Owlet monitor - experiences of accuracy in older babies

[Chocolaterocketcake]

TRIGGER WARNING SIDS/STOPPING BREATHING

My 8 month old has been admitted to hospital roughly every 6 weeks since birth with breathing difficulties and low oxygen saturations. Usually put down am to a virus but we are pushing for further investigations.

During one of these episodes he stopped breathing, thankfully I was sat awake watching him and obviously we called an ambulance and he was admitted to hospital without any lasting issues. During this admission, one of the nurses suggested a breathing monitor and recommended a snuza hero, which we now have. The day he stopped breathing he had a very mild runny nose that o had barely noticed but no other symptoms.

We were back in for 5 days this week and another nurse suggested getting an oxygen saturation monitor so we can keep an eye when he is poorly and get him into hospital as soon as his oxygen starts getting low.

Is it worth getting rid of the Snuza and buying an owlet instead or shall we keep
the snuza and just buy a separate sats monitor?

Obviously the owlet will give constant data but I am worried that it will increase my, already increasing, anxiety and at 8 months, being very wriggly, it won’t stay on very well and will have been a waste of money. I’m also unsure if hospital will take the data from the owlet seriously?

Has anyone used one for an older baby and into toddlerhood, and is it as accurate as intermittently checking with a proper sats monitor.

Thank you if you’ve read this far!

Hi, we had an owlet monitor as my daughter had SVT (high heart rate) as a new born and also has a heart defect.
practically, I found it brilliant. It straps on the foot and is pretty secure - we didn’t have an issue with it coming off etc. it would alarm if heart rate was too high or low or if sats were too low so great for being able to get a good night sleep without worrying!
increased anxiety was the only drawback for me. The only reason I stopped using it (when she was almost 2!) was because it stopped working. I found it quite addictive so I do think that’s a consideration if you’re already very anxious xx

My baby was in NICU when she no longer needed the more sophisticated monitors this was the exact monitor they used. - click photo to see details.

We got the Owlet after a horrible hospital stay with RSV and low oxygen levels.

It was a bit of an expensive impulse buy and while it worked great, once DD had been home for a week she was fully recovered and I didn't want to use it anymore (I did find it caused anxiety). She was 4 weeks old. Sometimes the sock slipped off, but generally it was accurate.

I returned on Amazon and got a full refund. So if you buy and don't get on with it, this is always an option.

Thanks @KC1234 good to know older babies/toddlers can use it.

I hadn’t previously considered myself an anxious parent and never used breathing monitors etc with our eldest but DS can deteriorate so quickly, I am getting more anxious, he was admitted this week and I have a picture of him at the park in the afternoon with no sign of anything more than teething/possible start of cold and then 12 hours later we were calling an ambulance and being taken straight to resus. I’m trying not to be anxious - but also think it’s a bit warranted considering the amount of times we’ve needed to be in hospital during his little life.

Will look this up - thanks ☺️

@ClementineSatsuma that’s a great idea actually, I hadn’t considered being able to return it if it doesn’t work. It feels really extravagant and expensive but we’re heading into his first winter and I’m very concerned about catching winter bugs non stop.

I’m sorry your little one was so poorly with RSV, that is a massive worry of mine.

I use an Owlet on my 4 year old, I find it pretty good. It is accurate and gives me peace of mind, I usually pop a sock on over the top of it to keep it in place overnight.

We used an Owlet for the first couple of years with DS2. He didn't have any particular episodes but he was premature and spent time on a ventilator etc on NICU, so I just got used to the idea of him being monitored.

I'd used a Snuza and a motion sensor mat for DS1 but found them both a bit useless, fell off, false alarms etc. The Owlet was honestly amazing. Never had one problem with it, it fits on the foot so securely.

For me it didn't cause any anxiety, just the opposite! I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.

Two different things here 1) a child with recurring respiratory issues - which was my 2nd baby - this was usually accompanied by recession, poor colour etc which I then used an at home sats monitor to check my observations. She was a very poorly, low sats oxygen requiring in and out of hospital baby. Only improved when she saw a specialists when she was 3.

2. my 3rd DC stopped breathing due to a structural issue that no owlet would've picked up, quick enough.

I say this SO kindly as I have been through both and they both were the hardest thing.

The most reliable thing you have is your initiation as a mother and your experience.

Sending you so much love as baby 1) was the respiratory baby was utterly exhausting and I know this life very well.

*intuition as a mother

• this was the most important and there was a typo 😬

Thank you so much for this, I am sorry for your experience and really appreciate you taking the time to comment.

The respiratory issues your baby had sounds just like my little one. You are right, I can usually notice the recession, colour change. So maybe a normal sats monitor is all we need.

I do worry about a constant monitor ramping up anxiety, something I’m already seeking help for. I’m sat watching him now which I know is silly but we’ve only been out of hospital just over 24hours and they send him home as soon as he manages sats over 90 for 4 hours. He was literally sitting at 90 when discharged so I’m still worried they could dip again while he is recovering.

I didn’t actually notice your typo and read it how you intended it, thank you so much, it is hard to cut through the anxiety and remember that my intuition has genuinely been a life saver multiple times. Thank you.

The fact that you are spotting when your baby is poorly, advocating for them and getting the help they need - is amazing in itself.

And that is WAY more valuable than any owlet or sats monitor.

Remember you are the expert, not the sats monitor.

Rely upon you, your judgement and your baby to know what's best. When you're tired this feels impossible especially when you're wracked with completely normal anxiety about your baby.

Keep on keeping on, this will, and I mean it, this will pass one day.

For now bed, in and be kind to yourself, it's exhausting and I'm sending lots of coffee and gentle words.

Well done for looking after your baby so well.