Angelcare false alarms

AngelcareAssistance · 2022-01-04T19:59:25+00:00

Just wondering if anyone has come up with a foolproof way to stop the angelcare giving false alarms? It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it just happens so often for a few days! Looked into the owlet sock but have read some negative reviews/false alarms etc and just can't afford the extra for the same problems 😔

Fredsgirl19 · 04/01/2022 20:03

Have you got it on a Wooden board under
The mattress also check you haven't accidentally turned the sensitivity up

Original poster

AngelcareAssistance · 04/01/2022 20:12

@Fredsgirl19

Have you got it on a Wooden board under The mattress also check you haven't accidentally turned the sensitivity up

Yes, we have a thin wooden board under. Sensitivity is on highest, I think. But I just checked and it's on the "-" not the "+" (I'm sure we had it on the plus, as I remember setting it) should it be on the plus symbol?

This is our second one so maybe I'm confused. We thought the last one was faulty as it goes straight to alarm without the "rousal" beep.

OP posts:

Garman · 04/01/2022 20:15

Is there a reason you have it/want an Owlet? They're not really recommended.

Dspx · 04/01/2022 20:21

I can't help with the angel care I always found when we used them at nursery that if the baby moved off the sensor by rolling it would go off. For my own baby we have the Owlett he's one now and have never had a false alarm only time it's ever gone off is if the battery has died or once he kicked it off his foot l. When it does go off because of that it's a different sound so although it wakes us up you don't get that panic

Original poster

AngelcareAssistance · 04/01/2022 20:25

@Dspx

I can't help with the angel care I always found when we used them at nursery that if the baby moved off the sensor by rolling it would go off. For my own baby we have the Owlett he's one now and have never had a false alarm only time it's ever gone off is if the battery has died or once he kicked it off his foot l. When it does go off because of that it's a different sound so although it wakes us up you don't get that panic

Ok, this is good to know, as we've used the angelcare so long, I worry that putting the sock on him might disturb him, he will likely play with it and mess about. He's trouble like that!

I wanted the owlet initially when we decided we needed a monitor, but it was too much. Wish we had just but the bullet now, but we may swap over if there are more positive stories.

Would definitely prefer to be able to keep the angelcare though, as we're used to it and don't really have the excess to pay if we can help it. Would be easier for nighttime changes though 😅

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CBB2021 · 04/01/2022 20:37

I found ours worked really well when DD was in her next to me, but as soon as she went in her big cot we got so many false alarms which scared me to death far too many times in the middle of the night!

We just turned it off in the end! Tried all the suggestions like wooden board, sensitivity etc but it still happened. As PP said they don’t actually protect against SIDS but I know it made me feel better knowing she was being monitored whilst we were asleep.

Original poster

AngelcareAssistance · 04/01/2022 20:43

@CBB2021

I found ours worked really well when DD was in her next to me, but as soon as she went in her big cot we got so many false alarms which scared me to death far too many times in the middle of the night!

We just turned it off in the end! Tried all the suggestions like wooden board, sensitivity etc but it still happened. As PP said they don’t actually protect against SIDS but I know it made me feel better knowing she was being monitored whilst we were asleep.

I believe we also had the false alarms when he was in his little cradle. I find I get a nice long run of it working then suddenly it keeps doing false alarms over and over. But I would rather have the shock of being woken 50 times a night than the alternative that previously happened to us, so whilst I am aware it's not recommended (I read up on most things I buy and make an informed decisions) I find I sleep better on the whole with it (even with the false alarms).

I'm not surprised you stopped using it, I've felt that way sometimes, but just can't for other reasons.

OP posts:

Original poster

AngelcareAssistance · 04/01/2022 20:45

On the positive, I've changed the sensitivity to medium and it seems to have stopped the false alarms for 30 mins so far. Not holding out hope and my husband has the owlet ready to buy with his little bit of savings if he wakes with the false alarm tonight 😅

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HedgerowRobin · 05/01/2022 06:26

When we were looking into monitors, we considered the angelcare, owlet and the snuza hero. Ended up going for the snuza hero (£90 from Boots) - it’s a little silicone probe that sits against baby’s skin by clipping on to the nappy. A bit of a pain during overnight nappy changes (taking it off and turning it off and then having to re-calibrate and reattach) but that only takes us a few seconds now we’re used to it. It has a green light that flashes every time baby breathes - we can see it through a vest/babygrow/1 tog sleep bag easily in the night just by looking into the next2me cot. It is medically certified - it vibrates to rouse baby if it detects 15 seconds of no breathing and alarms if 20 seconds of no breathing. There is a red light that flashes to let you know it has had to rouse baby (if the alarm has not been required). We’ve been using it for a week now with no false alarms.

Original poster

AngelcareAssistance · 05/01/2022 14:07

@HedgerowRobin

When we were looking into monitors, we considered the angelcare, owlet and the snuza hero. Ended up going for the snuza hero (£90 from Boots) - it’s a little silicone probe that sits against baby’s skin by clipping on to the nappy. A bit of a pain during overnight nappy changes (taking it off and turning it off and then having to re-calibrate and reattach) but that only takes us a few seconds now we’re used to it. It has a green light that flashes every time baby breathes - we can see it through a vest/babygrow/1 tog sleep bag easily in the night just by looking into the next2me cot. It is medically certified - it vibrates to rouse baby if it detects 15 seconds of no breathing and alarms if 20 seconds of no breathing. There is a red light that flashes to let you know it has had to rouse baby (if the alarm has not been required). We’ve been using it for a week now with no false alarms.

I've seen that one and a similar one that's smaller, however as he's older and not used to it, I feel that it may be uncomfortable for him, especially as he loves to sleep on his front. If we introduced it from a young age, it might be normal. Would you think he might struggle?

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Starcaller · 05/01/2022 14:09

Loved our Owlet. Had no false alarms in almost a year of use. But. It is v expensive!

Original poster

AngelcareAssistance · 05/01/2022 14:26

@Starcaller

Loved our Owlet. Had no false alarms in almost a year of use. But. It is v expensive!

Starting to consider it. But he's close to a year now so not sure it's entirely worth it (except for if/when we have another) although I do like that there is a second sock for up to 5 years

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Abcdefu · 05/01/2022 14:31

I have bought an owlet,baby due February,heard good reviews so far and nobody has reported false alarms. Have heard after a few months angel care can be difficult as the baby is moving more ? However I am not an expert by any means !

Starcaller · 05/01/2022 14:33

We stopped using it by a year, just as it felt like we no longer 'needed it'. But we are going to use it for DC2 again probably up to the same age so if you're going to have more DC it might be worth. I think once they get older and so active the under mattress ones just don't really work properly anyway.