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

[ThatsmycatKate]

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!

Yes, YABU.
Of course you shouldn't ignore all guidelines thinking you can just use a movement monitor instead, but I have found ours exceptionally useful for helping with anxiety.
My son is 2.5 and we still use his. He was in our room until he was 1, never slept in a room alone before 6 months, never had anything in his cot etc etc. But I don't think I would have got any sleep at all without it as I'd need to constantly check he was ok, even when right beside me.
Yes, we've had a few false alarms in this time, usually if he's wriggled down to one end of his cot or if the monitor sensitivity needs adjusting, but that's not a huge issue.
I don't see how you can just say they don't work. They work exactly as advertised - alerting you to a lack of movement. Maybe just point out that other guidelines should still be followed, but I think most people can probably work that out themselves, and companies selling these monitors would never claim otherwise.

I think the other factor with how long room-sharing should continue, is that we know that the risk of SIDS decreases significantly after 6 months of age. It makes sense then to try and keep babies where we know they are safest until the greatest risk has passed.

Just to be clear, my concern was people making decisions they would not otherwise be comfortable with because they thought the monitors reduced risk. Obviously there is anecdotal evidence from people who found that they did help but there is no high quality research showing that they improve negative outcomes in a statistically significant way that I am aware of.

US room sharing guidelines are also for a year, changed a couple years ago but apparently it’s due to concern about parents dropping babies or falling asleep with them on a sofa/armchair in baby’s room or bringing them into your own bed and co sleeping in safely rather than SIDS.

I would get one, op, they have saved several babies lives, just on this thread. Why wouldn't you if you could? I say that as a very relaxed mum of 3 DC.

I have 3 DC and have used a movement monitor for all 3 - currently using one at present. I also follow the safer sleep guidelines. My first 2 children were in our room until nearly 7 months and our youngest who is 10 weeks is obviously still in with us.

I wholeheartedly agree that they are not a substitute for following the guidelines, but what is wrong with using something in addition? I don't understand what you think is so wrong about that. It's only going to add value and not detract from anything. Goes without saying that using the monitor and not following the guidelines isn't advisable.

They have given me peace of mind over the years. Both DH and I are deep sleepers so don't naturally wake to check, so it gives us peace of mind that had they stopped breathing it would have woken us. I can recall one occasion when it went off with our eldest and she wasn't breathing, as soon as we touched her she started breathing again. I suspect she just forgot to breath and possibly would have been fine had we not touched her, but we'll never know.

I make all of my decisions based on significant research. Sometimes there is not much evidence to show what the "right" decision is and so you must come to your own decision based on your own feelings and preferences, as in the way people tended to more so before the internet was around. IMO anecdotal evidence is in the absence of studies, an excellent way to reach the best decision possible. I'm not sure why you're so against that. Each to their own, but it doesn't make you right and everyone else wrong.

Thanks for the link @EvilEdna, I found that really helpful

I don't know whether those monitors work or not, based on some parents stories they sound like they can be life saving.

However, my ds has sleep apnea. He has a hospital grade sats monitor on at night and that is not 100% reliable. So of a £2k piece of professional kit doesn't work all the time I can't imagine the cheap consumer ones are that good.

I had a friend who cited lack of evidence about these monitors when she first had a baby. She knew better as she was a health professional etc. etc. A few weeks later her anxiety hit the roof and she succumbed and got one and wouldn't be without it now. Logically and anecdotally there is plenty of evidence to suggest they do work and at least reduce parental anxiety. I am surprised there is still no research into these as there is clearly a whole selection of participants even just responding here. As others have said no substantial evidence may just mean no effective research, not that something doesn't work!

I’ve always used movement monitors and personally find them very reassuring. I’ve maybe had two false alerts in years of use. I do still follow SIDS guidelines though have have had my children in with me for more than 6 months.

I don’t think you should tell your NCT friends that movement monitors don’t work because it’s not actually true. They do exactly what they advertise which is to alert you after 20 seconds of no movement which surely is a good thing.

Yes there isn’t any evidence that they prevent SIDS but that is down to the very very limited ability to research SIDS rather than a reflection of their efficacy.

By all means try to find a gentle way of reminding your NCT group of the SIDS guidelines to keep their babies in the same room as them. But really it’s none of your business how they parent and completely up to them how they spend their money.

As it's a RL group I wouldn't say anything unless you're specifically asked. You could say something like I decided not to because blah blah but I definitely wouldn't risk anything which could be interpreted as "You've made the wrong choice and are endangering your baby" - emotions do tend to run so high during those early weeks and it's more important that you don't burn those bridges than that people do things 100% correctly. We're talking about miniscule percentages of risk difference, and the info isn't hard to find, if parents wish to. Most people IME doing NCT tend to be well educated and able to use a search engine. So on balance I would keep quiet. In future if there's anything you feel strongly about try to get the info in before people have made decisions - so e.g. if you want to share info about rear facing car seats, share it before people are likely to have chosen their stage 2 seat.

I don’t think anyone believes they’d reduce the risk, the risk is always there and the monitor helps to manage the risk alongside the guidelines we are given. I’m not sure what your point to them would be OP, I don’t think it’s anytning they haven’t already considered themselves.

Refer mums to tbe guidelines, tell them why it is important to have them in your room - absolutely. However, the monitors do work. My dd1 was in the room next to me and the monitor woke me up. It was absolutely terrifying.

They work not just for sids though. We used them in the children's wards for little ones who are unwell but not in icu.

I still wouldn't put mine in their own room until they are much much older though. .

I'm another who says tell them why you're not bothering (including how the lullaby trust info is the most important to follow and shouldnt be negated by a sleep mat) if asked but otherwise leave it to them.

For us we'd heard stories of many false alarms (so many that we worried we'd start ignoring them) we didn't bother. And that's after DC spent a long time on neonatal being monitored all the time.

You’re right that there’s no evidence of statistical significance that they improve outcomes.. but equally there’s no evidence of statisticial significance that they do not.
So yabu. Let people do what’s right for them

I personally didnt get one. Id be more anxious about it not working. Safest option for me and my own mental health was to have baby next to me. 8months later shes still here

Itll bring them peace of mind. So i wouldnt mention anything. If they ever ask you then let them know youll be keeping your DC in your own room as thats the only way YOU get peace of mind.. Each to their own.

What do you mean they don't work? If a baby stops breathing they go off, isn't that the point of them or am I missing something?

My friend's baby stopped breathing in the night and they were alerted because they had a movement monitor and her life was saved.

I'd take 10000 false alarms for peace of mind.

My son is on the coni care of next infant programme due to sids on his dads side. They provide a movement monitor from the hospital up until 6 months of age so there must be some evidence that they work. We also use an angel care wireless mat that is less fiddly. Sorry but I’d rather be woken up if my son stopped breathing and have the opportunity to resuscitate than not so I am unsure as how you could possibly think they were a waste of money.

I think you should mind your own business really. Do you think no one else is capable of research or thinking for themselves?

They don't in any way, shape or form prevent SIDS but they notify you if the baby stops breathing. I don't think they should be discouraged. They could make the difference between immediate help or several minutes when it's then too late.

We lost my 6mo cousin to SIDS and every baby in my immediate family since has used one of these mats. I don't think it's your place to go around telling everyone else what to use to make themselves feel better or what precautions they should or shouldn't use or take really.

Just wanted to echo what others have said... I used an Angelcare monitor with my daughter and am currently using it with my son. I absolutely love it - it's top of the list of things I recommend to friends who are about to become parents. I've only had 2 or 3 false alarms (over the course of 2 children) but that's nothing compared to the reduction in my anxiety the monitor gives me. I also followed the lullaby trust guidelines.

Whilst I know that evidence is lacking, at others have said, that doesn't mean that these types of monitors don't 'work'. I trust it to let me know should my son stop moving / breathing (god forbid). I'd far rather have the chance to save him should something terrible happen, rather than go in and find him when it was too late. I'd actually go so far as to think they should be standard issue... I don't understand why some people don't get them!!

My sister's baby unbeknown to them had a flap of skin in his throat.One day it covered his airpipe and he couldn't breathe. the alarm went off she went in to find him blue and barely conscious. Picking him and turning him upside down moved the flap and got him breathing again.