Physical Wellness

Wearable Smartphone Monitors For Babies May Do More Harm Than Good

By Anne Collins | Update Date: Jan 27, 2017 08:00 AM EST

Wearable baby monitors that are used to track an infant's vital signs have been widely available for the past two years. It is hooked up to parents' smartphones and gives real time updates of the baby's heart rate and breathing.  Recent study said that it may present more harm than good.

A team lead by Dr. Christopher P. Bonafide, of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) said that there is no sufficient evidence about the safety, accuracy and effectiveness of the monitors. The viewpoint review was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study showed that the devices may cause stress for parents. Most often it leads to unnecessary checkups and expensive tests that may potentially harm the baby. On the other hand, manufacturers of the baby monitors claim to give the parents peace of mind and some even agree.

The review focused on devices and smartphone-linked wearable, such as smart socks, onesies and diaper clips, that measures the baby's biometrics and sends pulse rate and oxygen measurements to parent's apps. The apps can alarm parents in case of tachycardia, sleep apnea, slow heart rate, oxygen desaturation and sudden infant death syndrome.

According to Medical News Today, Dr. Bonafide and his team at CHOP evaluated five baby monitor models, Baby Vida, MonBaby, Owlet, Snuza Pico, and Sprouting. They assessed the monitor's advertised role, medical indications and existing state regulations.

The review suggests that the baby monitors does not specify that their products treat or diagnose disease. It's only guarantee is to alert parents when there is activity with the child's cardiorespiratory health.

THV11 reported, Owlett said in a statement that they acknowledge a lack of evidence in certain products but are also actively addressing to resolve the issue. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also advised not to use cardiorespiratory monitors at home. The devices are not regulated by the FDA due to no specific medical claims.

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