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February 1, 2022
Article of the Month – February 2022
February 1, 2022Owlet Smart Sock
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is a common and feared term that both new and experienced parents fear. It takes planning, sacrifice, and adaptation to undergo gestation, and after delivery, becoming a parent poses a different challenge. Sleep deprivation’s distress is only matched by the apprehension parents experience to the idea of SUID during these difficult times. Furthermore, although desired, peace of mind, reliable monitoring, and reassuring preventions against this dreaded complication are uncommon.
Each year, about 3,500 Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) occur in the United States, and the latest data show that almost 25% of these are due to suffocation and strangulation in bed.(1) Preventive tools and books teach parents how to overcome this. Artificial intelligence has also facilitated monitoring during these early stages of parenthood. Owlet has made it possible to ease parents by creating the Owlet Smart Sock (OSS), a revolutionary monitor to track a baby’s oxygen level and heart rate, making it a valuable acute indicator of their health.
About Owlet Smart Sock
This device was first announced by the end of 2015. Since then, three progressively-improved versions have been released to the market. The OSS wraps around the baby’s foot to track their heart rate and oxygen levels and sends the information to a mobile device or the Base Station via Bluetooth. If normal vitals are detected, the Base Station glows green, whereas color changes indicate lower than the preset levels for either heart rate or oxygen. It fits most newborns and infants until age 15-18 months and is made with hypoallergenic materials, durable, and safety-tested.
An additional gadget for monitoring is the Owlet Cam which provides the user with a 130-degree wide-angle view of the room and a two-way audio system to speak to the newborn/infant without going to their room.(2) Overall, these gadgets promote the parents’ calm while reinforcing safety for the child.
This device was first announced by the end of 2015. Since then, three progressively-improved versions have been released to the market. The OSS wraps around the baby’s foot to track their heart rate and oxygen levels and sends the information to a mobile device or the Base Station via Bluetooth. If normal vitals are detected, the Base Station glows green, whereas color changes indicate lower than the preset levels for either heart rate or oxygen. It fits most newborns and infants until age 15-18 months and is made with hypoallergenic materials, durable, and safety-tested.
An additional gadget for monitoring is the Owlet Cam which provides the user with a 130-degree wide-angle view of the room and a two-way audio system to speak to the newborn/infant without going to their room.(2) Overall, these gadgets promote the parents’ calm while reinforcing safety for the child.
Advantages and disadvantages
The utility of a home-based continuous monitoring device like the OSS remains a controversial topic in the clinical community.(2) One of the advantages is to alert parents when an infant is undergoing an emergency, allowing for early intervention if necessary. This device’s design facilitates the continuous recording of the baby’s vital signs, and the soft fabric is washable for sustained use. Furthermore, the OSS smartphone application decreases parental anxiety by remotely monitoring the infant’s vital signs and issuing smartphone alerts.(1) In cases of power out or Wi-Fi unavailability, the monitoring system continues for up to 18 hours, and it is stored locally until the connection or power returns. Some investigators suggest that a home-based cardio-respiratory monitoring device can help selected infants at high risk of intermittent hypoxemia.(4)
The utility of a home-based continuous monitoring device like the OSS remains a controversial topic in the clinical community.(2) One of the advantages is to alert parents when an infant is undergoing an emergency, allowing for early intervention if necessary. This device’s design facilitates the continuous recording of the baby’s vital signs, and the soft fabric is washable for sustained use. Furthermore, the OSS smartphone application decreases parental anxiety by remotely monitoring the infant’s vital signs and issuing smartphone alerts.(1) In cases of power out or Wi-Fi unavailability, the monitoring system continues for up to 18 hours, and it is stored locally until the connection or power returns. Some investigators suggest that a home-based cardio-respiratory monitoring device can help selected infants at high risk of intermittent hypoxemia.(4)
Others find it helpful in monitoring preterm infants at home.(4) The disadvantages of these monitoring devices include occasional unnecessary fear and self-doubt in parents, causing a shift in benefit versus harm.
Safety sock, sound sleep
The increasing need for ameliorating sudden death in newborns and infants has brought up tech companies to invest and create solutions to provide child safety and parental reassurance. The OSS monitors two critical, key health indicators when a baby is sleeping or resting: heart rate and oxygen levels. Owlet pursued a further goal and integrated the Owlet Cam for parents to have two-way communication high-definition video. Now parents can feel more comfortable and confident during their baby’s bedtime with notifications and tools to hear, see, and survey their newborn’s safety.
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