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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to tell NCT group movement monitors don't work?

73 replies

ThatsmycatKate · 30/12/2018 09:22

My NCT group have babies 2-4 months old at the moment so folks are starting to think about moving to their own rooms etc. One woman has mentioned she's gotten a movement monitor so it's "ok" to put baby in her own room now.

Now there's nothing wrong with putting baby in his/her own room whenever you're comfortable with the risks/benefits (we're currently weighing it up because the risk to my mental health because of not sleeping versus the tiny tiny risk of SIDS for DD is much greater so I'm really not judging!) but the movement monitors don't work! There is no evidence whatsoever to show that they are effective in reducing SIDS.

AIBU to say something to the group? One slightly panicky mum has already bought one and if it brings her peace of mind, great. I don't want to ruin that but equally I don't want everyone else to collectively spend £100s on something that isn't effective!

OP posts:
RicStar · 30/12/2018 09:26

I would only tell them in the sense that if it comes up now conversation you do not intend to buy one (& why). There are so many small parenting decisions you will make differently for different reasons.

chocolatecoveredraisons · 30/12/2018 09:29

Worked for me in the sense I did everything the guidelines suggested and it gave me peace of mind in the middle of the night when I saw the green light flashing. Scared the shit out of me when the alarm went off but it was worth it for my mental health and sleep

EvilEdna1 · 30/12/2018 09:32

No I wouldn't. I run antenatal classes and we cover the safer sleeping guidelines during the course so all the clients are well aware that the guidelines suggest the safest option is the baby in the same room as an adult for 6 months and that monitors make no difference. Most still choose to out their babies in their own rooms to sleep before six months. All I can do is make sure they know the guidelines, the rest is up to them. It is not like the risk goes up massively anyway....the vast majority of babies will be fine wherever they sleep.

Deadbudgie · 30/12/2018 09:33

Well it saved the life of my friends son. Alarm went off, he had stopped breathing they resuscitated him. He’s now a happy 7 year old. Mine went off a couple of times, but gave me peace of mind I wouldn’t go in and find a lifeless baby.

Original poster
ThatsmycatKate · 30/12/2018 09:34

Chocolate - that's what I'm thinking, if it makes her feel better, that's great. It's just that there isn't any evidence to show they actually do prevent negative outcomes, they just make people feel like they would. From the research I've read I think this is partly because SIDS is so rare the sample sizes (thankfully!) are too small to be meaningful statistically.

Sounds like I should let well enough alone and let folks do their own research and spend money on them if it makes them feel better!!

OP posts:
mylittlefidget · 30/12/2018 09:37

As far as I know, there is a lack of big studies so a lack of evidence that they're effective, rather than evidence that they aren't effective. In this kind of scenario, I'd be very careful with any advice at the moment. I've found them great with my 2nd and 3rd child, just for reassurance.

Original poster
ThatsmycatKate · 30/12/2018 09:37

EvilEdna1 that was the same advice my paediatrician gave - guidelines are there for a reason but it's so so so rare and many of the babies have other underlying conditions that make them more vulnerable.

Sadly our NCT teacher was absolute crap and I think actually encouraged people to buy the movement monitors as a safe option :/.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatsmycatKate · 30/12/2018 09:39

mylittlefidget absolutely - small samples sizes. I guess my concern came from someone making a decision on something they were not otherwise comfortable with (baby sleeping in a room without them) on the basis that the movement monitor companies tell you that their product will keep your baby safe when there is no evidence that the monitors actually do, barring the odd anecdotal incident.

OP posts:
Musseswoofles · 30/12/2018 09:41

but equally I don't want everyone else to collectively spend £100s on something that isn't effective!

Say something quick! If only the mums in your group were capable of doing their own research and making their own choices, they wouldn’t need to rely on you to tell them what not to do Hmm

Seriously though, I’m sure they won’t all suddenly rush out and buy them at one persons advice. Equally they won’t not buy them purely based on your opinion

JaffaBiscuitNotCake · 30/12/2018 09:42

The monitor has been amazing for me. I got a second hand snuza hero from ebay, it was the best £30 I've spent on DS. He's nearly 6 months, still in our room and still using the monitor. Without it, my anxiety would probably still be preventing me having a good night's sleep.

I think you should just let them make their own decision. My DP was the same, saying they don't make a difference etc. but even he admits now it was a good buy.

53rdWay · 30/12/2018 09:49

YANBU to tell them you won’t be getting one and why.

If they want to get one because they would feel happier with it then that’s their call, obviously. But if I’d been told a product prevented SIDS so I could ignore other safer sleep guidelines, and so I was going to buy one on that basis, I’d appreciate a gentle heads-up that I’ve been told wrong.

PivotPivotPIVOTTT · 30/12/2018 09:50

I had terrible anxiety during my pregnancy and after nearly losing my daughter at birth I ordered a Snuza hero for going home. The
10 days in hospital and first night before it arrived I barely slept. It definitely helped me if only to save my sanity.

I had one false alarm which spooked me as my baby was still lying in the same position I'd left her in but I had just put a different size of nappy on her so I think it was down to that.

I used it until she was about 10 months and it started falling off due to her being more active. I actually sent mine to a Mumsnetter hope it gave her the same peace of mind.

PivotPivotPIVOTTT · 30/12/2018 09:51

Although I also followed SIDS guidelines having a monitor doesn't replace that! My daughter is 19 months now and I still worry she has an empty caught and a sleeping bag.

PivotPivotPIVOTTT · 30/12/2018 09:51

CotBlush

GenerationSnowflake · 30/12/2018 09:57

as a complete non-professional I wouldn't say anything else than stating your own choice! If they want to be awaken repeatedly by false-alarms, it's up to them. SIDS is still very much unknown, so I wouldn't go there.

All the advice are to take with a massive pinch of salt. The UK advise to keep babies for 6 months in your room, in other countries it's up to 3 months - and there's no evidence of any negative effects there at all.

The treatment of pregnant and new mums in this country is abysmal, maternity wards are horrendous, and our rates of PND rocketing compared to other countries, so I rejected most of the local advice with my own kids.

Nothisispatrick · 30/12/2018 09:58

As far as I know, there is a lack of big studies so a lack of evidence that they're effective, rather than evidence that they aren't effective

This. How do you know they don’t work since the experts haven’t even said they don’t work. And thankfully SIDS is rare so the real benefit comes with easing parents anxiety so they can sleep.

I did a lot of research in to SIDS as I was so so anxious and found lullaby trust and NCT advice lacking in actual detail, just don’t do this this and this. But I needed actual facts and figures! I read an article that said in one recent year over 80% of cases were linked to the mother smoking.

I would assume people have done their own research and can make their own decisions. A couple in my NCT group had their baby in a seperate room from birth with a breathing monitor, not something I could’ve done but it’s working for them.

bridezilla1 · 30/12/2018 10:02

we're currently weighing it up because the risk to my mental health because of not sleeping versus the tiny tiny risk of SIDS for DD is much greater so I'm really not judging!

Sorry not really on topic - but going into their own room won't guarantee you better sleep. Particularly when they are teething/poorly or just having a bad night as then you are between 2 rooms. Hopefully it would be the case for you but try not to pin your hopes on it as for me it equalled less sleep after the sleep regression and various bad night's sleep!

strawberrisc · 30/12/2018 10:03

I loved mine and it worked.

StrongerThanIThought76 · 30/12/2018 10:04

Have things moved on so fast in the last 15 years of parenting? My son went in his own room (across the landing and in his Moses basket) at 6 weeks old. My dd went in at 4 months and I was more precious because she'd had a meningitis scare at 2 weeks. Is there much evidence to show a huge reduction in SIDS if babies stay in with adult(s) up to 6m?

I had severe PND with my son, lack of sleep was a HUGE factor. I'd be interested to see the research and if there is any correlation to PND/anxiety

BertieBotts · 30/12/2018 10:05

When we were in hospital and DS2 was on breathing monitors they had false alarms go off all the time, I can't see that the home ones are any more accurate than hospital monitors. It increased my anxiety and I decided once the doctors/nurses were happy with him being off one I would have to be too.

The Lullaby Trust are simply clear that having a monitor doesn't negate or decrease the increase in risk from stopping room sharing.

Myglassesareknackered · 30/12/2018 10:05

If they’re not doing any harm and bring peace of mind to parents, what’s the problem? Everyone can make their own mind up. In our group, some had them, some didn’t. Just as we all had different prams, feeding choices, etc. What’s the right decision for you, isn’t the same for everyone.
We had one - it went off once and our son was not breathing. Fortunately we had been to a baby first aid class and we’re able to get him to breathe. So, to my mind, they can work.
You’re better off talking about the dangers of cot bumpers.

GenerationSnowflake · 30/12/2018 10:06

with 2 of mine we all slept a lot better in our own rooms - as in sleeping through the night slept better, amazing.

The last one really only slept when co-sleeping Hmm might be why she's the last one

You can only do what you feel more comfortable with, give your example, but you cannot tell other people what to do.

53rdWay · 30/12/2018 10:06

How do you know they don’t work since the experts haven’t even said they don’t work.

time.com/3593482/sids-baby-monitors/

If you’re following safer sleep guidelines anyway and the monitors give you extra peace of mind, then that’s useful, but if you’re moving a 2-month-old to a separate room because you’ve heard a monitor removes the risk then that’s not.

ChocoCraft · 30/12/2018 10:10

I would say YABU. Not for having your views but for telling others that they don’t work.

I’m one person who can categorically say they do work. My DD’s went off when she was almost 9 months old. I thought it was a false alarm as we’d had a couple already. She was flat on her back with nothing else in the cot so nothing obvious that would have caused her to stop breathing. Yet there she was not breathing!!! Managed to get her breathing again and she’s completely fine now but I would’ve woken to a dead child without one of those monitors. The doctors said we were extremely ‘lucky’.

EvilEdna1 · 30/12/2018 10:14

The best source for safer sleeping info with stats and excellent analysis of research is : www.basisonline.org.uk.

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