Wearable Baby Monitors: Do they Prevent SIDS?

You just learned you are pregnant, or you are planning to become pregnant, and you start looking up ways to keep your baby safe while they sleep. You might ask family members and friends, you might search on social media or you might even talk to your baby’s future doctor. Depending on who you speak with, you may or may not get current and correct information.

A wearable baby monitor is a trend that is a hot topic in many mom groups. Wearable baby monitors claim to keep your baby safe while they sleep and prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But do these products prevent SIDS? The simple answer is “no.” But to understand why, you need to understand what SIDS is and isn’t. 

SIDS has been around since biblical times and still occurs today because we do not know the actual cause. SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that if no cause is found after a thorough investigation of the baby’s death, SIDS is determined to have been the reason. While SIDS is not preventable, the accidental suffocation, strangulation and entrapment, which make up more infant deaths than SIDS, are. 

While there is no sure-fire way to prevent a baby from dying unexpectedly, it is important not to use gadgets that aren’t proven to prevent deaths. Currently, not all wearable baby monitors have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration and there is no evidence that they prevent infant deaths.

In fact, studies show that wearable baby monitors can actually increase parent’s anxiety as they have false alarms that can lead to unnecessary worry. If you want to be certain that your baby is safe when they nap or sleep at night, you need to practice the ABCs of safe sleep every time you lay your baby down for a nap or at bedtime.

Since 1994, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been promoting safe sleep practices through the ABCs of safe sleep and because of this, sleep related deaths including SIDS have decreased.

The ABCs stand for:

• A –Alone - Place your baby on their own sleep surface with no other adults, children or pets. Having your baby in the same room has been found to be preventive.
• B –Back - Place your baby on their back for every sleep until they are able to roll over on their own.
• C – Crib - Your baby needs to be in a crib, bassinet or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a tightly fitted sheet.

Other steps to follow from the AAP to prevent sleep-related deaths are:

• Never let your baby sleep on a couch, armchair or a seating device, like a swing, bouncy seat or car safety seat (except while riding in the car).
• Keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers and other soft items out of your baby’s sleep area. Use a sleep sack instead of blankets to keep your baby warm.
• Breastfeed your baby, if possible.
• Offer your baby a pacifier when you lay them down to sleep. You do not need to put it back if it pops out after they have fallen asleep.
• Do not smoke or consume alcohol or other harmful substances during and after your pregnancy.
• Do not expose your baby to second-hand smoke.
• Do not over bundle your baby or place a hat on them when indoors. Babies need one more layer than adults.
• Make sure your baby receives their vaccines to prevent sickness.
• To prevent head deformities and developmental delays from always being on their back, babies should have supervised tummy time several times a day.

So, instead of buying an expensive gadget that claims they can prevent a baby’s death when there is no proof, save your money for a date night and instead follow the ABCs of safe sleep!