Baby monitors have come a long way since parents today were babies.
Just one generation ago, baby monitors looked and worked like walkie-talkies and provided little insight into what was happening with babies in another room.
Today, we have smart baby monitors that can do things our own parents probably never dreamed a baby monitor could.
Technology has not just moved forward, it has surged ahead forcefully, and with it, we have ways to monitor a baby’s breathing motion, baby sleep patterns, and more.
This article will look at two of the bestselling and highest-reviewed smart baby monitors.
We will compare Nanit vs Owlet baby monitors, and give you enough information to help you determine which smart baby monitor may be suitable for your family and peace of mind.
Do we need smart baby monitors?
A smart baby monitor, for some, may seem like a waste of time and money.
Sticking your head into a room and ensuring that baby’s sleep hasn’t been disturbed is enough for some parents. And for those parents, that’s okay.
However, for other parents, it’s simply not enough.
So why do some parents need to monitor their baby’s sleep trends and breathing?
Baby sleep hasn’t changed—technology has.
Some may argue that it’s simple paranoia and an obsession with technology. But for some parents, it’s an absolute need so that they themselves can rest.
You may consider the following reasons for getting a Nanit or Owlet smart sock.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
In just the past decade, huge leaps and bounds have been made in medical science. Scientists now think they are getting very close to identifying and figuring out how to screen babies for SIDS risk.
While that is wonderful news, we’re still not there yet, and the thought of putting the baby to bed and something happening is too much for some parents to bear.
Every year in the US, 3400 babies die from SIDS. It just happens. It’s senseless, it’s terrible, and it’s heartbreaking.
Being able to monitor baby’s sleep and make sure that baby is breathing through the use of a device can help parents feel more at ease especially when baby has transitioned to sleeping in their own crib.
Previous Loss
Breathing wear or a baby breathing monitor can help parents who have experienced child loss heave a sigh of relief at night when the baby is sleeping.
A parent who has lost a child and then had another child is often a parent who worries—a lot. Nothing can happen to this baby, yet the baby’s crib is the one place where the baby seems most vulnerable.
Coping with a loss is incredibly difficult on its own. Having a smart sock or baby video monitor so that parents who have experienced child loss can keep watch over their babies can help them emotionally, psychologically, and even physically.
Health Issues
Premature and NICU babies are often more at risk for breathing problems, apnea, and other issues.
Illness or injury in infancy often requires a more watchful environment regarding the baby’s well-being and sleep tracking.
If your baby is a preemie or has any health issues, having something at your disposal like a video baby monitor – whether an Owlet smart sock or Nanit breathing wear – is an excellent way for you to be aware of what is going on with your baby in terms of sleep tracking and sleep health.
Sleep training
If you have a newborn baby who seems to wake up at odd hours throughout the night, screaming down the house, you may wonder if your child has colic, is ill with something else, or is just not getting good quality sleep.
With a smart sock or breathing wear device, you can actually get data about sleep patterns, sleep cycles, and more.
With this information, you can better communicate exact details of your child’s issues to your doctor so you can get to the bottom of the problem together without guesswork.
It’s also a tremendous aid when trying to sleep train. If you can understand your child’s patterns when they sleep, you can better and more effectively accommodate your child’s needs for quality sleep.
Nanit vs Owlet
If you think that having a smart baby monitor for some time in the baby’s room will be best for your baby and your family, the next step is determining which device to get.
In the Nanit vs Owlet decision, there is no “bad” choice. You need to be informed of what each device is capable of and which one best fits your needs.
The following will showcase each monitor (Nanit vs Owlet) to give you a better idea of what you get when choosing either.
Owlet baby monitor
Owlet was started by a father who worried his children would inherit a heart condition that ran in the family. Paranoid and constantly on edge when his children were asleep, he felt that a better system could be established to monitor babies without them having to be admitted to a hospital.
The Owlet Duo set comes in two parts. You get the camera monitor and the smart sock on the baby’s foot.
It works by monitoring your baby’s heart rate and respiratory rate, which it then sends in real-time to your smart device, like your phone or tablet.
You simply download the Owlet app and get it set up.
Owlet Camera
The Owlet cam streams in HD and is secure. It also comes equipped with two-way audio so that you can hear baby, and baby can hear you.
It is also equipped with sound and motion notifications to alert you if the baby is crying or moving around.
You will no longer have to strain your ears from another room.
This means that you will no longer have to go into your app on your phone and check the baby because you’re sure you thought you heard them crying. Your phone will notify you when the baby cries.
That crib party baby throws at 2 am? Don’t worry. You’ll get an invite from the Owlet.
It’s even got a wide angle lens and night vision so that you won’t miss any details of your little late-night party animal.
Temperature sensor
Another feature of the Owlet camera is that it keeps you updated on the temperature of your child’s room. You can be sure that baby isn’t too cold or too warm throughout the night or during naps, when a room may heat up significantly due to sunshine.
Installation
With the Owlet, you can either mount the camera on the wall with the included wall mount or leave the monitor free-standing. Everything that you need for either choice is included with the kit.
Owlet Smart Sock
Appropriate for babies newborn to eighteen months, this soft fabric sock fits over your child’s foot. It has a sensor that measures and tracks heart rate, tracks your baby’s oxygen levels and also your baby’s sleep patterns.
Using pulse oximetry technology, information is transferred to the base and the app, letting you know when and if the baby’s oxygen saturation or oxygen levels have dropped and your baby is in any distress.
The base has to be charged, but the data is sent to your phone using Bluetooth.
Sleep quality
The Owlet app can work by tracking sleep. It can tell you how many times the baby woke in the night, how many hours the baby slept, and what level of quality they slept.
Nanit baby monitor
The Nanit system is also composed of two parts: camera and breathing wear. It also comes with a floor stand and multiple ways to use and set it up.
Founded by another father who was not impressed with the quality of traditional baby monitors, the Nanit camera and Nanit breathing wear put the baby’s safety first.
Nanit Camera
The camera is portable; it can be mounted or placed on the floor using the included floor stand. It also features two-way audio and HD streaming to your smart device.
Like the Owlet, it also has a room temperature sensor and tracks sleep quality. It also has high-quality night vision.
Unlike the Owlet, the Nanit has a white noise option and a night light.
Breathing Wear
The baby’s breathing patterns are closely monitored by the swaddle-like monitor you put on the baby. This is typically best for older babies.
This high-tech baby monitor can track sleeping patterns, as well as, when your baby moves and notifies you of any changes to the baby’s breathing motion.
Nanit Insights
A feature of the Nanit app, you can use baby’s sleep stats with this complete monitoring system to get personalized sleep tips using data from baby’s vitals, baby’s heart rate, and more as it works to track baby’s sleep.
This is very useful because it stores the baby’s vital health signs and gives insight into how to understand their sleep patterns.
The sleep sack like Nanit monitor gives you a look into a baby’s life that may help you further their development and health.
Nanit vs Owlet Apps
The Owlet Monitor Duo, which uses the Owlet cam and the Owlet app, along with a smart sock sensor, gives parents peace of mind because it tracks the baby’s heartbeat and oxygen levels.
The Owlet cam comes with a wall mount or can be free-standing, giving a great range of freedom to set it up.
The Nanit system runs off the Nanit app and does its baby monitoring using the swaddle-like garment worn by the baby and the camera. It also has several installation options.
It tracks many of the same things the Owlet does and offers insight into your child’s sleep. It also has soft light features, white noise, and nature sounds.
Nanit vs Owlet: The Verdict
As far as video baby monitors go, both the Nanit and the Owlet smart baby monitor, are some of the best smart baby monitors on the market.
It really just depends on what you are looking for.
The Nanit is excellent for older babies, so if your child has long-term health issues, you may opt for the Nanit.
The chief complaint of the Owlet is that baby outgrows Owlet socks, making monitoring older babies difficult.
They are both, however, excellent options. You must decide based on your personal needs and what’s best for you and your baby when considering both the Owlet vs Nanit.
