More parents are becoming aware of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), the sudden and unexplained death of babies.
That’s why it is important to have the best baby monitor with them such as Owlet and Snuza. Baby monitors usually track your baby’s temperature, sleep quality, heart rate, and breathing.
Before a baby becomes a year old, there is always a risk of your baby dying suddenly.
SIDS, as the name implies, is sudden. No one knows exactly why the baby dies. However, we can reduce the chances by using fewer pillows and blankets, as well as having the baby sleep on their back.
It is wise to purchase a baby monitor, like Owlet vs Snuza, to help you watch over your child no matter where you are in your house to put your mind at ease. In this article, you will find FAQs and our comprehensive review of the pros and cons of Owlet vs Snuza. You will also be enlightened about whether baby monitors prevent SIDs. We also included a list of the best-selling wearable baby monitors from Amazon with their product description to show you more options.
(2020 Model) Sense-U Baby Monitor
- Sense-U Baby monitor will give you peace of mind and a good night’s sleep as it allows you to monitor your baby’s breathing, movement, and baby’s body temperature on your mobile device.
- It has highly advanced features that enable the sending of phone notifications in case your baby gets results beyond the normal parameters.
Snuza Hero (SE) Baby Movement Monitor
- The Baby movement monitor is easy to use as you only need to clip it onto the diaper, it is wireless and requires no cords or sensor pad.
- It will gently vibrate automatically after 15 seconds if no abdominal movement is detected and it alarms 5 seconds after if no changes happen.
Owlet Baby Monitor with Camera and Audio
- Owlet has a video baby monitor on your mobile device and it also allows HD Streaming with night vision.
- You can also listen, talk, and sing to your baby even when you are not in the room because Owlet, the best audio baby monitor, allows two-way talk and background audio utilization.
Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor
- The Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby video monitor is one of the best and most convenient video baby monitors to use and it provides in-depth information regarding heart rate and oxygen levels while baby sleeps.
- Owlet has a smart sock that connects to the base station that lights green when your baby is okay and it notifies you with lights and sounds if your baby needs tending.
One way that parents are fighting back against SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is through smart baby monitors. Baby monitors can monitor a baby’s oxygen saturation, heart rate, and sleep patterns using clinically proven pulse oximetry.
Owlet vs Snuza are the two main contenders in preventing these risk factors from harming the baby. The Owlet Smart Sock 2 and Snuza Hero are the two main contenders in each of these categories, and both of which monitor a baby’s vitals in different ways.
Neither of these smart baby monitors Owlet and Snuza is approved by the FDA. Because Owlet and Snuza are not approved by the FDA, they can’t claim that they prevent these risk factors, but both can help your child.
Major Difference
- The Owlet has Bluetooth capabilities, meaning that if something happens to your WiFi, then you can stay connected.
- The Snuza alarm will sound to give you alerts whenever your baby hasn’t been moving.
- The Owlet has an oxygen and a heart rate monitor as well via a sock you slip on the baby. The Snuza monitor, you clip onto the diaper of the baby.
Snuza’s monitor goes on the diaper, and another part goes on the belly. Snuza monitors baby’s breathing movements of their belly. Babies tend to be belly breathers, so this Snuza monitor helps monitor the baby’s breathing and gives you an alert should the breathing change.
If there is no movement for 15 seconds, the Snuza device does vibrate, hoping to get your baby to move. If not, an alarm will go off a few seconds beforehand.
This Snuza device is good for crib or floor sleeping. If your baby is in a moving device, such as a rocker or a car, the readings may not give as accurate information as you expect.
Snuza is not a smart device; you won’t get phone recommendations, but instead a loud alarm. Some parents may be turned off by this, but Snuza is still a useful device. Snuza monitor is around the $100 range, so it’s affordable too.
Now, let’s look at the Owlet baby monitor. Owlet is one of the best smart wearable baby monitors that go over your baby’s foot like a sock. Owlet manages to monitor your baby’s oxygen saturation and heart rate in a way that doesn’t disturb the baby. If a baby’s heart rate or oxygen levels go down, you will get an alert through the sock’s app. This Owlet device communicates with its base via Bluetooth, eliminating the need for WiFi in that regard.
The dream sock is the first of its kind which is FDA-cleared. Although it can be a pricey monitor, its features do make up for it. Wearable monitors are devices that are worn by babies. The monitor tracks measures heart rate, breathing, sleeping positions, and blood oxygen levels.
This can make a huge difference for parents, as it does help you understand your baby better. These devices shouldn’t be used when you’re bed sharing, though, as it is based on movement.
You also get alerts if the sock comes off or if it’s not placed correctly, as well as low battery and other problems. It has 4 alarms.
The app has a free and premium version, the latter you pay for. With the paid-for version, you can look at sleeping position patterns and other stats. Unfortunately, the premium app is currently only available for iOS, not Android, but the basic is available for both an more than one person can monitor.
With that said, there are a few problems. Many users have reported the app doesn’t sync to the device all the time, giving you a little less peace of mind. Many have also complained about the customer service. Your experience could vary, but keep that in mind, especially with a pricey device. It’s around $300, which is out of the budget range of many parents.
If you’re having issues with troubleshooting or giving you a red light alert that you are unsure of, contact their customer service. The baby monitor has an audible alarm and a two way audio for the parent unit can communicate if they would ever need to do so. Parents love being sure of their baby’s safety, so this is a great feature.
Overall, the Owlet baby monitor has a cool smart device with a lot of potential, but just be aware of its drawbacks. It can be quite useful, however, and it’s worth looking into.
Which To Choose?
When choosing a baby monitor, you might want to look at the risk factors assessed in both products and which features are better for your baby.
Now, we look at which one is better between the two baby monitors. Making the comparison of Snuza vs. Owlet is a little bit of a challenge. The devices are common in that they help monitor your baby to help reduce the chances of SIDS, but they do so differently. The former does it by monitoring the baby’s breathing, and the latter monitors heart and oxygen levels.
Can It Prevent SIDS?
Owlet finally introduced its new Smart Sock 2 and Connected Care App. The New Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor and Connected Care app are useful for monitoring your baby’s stats. Combined with other useful tips, such as always letting your baby sleep on their back, it can help reduce the chances of SIDS. However, the Smart Sock baby monitor cannot prevent SIDS in its entirety. There are many reasons that your baby’s risk of SIDS can increase or decrease. But because no one knows the exact cause, the Smart Sock baby monitor cannot prevent SIDS in its entirety. There is a difference between preventing something and reducing the chances of it happening.
Does This Model Emit Radiation?
The Smart Sock 2 baby monitor does emit a low amount of EMF radiation, the amount being much less than your average cell phone. For some, the amount of radiation may be a concern, particularly close to one’s skin. Still, there isn’t any proof that the Smart Sock baby monitor is dangerous to your baby. Use it at your own risk, though.
Hero Versus Go
There aren’t too many differences between Hero and Go. The main difference is that the Hero has a vibration feature used to rouse your baby should it not be moving. The Go is a baby monitor without that.
Owlet vs Snuza And Other Baby Monitors:
What Is The Best Baby Breathing Monitor?
The Owlet Baby Monitor is one of the best baby monitors around, but there are other options as well. The Snuza Hero is great, and so is the Miku Smart Baby Monitor. Any baby monitor that can monitor your baby’s heart rate and oxygen saturation levels is good in our book. Check them all out so that you’ll know which ones are the best for your situation.
Is Owlet Better?
While the Owlet Smart Sock 2 baby monitor does have its uses, there has been criticism from pediatricians. For one thing, the Owlet Smart Sock can give off false alarms, making the parents send their baby to the doctor for no reason. Also, the Owlet Smart Sock 2 baby monitor may make parents believe that they no longer have to worry about SIDS.
A baby monitor that monitors the baby’s heart rate and oxygen saturation levels can still be useful. But it’s one tool out of many, and you shouldn’t rely on it solely. If you keep getting false alarms, it may not be for you.
Is Owlet FDA-approved?
The Owlet Smart Sock is not FDA-approved yet. This may turn off some parents. Still, perhaps one day, the Smart Sock and other types of baby movement and sound monitors can have FDA approval. The FDA takes time to approve these devices, and with technology going so fast, they can’t keep up.
Is Owlet Safe?
The Smart Sock is a wearable monitor that is generally safe for any baby, as long as you follow the directions and make sure the baby wears them correctly. Some parents may be concerned with the low radiation levels, but that shouldn’t be your main concern. With that said, if you see the smart sock overheating, make sure to take it off and don’t put it on again.
Is Snuza Safe?
The Snuza Hero is another type of baby monitor that monitors a baby’s heart rate and other vitals. It is just like the Owlet Smart Sock, in that it’s generally safe to use, but has not been approved by the FDA. It isn’t magically going to prevent SIDS. But by monitoring your baby, you may be able to reduce your chances. The Snuza Hero detects when your baby makes a movement that indicates they are breathing.
How Long Does This Brand Last?
It will typically last you five months. It is around the time when you’ll no longer need it, anyway. As you’ll see in the next question, the risk of SIDS starts lowering about then. Always make sure the battery life is at full power before use, and get it replaced if you’re going to use it for another baby.
Should I Buy Any Of These?
Not every baby will need a baby breathing monitor. But if there is an abnormality in your baby’s breathing or an odd oxygen level, it may be worth it to purchase a breathing movement monitor for your baby. It’s not necessarily worth it for every baby.
Which One Is More Accurate?
The Owlet Smart Sock can give you some accurate readings, but the technology is not perfected. There have been cases where parents get false alarms, causing panic and worry. A false alarm can make you distrust the sock, but this is something that you may have differing results about. If the Owlet Smart Sock isn’t monitoring your baby correctly, then perhaps you should try something else.
S Baby Monitor
First is the Snuza Hero (SE) baby monitor. This is a baby monitor that clips onto your baby’s diaper. It monitors your baby’s movements, and lets out a vibration should your baby’s movement not be normal. Baby movement is an important factor in deciding whether or not something is wrong with the baby and this could prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS.) This baby’s movement and sound monitor is worth checking out.
With that said the Hero (SE) baby monitor is not like a sock. Still, some parents may like the fact that the Hero (SE) baby monitor clips on and isn’t something your baby will slip out of. Give the Hero (SE) baby monitor a go and see if it works for you. The Hero SE baby monitor isn’t smart, so you can’t link it to your phone, but it does the job well.
Does Owlet Notify Your Phone?
Being a smart sock, you do get notifications on your phone from the Owlet sock. This is something you should expect. With that said, it’s wise for you to make sure that your notifications are turned on. This way, you don’t miss anything whatsoever. When the heart rate and oxygen levels are beyond the preset zones, the device sends an alert to your mobile app.
How Far Can It Reach?
One question many parents have is how far the Owlet Baby Monitor can be away from its base station. Having an accurate connection is important, and the Owlet Baby Monitor may not work too well if it’s too far from the base station. This is one of those questions where there is no straight answer. With any baby monitor, Owlet can have a varying distance. This may depend on walls, building materials, and other factors that make up your home. Generally, the rule of thumb is about 10 feet from the base station. If it’s too far, it may cause Owlet Server issues, connectivity problems, and more. So make sure your device is within range of the base station.
In addition to that, you can try using the Owlet base station in your home’s few different locations. This is to find out the effective range of your base station.
How Does It Determine Sleep Quality?
The Owlet determines your baby’s sleep quality through pulse oximetry. This is when your baby’s sleep quality is monitored through their oxygen levels, which can also give you other stats. This way, you can learn how your baby is sleeping and what you can do to improve their sleep levels.
At What Age Do You Stop Using A Baby Monitor?
There is no magic age to stop using a baby monitor. It all depends on your baby. If your baby is sleeping soundly and isn’t giving you any problems, then you may retire it sooner rather than later. Some parents keep a baby monitor handy for toddlers as old as three. One rule of thumb is if they are past the SIDS age and aren’t having any problems, you may be able to retire that monitor for a while.
Does It Give False Alarms?
One of the biggest criticisms of the Owlet, and most monitors, is that it gives off false alarms. Some may argue that false alarms are better than no alarms at all, but many parents get rouse warning and come into the baby’s room, their heart racing, only to find out that their baby is fine. This criticism is valid, and we hope that in the future, the baby monitors can be accurate. It is a relatively new piece of technology, and there are going to be some kinks to work out.
Does Insurance Cover These?
Sadly, insurance does not cover Owlet. Many insurance companies struggle to catch up with modern technology, especially when it’s something that is not FDA-approved. The Owlet is not too expensive. If you’re struggling with finances, taking care of your baby through SIDS prevention tips may help you be able to reduce your baby’s risk while they are sleeping. A baby monitor that monitors movement, monitors your baby’s heart and gives you all the stats is useful. However, it won’t make or break your baby.
Normal Oxygen Levels For A Child While Sleeping
It all depends. Generally, around the 90 percent range is fine. This is one of those questions you may want to consult your doctor about because it depends from baby to baby.
Before we end this FAQ, let’s look at Snuza vs. Owlet. Many parents know that there are a variety of baby monitors to pick from, and two of the biggest names are Snuza vs. Owlet. Both brands have many similarities in their monitors, but also many differences. When it comes to Snuza vs. Owlet baby monitors, let’s look at the battery-operated Snuza Hero (SE) baby monitor and see how it compares.
(The Louder, The Better)
When it comes to the Snuza vs. Owlet debate, the Owlet smart sock is the best baby monitor for notifying you when the heart rate and oxygen levels drop. It emits a loud alarm when there are oxygen level drops, and it monitors both oxygen and heart rates.
While both of them monitor both oxygen and heart rates in real-time, when choosing whether you want the Snuza vs. Owlet, you may wonder which is good for you.
The Snuza baby monitor is great because this one, has sensor pads you can put underneath the mattress to help monitor the baby’s movements. If there is abdominal movement, it will record that, and by monitoring the baby’s abdominal movement, you can look at any changes in heart rate and oxygen level in real-time.
Both of these do assure that the baby is safe by monitoring the baby’s vital organs, but how it’s done may determine whether you want the Snuza vs. Owlet.
Is Snuza Better For Travel?
You may wonder if this works with a baby carrier or travel systems. Travel systems are great for parents because you can take your baby around, but you may wonder what the best baby monitor for travel systems is.
In the Owlet vs. Snuza debate, the Snuza baby monitor beats out Owlet in this case. That’s because it is portable and cordless. With this, you can simply put it on your child while they’re in the car or in your travel systems, and you will know if your baby is safe at all times.
Travel systems are a godsend to many parents because, with travel systems, they’ll be able to keep their children in one place. But with travel systems, you still don’t know for sure whether baby is safe, and getting a Snuza baby monitor is a great option if you plan to use travel systems.
In the Owlet vs. Snuza debate, when travel systems are concerned, you may want to consider getting a Snuza baby monitor. It is portable and has a better range, so if you’re going to use travel systems, it works.
Differences
- Owlet uses Bluetooth to send your baby’s stats between the sock and the base, with notifications going to your phone.
- The Snuza Hero (SE) baby monitor uses a movement alarm. If the baby has not been moving after a bit of time, then this means that something may be up.
- The Owlet monitors the baby’s oxygen and heart rate, two vital stats that can tell quite a bit about your baby’s health.
These are the main differences between Owlet vs. Snuza. Let’s look at the Snuza Hero (SE) baby monitor a bit more now.
Hero
This baby monitor clips onto your baby’s diaper and monitors the abdominal movement. This has a bit of an advantage over the Owlet because it’s much more mobile. Think about it.
You can easily equip this on your baby when they’re in their car seat, for instance. Convertible car seats are not something you expect to worry about SIDS but think about it. Sometimes, you go on a long ride, and your baby can fall asleep in their car seat. Anything can happen. Yes, car seats won’t make the baby sleep on their tummy, but car seats don’t fully prevent SIDS. Babies can stop moving while in their car seats. A car seat is one of the many places you may have to worry about your baby.
However, this is not recommended! This is because the movement of the car can give you false readings. However, if you’re traveling, the Snuza Hero (SE) baby monitor is still useful. You can check out guides on how to use the device while the baby is seated in the convertible car seats or travel systems.
The Owlet’s sock and base are great for home, but the sock and base are much less portable, making the Hero (SE) baby monitor a winner in this regard.
Now, let’s look at the alerts the Hero (SE) baby monitor gives off. Any smart baby monitor can alert you if there’s a difference in movement, and the Owlet uses the heart rate to do so. The Hero (SE) baby monitor uses the baby’s physical movement. If there’s no movement for 15 seconds, the Hero (SE) baby monitor uses vibration to alert your baby. If that doesn’t work, there will be an alarm that sounds. This will alert the parents, and this alarm will go off as well should the Hero (SE) baby monitor fall off if the baby falls asleep.
The Hero (SE) baby movement and sound monitor itself doesn’t use Wifi or Bluetooth, and instead makes sound from the device itself. It’s quite loud, so you don’t have to worry too much about not hearing it. Some people like the WiFi power of the Owlet, yet some parents may like the lack of radiation with the Snuza. When it comes to baby monitoring devices, the Snuza is great in that regard. Same when it comes to movement, and the Owlet can’t compete in that regard.
Overall, it’s a great movement and sound monitor mobile device. While not the best for car seats or travel systems, it still is useful.
So, how does the Hero (SE) baby monitor compare with the Owlet? We know this is a bit of a cop-out, but we think it all depends on what you’re going to use it for. The Snuza Hero (SE) baby monitor is great if you just want to detect a baby’s movement. And for the Owlet, it’s for you if you want to be more advanced and have a device that alerts your phone. The Owlet works great for its connected care app, while monitors work well for when your baby is close by.
However, both the Owlet Sock 2 and Snuza are great. If you are having difficulty in choosing with the two brands (Owlet vs. Snuza), we advise that you go with the former.
Conclusion
Between Snuza and Owlet, the better choice for parents who are travelers and may not be there for their baby is Owlet. It allows them to contact a caretaker and get the help they need. The Owlet also comes with a free app, though it’s an smartphone app that has problems, and you have to pay to get the best version, and the best version isn’t even Android friendly.
Which one is budget-friendly between Snuza and Owlet? Snuza is better for those on a budget who want a little bit of peace of mind. It’s around $200 less. But if you want a little more details and the ability to get phone alerts, the Owlet may be your best bet. If you have the budget, the Owlet may be the better choice, but if you don’t, the Snuza works just fine too.
Especially since smart baby monitoring technology like the Owlet device is something that still needs improvement. Some people have reported that the monitoring can be inaccurate, but if you follow the instructions, you may be fine.
FAQs:
Which Is More Advanced?
Owlet is more technologically advanced. It comes with Bluetooth technology.
Which Is More Affordable?
Snuza is more affordable. It costs approximately $100, while its competitor costs up to $400.
What Makes Snuza Stand Out?
Snuza can signal parents for any movement of the child.
Best Snuza Monitor?
The Snuza Hero (SE) is one of the only medically certified portable baby breathing monitors available for purchase in the market. It monitors movement that indicates when your baby breathes as you attach it to a baby diaper edge.
What Makes Owlet Stand Out?
This brand makes it convenient for you as it connects directly to your smartphone, so you can see your baby from anywhere. Baby cameras are better than wearable devices like the sock, though, because nothing beats video monitoring for a higher assurance of their safety. Cameras are great for co-sleeping.
Best Owlet Monitor?
The Smart Green Sock Baby Monitor is the best product.
Is Owlet Pediatrician Recommended?
To be honest, the AAP recommends against using high-tech baby monitors in healthy infants. These products are generally used to let parents or caregivers know if their baby stops breathing. Although there has been little medical evidence that these products work. It can lead to false alarms and unnecessary worry.
Does Owlet Emit EMF Radiation?
Yes. But the truth is, any wearable baby monitor will emit radiofrequency radiation. But the brand has confirmed that the radiation levels emitted by the smart sock meets regulatory standards that define the limits on radio frequency energy for babies.
How Long Does Owlet Recharge?
Owlet needs recharging for up to 30 minutes. It is not too energy-consuming, given that it lasts for up to 18 hours.
What Do The Lights Mean?
- Blue Light– It is not connected to the base.
- Green Light – The readings are excellent.
- Red Light – The readings are bad.
- Yellow Light – It cannot read the baby’s vitals well.
How Far Is Owlet’s Reach?
It can read up to 100 feet.
Where Is The Monitor Attached?
You can put the baby monitor on like a sock or in their diaper.
Which One Is Better?
Snuza is better for your kid because it does not have a lot of technological advancements that can expose babies to too much radiation.
Last Updated on January 31, 2023 by Lisette Lao
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