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Best Baby Breathing Monitor

When you become a mother of a newborn, you find yourself faced with a whole new set of fears that you never thought you’d worry about. The biggest one comes when the baby is sleeping.

You know what I’m talking about: those moments when you and the baby are both sleeping so well, but a motherly fear suddenly takes hold and wakes you from a dead sleep. Those moments that you have to get up to check to see if the baby is still breathing.

This is where baby breathing monitors come into play. So, what is the best baby breathing monitor?

9 Best Baby Breathing Monitors

I understand how stressful being a new mama is, even though it’s an exhilarating time full of new experiences and happiness. The anxiety and worrying over everything the deals with the newborn can be crushing at times.

I know what it’s like to wake up every five to ten minutes to check on the baby and make sure that they’re still breathing because SIDS is one of my greatest fears. And I know how exhausted it can make you the next day while the baby is happy and full of energy.

Thankfully in these recent decades, technology has made many advances to help make a mother’s life easier. And one of these inventions is baby breathing monitors.

Basically, it’s a device that monitors your baby’s breathing, and it lets you know if there are any problems without you needing to fly out of bed every hour. Some even connect directly to your smartphone through an app, letting you see the activity without getting up to check it yourself.

I used one of these with my youngest, and the relief it gave me was immense. I was able to sleep better than I had with my other kids, and it made life that much easier.

So, to help my fellow new mamas, I’m going to give you an insight into 9 of the best baby monitors and why.

#1  Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor

Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor, Green

First on the list is the Owlet Smart Sock 2. It’s exactly what it sounds like; it’s a small cloth that wraps around your baby’s foot like a sock and has a monitor inside of the cloth that keeps track of the infant’s heart and breathing rates.

The monitor sends these rates directly to the smartphone app on one or more phones. You can sleep soundly in knowing that if anything actually were wrong, you would be immediately notified.

The sock notifies in a variety of ways, from pinging loud notifications on your smartphone to using lights and sounds from the sock itself. With all of the different ways that the Owlet uses to notify you if there is a problem, you can be certain that it will wake you.

The socks are washable and come with three, so you won’t be reusing the same dirty soft on your precious infant over and over again. They fit most infants ranging from 6-25lbs, which is an average of 0-18 months.

The Owlet also comes equipped with a history tab so you can keep track of your baby’s sleep pattern and watch it for any irregularities. All with the thought in mind of helping you to relax and get better sleep yourself.

Features:

  • Comes with 3 washable socks
  • Base station reaches up to 100ft away
  • Wireless
  • Fits infants 6-25lbs
  • Smartphone app
  • 30-day moneyback guarantee

Pros:

  • Sleep easier knowing your baby’s heart and breathing rates
  • Easy to check without getting out of bed
  • Socks are washable
  • Multiple ways of letting you know when something is wrong
  • Sleep history available for better tracking
  • BPA, latex, and lead-free

Cons:

  • Battery drains fast
  • May burn the skin if tied too tightly
  • Heart rate is preset on the low side and needs adjusting

#2  Snuza Hero Baby Movement Monitor

Snuza Hero (SE) Premium Baby Movement Monitor - Wearable Infant Abdominal Movement Monitor Alarm - Cordless, Long Battery Life.

Next up on my list is the Snuza Hero Baby Movement Monitor. The Snuza isn’t nearly as expensive as the Owlet, which is great for the mommy that’s dealing with a budget, but with more affordable options means you don’t get as many benefits.

The way that the Snuza Hero works is it clips onto the baby’s diaper and keeps track of their movement and breathing. It’s wireless, so you have absolutely no worries about having unwanted wires in your baby’s bed and causing other worrisome problems.

If there’s no abdominal movement within 15 seconds, the Snuza will stimulate the infant to breathe through vibrations. If that doesn’t work and 20 seconds pass without any abdominal movement, then an alarm sounds to alert you of the possible problem.

It keeps track of the patterns of your baby’s breathing, so even if the movement becomes weak, it will alert you within eight minutes if it doesn’t get back to normal. This also means it will alert you if there have been three or more incidents where it needed to vibrate to stimulate the infant to breathe.

With the use of the Snuza Hero, you will be well aware of your baby stops breathing or has continuous problems. Without the alarms going off, you will know your baby is sleeping fine and gives you plenty of time to sleep as well.

Features:

  • Clips onto diaper
  • Wireless
  • Vibrates if abdominal movement detected for after 15 seconds
  • Alarms if no abdominal movement detected for 20 seconds
  • Alerts when movement is inconsistent
  • 1-year product warranty

Pros:

  • Constantly monitors baby’s abdominal movements
  • Alerts you if inconsistencies arise
  • Portable
  • Vibrates to stimulate infant arousal first
  • Helps you sleep knowing breathing is being consistently tracked
  • BPA Free

Cons:

  • False alarms can happen
  • Product not as well made as others
  • Can come loose if the baby shifts too much

#3  Nanit Complete Monitor System

Nanit Complete Monitor System with Breathing Motion Plus Wall Mount + Multistand + Starter Set, one Small Swaddle and one Small Band

If you are looking for a monitor that keeps track of everything and includes video, the Nanit Complete is a great system to get. It comes with a swaddle breathing monitor, a camera to watch and listen to your baby, and can be accessed on your smartphone app at any time.

This may be one of the more expensive sets on this list, but I promise you that it’s worth every cent. The live stream doesn’t just show you your baby, but you can also speak to them through two-way audio that works even if you don’t have the screen off or are browsing in other apps.

This set even goes so far as to allow you to see the temperature and humidity of the nursery room. That way, you can easily know that if part of the problem your infant won’t sleep or is having erratic breathing problems is because it’s too hot in their room.

The breathing wear constantly monitors your baby’s breaths, and the moment there’s a problem, it will send you alerts to check on your little one. If you wake in fear that it’s not working, just simply check the live stream and rest easy in knowing that they are just sleeping wonderfully.

Every morning when you and the baby rise, you will be given the stats on how your baby slept along with a highlighted reel of their downtime. You’ll rest easy in feeling like you have another pair of hands helping when your baby sleeps.

Features:

  • Breathing monitor swaddle
  • Wireless
  • Livestream camera set-up
  • Smartphone app
  • Sleep stats every morning
  • Access to Nanit parenting team

Pros:

  • FSA and HSA eligible
  • Adjustable motion sensitivity
  • Two-way audio in the live stream
  • Advanced permissions for multiple nanit app devices
  • Timelapse reel available on your baby’s nights
  • Automatically save milestones with the Nanit Memories section in the app

Cons:

  • Expensive compared to competitors
  • Camera can have poor visibility in certain lighting
  • Wall stand is not adjustable

#4  Sense-U Baby Monitor

(2020 New Model) Sense-U Baby Monitor with Breathing Rollover Movement Body Temperature Sensors: Track Your Baby's Breathing, Rollover, Body Temperature with New Clasp Design (Body Temperature)

The Sense-U is another clip-on monitor like the Snuza, but it comes with a smartphone app to alert you rather than relying on an alarm straight from the device. If there’s any time the baby stops breathing for a specified amount of time, the alarm will go off on your smartphone.

Another way that the Sense-U is different is the fact that it also monitors your baby’s body temperature. If they are too cold or overheating, you will be notified immediately so you can get up to fix the problem.

This is especially handy with how babies tend to get hot when they sleep, even if it’s cold for everyone else. Something we tend to forget at times is that sometimes, covering the baby with blankets is bad for them and could lead to unwanted problems.

As your infant grows, they will also begin tossing and turning in their sleep, and this leads to worry about what happens when they flip onto their stomachs. The Sense-U has a built-in alert system that will notify you that they have flipped onto their stomach.

The Sense-U also uses Bluetooth technology to emit zero radiation levels for a healthy, happy baby. Just keep in mind that firewalls may disrupt the communication distance and try to stop them from getting in the way.

Features:

  • Clip-on device
  • Smartphone app
  • Monitors body temperature as well as breathing
  • Alerts if baby rolls onto stomach
  • Bluetooth technology
  • 30-day moneyback guarantee

Pros:

  • Temperature zones preset
  • Zero radiation
  • Alerts come through your phone
  • Know immediately if your baby rolls onto stomach
  • Reaches up to 50 feet
  • Can be placed over swaddle and onesies

Cons:

  • Can come unclipped if baby tosses and turns too much
  • App must be on during times of monitoring
  • Firewalls can disrupt the connection

#5  MonBaby Smart Baby Sleep Monitor

MonBaby Smart Baby Sleep Monitor with Body Temperature: Breathing, Rollover, Body Temperature Monitoring for Babies: Track Baby's Breathing, Sleeping Position and Body Temperature. (New Model)

Another baby monitor that is good for also monitoring their body temperature is the MonBaby Smart Baby Sleep Monitor. And also, just like the Sense-U, it will let you know when your sweet baby rolls over onto their tummy.

There aren’t too many differences between the MonBaby and the Sense-U except for the fact that the MonBaby is just a little bit cheaper. The MonBaby, just the same things as the Sense-U and, has a smartphone app through which it sends its alerts.

Everything on the MonBaby is customizable, so if the presets are too high or low to your own preference, you can change it to meet what you think is best for your baby. This comes in handy when swaddling your little one before placing the MonBaby on the outside.

What I think is better about the MonBaby over the Sense-U is that it’s not as easy to come off when the baby is tossing and turning around. But an alert will still go off if they roll onto their stomachs.

In my opinion, the Sense-U is the better of the two, but both are very good products, and the MonBaby is better for those that need the budget. Just be aware that the MonBaby takes batteries.

Features:

  • Snap-on breathing monitor
  • Smartphone app
  • Monitors body temperature
  • Alerts certain position changes
  • Customizable alerts
  • Highly sensitive sensor

Pros:

  • Can choose which alerts you want
  • Able to change the presets
  • Alarms sent to a smartphone
  • Constant monitoring of your baby’s temperature
  • Affordable
  • Portable

Cons:

  • Reports of connection issues
  • Uses 2 CR2 batteries
  • Can give false alerts

#6  Miku Smart Baby Monitor

Miku Smart Baby Monitor - Breathing & Movement Monitor - HSA/FSA Approved - Real-Time Breathing & Sleep Tracking - HD Video & Audio, Night Vision, Two-Way Talk, Sound, Humidity & Temperature

Next up is the Miku Smart Baby Monitor, which is hands down one of the best seats on this list, but it’s also probably the most expensive. This is the monitor set to get if you’re willing to through down hundreds of dollars so you can sleep through the night.

It works with your smartphone app to track the baby’s movement, breathing, nursery conditions, and sleep patterns. It literally monitors everything that puts your child at risk and helps to ease your mind for a better night’s sleep.

Not only does the Miku show you the video of your sweet baby as they sleep, but you can also share and download the videos and photos straight from your phone. What better way to share to your social media that beautiful, sleeping child than doing so without risk of disturbing them.

The Miku comes equipped with the ability to play lullabies and sounds to help ease your little one back to sleep if they happen to wake up or have trouble staying down. For those of us who struggle at times to get them back to the deep sleep, we know the importance of this.

The app is secure and comes with the option for 256-bit encryption and a 2-factor authentication process so you can keep anyone out of it that you don’t want to see this sensitive bit about your infant. There are so many features that come with the Miku, and I believe it’s definitely worth the price.

Features:

  • HD video camera
  • Two-way audio
  • Speakers that can play lullabies or sounds
  • Night vision
  • Temperature monitoring
  • HSA and FSA approved

Pros:

  • Requires no wearable monitor
  • Monitors a lot more than just breathing
  • Requires no batteries
  • Smartphone app
  • Tracks sleep patterns
  • Safe and secure login

Cons:

  • Very expensive
  • Can have connectivity issues
  • Software can be buggy

#7  Angelcare 3-in-1 AC527 Baby Monitor

Angelcare 3-in-1 AC527 Baby Monitor, with Breathing Movements Tracking, 5’’ Video, Sound & Temperature Display on Camera

For another no-contact monitor that is way more affordable than the Miku, I would recommend taking a look at the Angelcare 3-in-1 AC527 Baby Monitor. It’s still more expensive than some of the others on this list, but it can be worth it if you don’t like the thought of an electronic device touching your baby.

The Angelcare is a wireless breathing sensor pad that is placed underneath the baby’s mattress and monitors their movements and breathing while they sleep. It also comes with a camera that displays the sleeping baby to you to prevent you from having to get up to check for yourself.

Nothing with the Angelcare is done through your smartphone, and everything is shown on the parent camera for you to easily see. This includes the baby’s breathing rate and the temperature in the room.

If the baby doesn’t move for 20 seconds, an alarm will sound for you to wake and check on the baby yourself. So, rest easy in knowing that the moment something goes wrong, you will be alerted immediately.

Because the Angelcare is more of a high-tech baby monitor than just a breathing monitor, there is worry about how the camera could be hacked like you hear some others have been. The Angelcare is 2.4GHz FHSS encrypted to prevent this from happening and ensuring your family’s safety.

Features:

  • Wireless breathing sensor pad
  • Detects movement and temperature
  • Parent unity and camera unit
  • Secure 2.4GHz transmission
  • Two-way audio
  • Night vision

Pros:

  • No devices attached to your baby
  • No threat of poor Bluetooth connection
  • Compatible with extra sensor pads for twins
  • Touchscreen display
  • Pad sensitivity can be adjusted
  • Camera pans in and out

Cons:

  • Some would prefer a smartphone app
  • Not portable
  • Camera picture not ideal

#8  Levana Oma Sense Baby Breathing Movement Monitor

Levana Oma Sense Baby Breathing Movement Monitor - Baby Sleep Monitor With Wakeup Technology - Rousing Vibrations, Audio & Lights Stimulates Baby & Alerts Parents - Safety Baby Essentials For Newborn

The Levana Oma Sense is another clip-on monitor that is made specifically to fit over baby’s clothes in order to prevent it from touching their sensitive skin. This prevents the electronic device from irritating the skin and causing any burns.

It doesn’t work through a smartphone app or any cameras. It is a simple device that does exactly what it is meant to without the risk of a connectivity issue stopping you from hearing an alert.

If the baby doesn’t breathe for 15 seconds, the Levana will issue a series of soft vibrations to rouse the baby and get them breathing again. If there’s still no movement after 20 seconds, it will set off a loud alarm to alert you to the fact that there may be a problem.

If you wake up in the middle of the night in fear that there is something wrong and the monitor may not be working, simply look for a blue light. If there is a blue light flashing on the monitor, that means that it is working just fine, and the baby is breathing normally.

This prevents you from needing to get too close and risk waking the baby with your nervous checking. There is an inconvenience of needing to get up if you feel anxiety about whether things are alright or not, but there is peace in knowing this device isn’t reliant on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Features:

  • Clip-on device
  • Monitors breathing through clothes
  • Vibrates after 15 seconds of no breathing
  • Loud alarm after 20 seconds of no breathing
  • Flashing blue light indicates the device is working

Pros:

  • Requires no skin contact
  • Portable
  • Affordable
  • Clip-on does not come off easily
  • Lack of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth disruptions

Cons:

  • Requires batteries
  • False alarms possible
  • No longer very good once the baby starts rolling

#9  NANNY Baby Movement European Monitor

NANNY Baby Movement European Monitor - EU Medical ‎device SIDS Certified - NOW ON US ‎MARKET + ‎Breastfeeding Apron.

This is a product that is newer to the USA market and comes to us straight from Europe. Nanny works with a pad that is placed underneath the baby’s mattress and constantly monitors their movements and breathing.

If there’s a lack of movement, it will trigger a loud and visual alarm that will certainly wake mama out of a dead sleep. This is necessary, after all, for if anything went wrong, you would need to know about it straight away.

This device requires no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and has nothing to do with smartphones in any way, shape, or form. The pad is placed underneath the mattress, and then the monitor attaches right on the crib.

When the baby is breathing normally, there is a green light indicated on the monitor. Then when the alarm goes off, another light flashes with the sound to show that there is a problem.

It may come from overseas, but it is highly reviewed, and many seem to like it more than other products from here in the states. Smartphone apps may be convenient, but connectivity issues are frequent with any monitor that deals with them.

Features:

  • Sensor pad goes under the mattress
  • Monitor attaches to the crib
  • Indicator lights for okay and problem
  • Third indicator light for low battery
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Loud alarm system

Pros:

  • No connectivity issues
  • Can just look at the monitor to see if working correctly
  • Indicator light to let you know the battery is low
  • No radiation from Wi-Fi
  • Requires no device on the baby
  • Only alerts when no movement for more than 20 seconds

Cons:

  • Can trigger false alarms
  • Rechargeable batteries not always dependable
  • More expensive than similar items

Conclusion

There are many different options out there on what breathing monitor you can choose to help you get more sleep at night without waking in panic so often. There are affordable options for the budget mom and the full range sets for those that are particular.

Once you have a breathing monitor and you can rest easier at night because of it, it’s time to work on the other causes that may keep you from getting enough sleep. Just because you have a new monitor doesn’t mean your newborn is going to sleep easily.

If you have problems getting your little one to sleep at night, I suggest you check out Baby Sleep Miracle. I used this method on my son, who refused to go to sleep at night, and the effect was positively amazing.

I recommend it to all my friends that struggle with their newborns, so now I recommend it to you. Get your baby to sleep and then rest easy in knowing they are breathing fine with the monitor in place.


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