Baby breathing monitors?

[Nazz10]

Has anyone used the breathing monitors before? Like the snuza hero or the angelcare pad things?
Are they worth it?
Would you recommend a specific brand?

37 weeks today and I know that I'm probably not gonna want to sleep once he's here out of fear of SIDS. Hoping these would be worth investing in for reassurance?

No direct experience with sleep monitors and certainly there are nights (especially when your baby starts sleeping for longer) that you wake watching them, but any reason why you are so paranoid about SIDs?

The risk of SIDS is so so low. I worried about it until I actually saw how low the numbers are

I’m sure the American paediatric society actually said using monitors should be avoided but you might want to check that

We had one and found it reassuring although the alarm did randomly go off now and again, if baby moved etc as she got older, and the first time I thought I was going to have a heart attack 😑

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I suffer with anxiety and I often catastrophise so always think the worst is going to happen. I suppose not a bad thing as my best interests are keeping baby safe but I also don't want to exhaust myself with it.
This is my first baby so will all be brand new to me. I'm just anticipating that this is how I'll be feeling and would like to find ways to help prevent me from becoming exhausted

Honestly OP you won’t be able to live like that with a baby, I do hope you are having help for any severe anxiety issues you have.

As for keeping safe I wouldn’t bother with a monitor but rather follow all the guidelines, lie baby on their back, flat new mattress, nothing in the cot, cellular blanket, don’t smoke etc- your body will want to sleep when the baby sleeps and that is so important for your health and ultimately the baby’s.

I use angelcare sleep mat.

Have you ever had therapy for your anxiety OP?
I have had anxiety in the past and my therapist helped me to understand that actions such as this can actually feed the anxiety more.

The risk from SIDS is extremely low and there will be risk to your child in absolutely everything they do. @OnlyFoolsnMothers is right, this anxiety is simply not sustainable

We have the Angelcare Baby and Breathing monitor. I probably used the breathing monitor a handful of times when DS was super little. In my sleep deprived, totally exhausted state, I kept forgetting to change the setting before taking DS out for feeds and the sodding thing would just set off like crazy, waking him well and truly up! Plus he rarely ever stayed in his bassinet / cot in the early days so we didn't get any use out of it. It really was more pain than use and it honestly didn't ease my anxiety over SIDS fears. Getting to know my baby and getting into our routine did. I'd definitely not use it again. The camera is good though! :)

Thank you. Yes I've had anxiety therapies in the past. My original anxieties stemmed through work (my line of work in the NHS is very anxiety-provoking) and have had lots of support with that to carry on with my career but haven't really found anything useful

Throughout my pregnancy, I'm also under a consultant who has a specialist interest in mental health. I haven't needed any intervention so far but my first appointment with her is this week so I can talk to her about it and see if she has any advice/tips.

Thank you all for your help and advice

Hopefully they’ll be able to support you OP and reassure you I’m glad you have people involved

I used the Tommee Tippee monitor and mat with my DD until she was six months. Gave us extra peace of mind and I slept better knowing it was on.

As other PPs have said the actual rates now are very low.

In past decades, well a few decades ago, there was less antenatal/post partum testing of the fetus/infant that combined with cramming lots of milk in them and putting them in a different room to sleep was what tragically led to the SUDS rates as they were.

I think most new mums read into it, it’s petrifying to think they can just taken away. I’m glad you’re getting help for your anxieties.

You’ve probably already seen the lullaby trust, they really are a good resource. The rates are so low now with that advice in place, just follow as best you can.

I agree with others that the rates are very low if you follow safe sleep guidelines.

That said, I was very worried about SIDS with my twins (no history of anxiety, just knackered and hormonal) and found that their sleep monitors gave me reassurance. I would have used an angel care mat if I had had a singleton baby.

If you think it would help you relax, I'd get one.

I get it. We used a snuza which attached to the nappy and an alarm would sound if it didn't detect a breath. It was worth it for me for a bit of reassurance.

I used the tommee tippee mat with ds.. Yes we did have some false alarms and it did panic me each time but overall it reassured me that ds was OK.
Dh doesn't want to use it again due to the false alarms I definitely do overall it helped my anxiety.

I have used the snuza hero with my baby, currently trying to wean myself off it as he's over 6 months now and likes to roll on his side which often sets it off! My first baby was stillborn and I was petrified of sids after a very anxious pregnancy, the monitor was the only way I got any sleep. You can set it to beep with every breath so it meant that when I stirred in the night I could just listen for the beep and not have to get up and peer at him and wake him up! I looked at the owlet but personally thought that would give me too much info and obsessing over heart rate and oxygen saturation was a step too far and I think would definitely have made me more anxious.
Xxx

I used the angelcare mat and followed safe sleep guidelines. The mat was great, it gave me extra reassurance and there was no need for me to wake up in the night to check on baby 'just incase'. I suppose it actually helped me relax more. Definitely worth the money. We have used it for a year. I would recommend to any first time mums.

I can relate in terms of anxiety and SIDS - I tried angelcare monitor but hates the false alarms. The owlet sock changed everything - I sleep now, very happily. No false alarms. I swear it’s the best thing ever invented.
Breathing monitors are only not recommended because professionals worry that with one people would be inclined not to follow safe sleeping guidelines. I don’t know anyone with anxiety like mine who wouldn’t follow all the guidelines, even with a breathing monitor.
They’re expensive but the best piece of mind.