Bringing our son home from the NICU was a joyful event, tempered by anxiety and worry – especially since our son was born premature. Like most parents, we were willing to do anything to ensure our little miracle was safe and healthy. Enter the world of baby breathing monitors, cameras and wearables.
Baby monitors, cameras and wearables
While baby monitors have been around for years, baby breathing monitors are relative newcomers to the world of baby tracking and safety. Most come in the form of wearables, devices that can track your baby’s heart rate, oxygen levels, sleeping position and even their sleeping patterns. You can physically attach them to your baby, such as on the arm, foot or ankle, or attach them to their diaper or clothing.
Wearables range in price and functionality and compete with other devices that promise the same biometric tracking data without requiring physical attachments.
What do the experts say?
Opinions on the use of wearables are mixed: the JAMA and American Academy of Pediatrics warn against their use, citing the potential for unwarranted alarm among parents and overtreatment of kids. I was scolded by a doctor once when I mentioned I had purchased the Snuza Pico to monitor my newborn’s breathing.
What are the options?
In my search for technological assurance I discovered several options. All promised to allay my fears and provide proof that my baby was breathing during the night. Here are the results of my quest, and an account of my personal experience with two of them (the Cocoon Cam Plus and Snuza Pico).
Non-wearables
The Cocoon Cam Plus
Features:
The Cocoon Cam Plus is the second iteration from Cocoon Cam. It offers video and audio monitoring; two-way audio communication; and non-contact breathing monitoring. Extras include cry and sleep detection; automatic night vision; motion alerts; and sleep analytics. Get a close-up of your baby using the video zoom capability; and watch the live feed simultaneously with someone else by using the device’s shared access capability.
Pros: I own the Cocoon Cam Plus and it is by far the best camera on the market for five reasons:
- Affordability: You can’t beat the Cocoon Cam’s price compared to other monitors.
- Easy set-up: You only need to download the app and set-up the camera
- No wearables! No worrying about the device coming off or making your baby uncomfortable.
- Excellent Quality: Clear video and audio make this camera a winner.
- Peace of Mind: Nuff said!
The Cocoon Cam beats out the competition in features as well. The value of this gem is realized upon first use. We downloaded the Cocoon Cam app, connected it to wifi and voilà! Instant peace of mind!
Cocoon Cam Mounting
We did decide to go with a different camera mount, however. The mount that comes with the device must be wall-mounted, and pretty much limits the flexibility of the camera. Our newborn sleeps right next to me in a Pack and Play and there’s not a wall nearby to affix the camera to.
We opted instead for the FlexxiCam Universal Baby Camera Mount.
This little beauty can be used anywhere that a clamp can be placed. We simply inserted the camera in the FlexxiCam and clipped it to the foot of the Pack and Play.
The combination of the Cocoon Cam Plus and FlexxiCam allowed for superb audio and video of our little one. The camera uses computer vision technology that “sees” your baby’s breathing and reports it back in the form of beautiful “breathing waves” that scroll across the live video feed. As a bonus, you’ll get daily swaddle stories – little time-elapsed clips of your baby set to sweet music.
Cocoon Cam even tested their camera at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford NICU with excellent results: The camera’s monitoring varied only slightly from the leads and monitoring devices placed on NICU infants to monitor their breathing. The camera also received the ‘Seal of Approval’ from the National Parenting Center to boot.
Cons: I had trouble connecting to the app a few times but unplugging the device and plugging it back in seems to remedy the issue. Even with this minor inconvenience, the Cocoon Cam Plus leads the pack, and is as close to perfect as you can get!
Angelcare Baby Breathing Monitor with Video
Features:
The Angelcare Baby Breathing Monitor touts a 5″ LCD touchscreen parent unit and wireless Breathing Sensor Pad. An alarm sounds if no breathing movement is detected after 20 seconds. The device monitors movement activity, gauges room temperature, and displays red for too warm and blue for too cool. Coo to your baby using the two-way talk feature while you zoom and pan for the best angle. Angelcare also offers night vision capabilities.
Pros: The touchscreen unit is convenient and frees up your smartphone to do other things. Most importantly, you can see your baby at all times, whether or not you’re in the room. The color gauges for room temperature are an added touch. The two-way talk feature, night vision and panning features set this camera apart from some of the others on the market.
Cons: Some users report poor video quality, short battery life and false alarms. The motion pad is not compatible with all cribs/mattresses.
On to wearables…
Snuza Pico
Features:
The Snuza Pico is part of a family of devices by Snuza. The company also offers the Snuza HeroMD, the Snuza Go and the Snuza Hero. The Pico is branded as a movement monitor, meaning it tracks the rise and fall of your baby’s abdomen as she breathes. The Pico also tracks skin temperature, sleep patterns and body position.
I bought the Snuza Pico a few days after our son was discharged from the NICU. Driven by fear, worry and first-time mommyhood, I ran out and bought the Pico after a quick internet search on how to monitor my baby’s breathing at home.
Pros: The Snuza Pico attaches to baby’s diaper and delivers real-time reporting of abdominal movement, body temperature and positioning. The Pico will also alert you if your baby has fallen.
With that being said, I was disappointed with some of Pico’s functionality, particularly relating to the app, overall design and battery life.
Con #1: The first con was perhaps user error. Pico’s attachment clip opened while it was clipped to my baby’s diaper. It was certainly uncomfortable for him as it was pushing into his tummy, and we didn’t realize it until he had worn it for about an hour. Ironically, I found the Pico hard to unlatch when it was time to come off.
Con #2: I couldn’t get the sleep monitoring feature to work, which was disappointing, and I could never get the device to update per the manufacturer’s instructions. (Apparently, I’m not the only one, because their app reviews are riddled with complaints about this very thing). The Pico’s battery life was also short which led to its low battery indicator emitting piercing beeps, startling everyone (including our son) in the middle of the night.
If Snuza works out these kinks perhaps it can become a great wearable. For now, I’m trusting the Cocoon Cam to preserve my sanity!
Other options to consider based on similar features and user feedback.
Sense-U Baby Breathing & Rollover Baby Movement Monitor
Features:
The Sense-U Baby monitors breathing, rollover, temperature and positioning of your little tike.
Pros: Sense-U sounds an alarm if it senses no breathing or fast breathing (considered 60+ breaths per minute). An app alert will notify you if your baby turns on his stomach. You can also preset temperature zones and receive alerts if ambient temperature levels go outside those zones.
The device is portable and can clip onto any type of clothing or sleepwear.
Cons: Monitoring is limited to only one mobile device, so if you want someone else to monitor as well your out of luck. Heed the manufacturers advice of having your baby wear snug clothing as some users have reported false alarms during use. Other users have reported poor connectivity at times via Bluetooth.
MonBaby Smart Button
Features:
MonBaby sends data to connected smartphones five times per second, it monitors breathing movement, stomach sleeping and falls. The button clips onto baby’s clothing and uses Bluetooth to connect to its app.
Pros: You’ll receive alerts when your baby rolls onto his stomach, or no movement is sensed where the device is placed. MonBaby also senses and alerts you if your baby falls. Alerts sound through the app and not the device itself, preventing your baby from being startled by a piercing alarm.
Cons: The manufacturer states the device communicates with your phone best if it’s in the same room. You must also download another free app (Monbridge) to extend the range if needed. Users have reported that even when they’re in the same room with the device, an alarm sounds indicating they are out of range. Other users report inaccurate alerts and device disconnections without notification.
Mimo Smart Baby Breathing & Activity Monitor
Features:
The Mimo Smart Baby Breathing Monitor allows you to access data and audio from anywhere. Data is streamed from the device to the Lily Pad base station and up to the cloud to your phone. Left-brainers can assess their baby’s sleep patterns by reviewing a log of baby’s sleep activity. View roll-over and wake-up detection alerts on your smartphone and monitor multiple babies if needed.
Pros: The Mimo tracks whether baby is lightly sleeping or in deep REM sleep. And there’s no requirement to keep the phone physically in the room with baby. The Mimo can handle monitoring multiples with no problem.
Cons: Your baby must wear a “kimono”; new kimonos must be purchased as baby grows. Some users report noise coming from the Lily Pad, delayed alerts, poor design of the kimono, and limited range.
Owlet Smart Sock
Features:
The Owlet Smart Sock uses a washable “smart sock” that connects to a base station. The device is worn on your baby’s foot and uses pulse oximetry to track your little one’s oxygen levels, heart rate and sleep patterns. (For those of us that aren’t doctors, pulse oximetry is a painless, noninvasive way to measure oxygen levels in the blood). The Owlet uses this technology to help keep your mind at ease as your baby rests throughout the night.
Pros: The Owlet provides real-time heart rate and oxygen levels with data accessible on more than one smartphone. A comforting green glow displays on the base to indicate everything is okay. The Owlet gives you the ability to preset zones and provides multiple alerts if levels are abnormal (the base lights, with sounds and app notifications). Satisfied users report accurate O2 and pulse readings.
Cons: Some users report inaccurate reporting (i.e. baby crying/awake with no alerts); base, app and server connectivity issues; advanced app access fee; and poor sock fit.
The Rub…
Out of the seven most popular models, the Cocoon Cam Plus embodies all of the features a parent could want in baby monitoring:
- Advanced technology to detect breathing;
- Sharp video imagery with night vision capabilities;
- Awake, sleep and cry detection;
- Alerts (with video);
- Two-way talk, and
- Crystal-clear audio
All without the use of a wearable. While I haven’t tried all of the devices out there, the Cocoon Cam Plus excels where all other devices fall short.
