged reliance on such monitors can lead to excessive worrying in parents as the device can sometimes report false positives.
As a midwife, I strongly advocate the adage “prevention is better than intervention.” Identifying signs of distress early affords you enough time to take action or get professional help, ensuring your little one doesn’t endure prolonged discomfort or suffering.
Baby Sleep Monitors are designed for the peace of mind of all parents, but especially those with infants under 1-year-old and at-risk babies who warrant thorough monitoring. These include:
- premature babies
- low birth weight babies
- babies who have experienced the loss of a sibling to SIDS
- babies with any respiratory disorders or infections
- babies who tend to sleep on their stomachs or sides
- male infants
- babies with sleep issues such as sleep apnea
- babies sleeping in a high-risk environment, such as co-sleeping with parents, pets, or siblings or with specific sleep equipment
Level Up From Traditional Baby Monitors: Smart Sleep and Breathing Monitor Tracks Life-saving Metrics of Your Baby
Like most parents, I relied on a traditional baby monitor with standard audio and video feeds for my first baby. It allowed me to watch my little one while he slept in his own room, granting me the freedom to multitask without worries. However, it soon became evident that this setup had glaring limitations, forcing me to upgrade to a smart sleep and breathing monitor when my second baby arrived.
As a midwife and mother, here’s why I think you’ll find a smart sleep and breathing monitor far more useful than, or in conjunction with, a traditional video or audio-only baby monitor:
- Real-time health tracking capabilities for deep insights: The benefits of a traditional camera-only baby monitor is limited to remotely providing a visual glimpse of the baby’s appearance and behavior. But a wearable sleep and breathing monitor takes it further by offering crucial qualitative and quantitative data about your baby’s health. This cluster of information empowers you with the knowledge to understand your baby’s true condition at any given moment, extending beyond your baby’s sleep patterns.
- Hands-free monitoring: Traditional video or audio baby monitors requires accessing a separate screen, speakers, or applications to keep tabs on your little one, making it an active monitoring process. A smart sleep and breathing monitor, on the other hand, offers a passive monitoring approach. For instance, sensors like the FetalPlus Baby Sleep & Breathing Monitor, utilizes push notifications through its app to alert parents of any alarming deviations in baby’s breathing rate, movement, or body temperature. Prompt alerts eliminate the need to constantly open the app to check on your baby. Instead, you can continue to work, sleep, or focus on other daily tasks without the burden of constantly carrying your phone or a separate screen.
- Helpful in curbing postpartum anxiety: Studies show that 30 percent of new mothers experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and/or stress following childbirth. Mothers with postpartum anxiety face challenging symptoms such as excessive worrying, constant panic, sleep difficulties, and poor mental health. All these symptoms in tandem can impact your ability to care for your child. While a sleep and breathing monitor cannot completely resolve postpartum anxiety after birth, it can alleviate some symptoms. By providing tanglible data about your baby’s health, the monitor allows you to feel more in control of your little one’s well-being, easing feelings of fear and uncertainty.
- May reduce the risk of SIDS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) contribute to the death of approximately 2,300 babies yearly in the U.S. alone. Various factors contribute to SIDS, including sleeping on stomach, overheating, or respiratory infection (such as a recent cold) that may impede the baby’s ability to breathe. While a sleeping and breathing monitor cannot eliminate these risks, it can help lower them. How? By quickly alerting you to problematic factors associated with SIDS. For instance, in the case of my newborn, my FetalPlus Baby Sleep & Breathing Monitor reliably notified me if my baby rolled over to his side or tummy, so I could intervene and reposition him on his back for safer sleep.
Why FetalPlus Baby Sleep & Breathing Monitor is a Must’ve Device for Your Baby’s Safety: A Midwife’s Review
As a midwife, I strongly advocate the adage “prevention is better than intervention.” Identifying signs of distress early affords you enough time to take action or get professional help, ensuring that your little one doesn’t endure prolonged discomfort or suffering.
The FetalPlus Baby Sleep & Breathing Monitor is designed for the peace of mind of all parents, but especially those with infants under 1 year old and at-risk babies who warrant thorough monitoring. These include:
- premature babies
- low birth weight babies
- babies who have experienced the loss of a sibling to SIDS
- babies with any respiratory disorders or infections
- babies who tend to sleep on their stomachs or sides
- male infants
- babies with sleep issues such as sleep apnea
- babies sleeping in a high-risk environment, such as co-sleeping with parents, pets, or siblings or with specific sleep equipment
With the FetalPlus Sleep & Baby Monitor, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your baby’s well-being is being continuously tracked, which is especially important if they fall in any of these categories.
My Final Verdict
FetalPlus Baby Sleep & Breathing Monitor hands-down provides unbreakable peace of mind that’s impossible to attain from traditional, visual or audio-only baby monitors. From its compact & comfortable design to its precision in tracking the baby’s 3 vital metrics — ambient temperature, breathing rate, and sleeping position — you, as a parent, can rest assured knowing you’re cementing your baby’s safety with the power of data and technology.
At just $129.95 (after discount), there’s nothing close to FetalPlus Baby Sleep & Breathing Monitor in the market today — its accuracy, flexibility, and design quality remains unmatched.
