Owlet Baby Monitor Helps Me Sleep Easy

If you’ve ever been a NICU mom, you know what it is like to have your baby attached to monitors 24/7. You know when the beeping is important and when it is just a loose line. You know how to maneuver the wires, so you don’t get {too} tangled when you hold baby. And unless you are sent home with a monitor, you know what it is like to feel a little lost…even scared…without the monitors.

As we were preparing to go home, a reader mentioned the Owlet Monitor in case we were not sent home with something. I knew we wouldn’t be because Mercy was no longer high risk since her jaw distraction was such a success. BUT…

I had gotten used to the monitors.  They were comforting.  I could easily look up and see her heart rate, oxygen level and respirations.  So, I contacted Owlet while we were still in NICU, and they graciously sent me a monitor just in time for our homecoming!

The Owlet came with everything I need to monitor my baby through about age 10 months.  There was no need for me to buy anything extra or try to figure out what was best for our family.  It came with 3 different sizes of socks, the sock electronics, the Owlet base, and all the charging equipment.  (You can purchase a size 4 sock for older babies, so keep that in mind, special needs moms!)

One thing that was not readily apparent to me was how to set up the Owlet.  Perhaps I was running on too little sleep or I just wasn’t reading closely enough, but the included instructions didn’t feel like enough information.  However, once I downloaded the app to my phone, it walked me through the entire process and was absolutely seamless!  In fact, the whole process via the app was the best electronics set up I have ever experienced.  It was complete with videos and easy registration of the product.

Quick note:  You do not need to have a smartphone or WiFi to use the Owlet.  The base station is your main alert system and operates using Bluetooth technology.  However, I will say I absolutely LOVE being able to see Mercy’s stats from the kitchen when she’s sleeping in my bedroom simply by looking at the app on my phone.  And it is designed to alert my phone no matter where I am in the house as long as the Base Station is connected to WiFi, I can see information in real time anywhere I am with my smartphone.

Now, that you have an idea of what the Owlet is, let me give you a run down of how I use it…

The base is plugged in to an outlet in my bedroom.  I keep the charging cord for the sock plugged into it at all times for convenience sake (and so I don’t lose it!).  First thing in the morning, I charge the sock electronics.  I just keep the electronics in the sock because it is easier than taking it out of the sock, and there is easy access to the charging port from the sock, so no worries.  I charge the sock first thing in the morning so that if I want to use it during her afternoon nap, it is ready.  However, Owlet will tell you that the entire unit functions best when your child is in the dark and asleep.  My bedroom is pretty dark, so I’ve never had any issue with the unit not working properly during the day.

At Mercy’s last diaper change before her bedtime bottle, I put the sock on her and put her in her footie jammies.  I swaddle her, feed her, and if she’s asleep and ready to be put down in her bed, I will lay her down, and turn on the base station as I’m leaving the room.  The base station blinks green as it gets a reading.  If the connection to the sock is good, it will pulse green.

There are alarms specific for the sock being disconnected or not on properly, but the one that is really important is the red alarm that is designed to go off if your baby’s heart rate or oxygen level goes outside the acceptable range.  So far, the Owlet has not thrown any false alarms, and that is impressive!

From my phone, I can check Mercy’s stats at any time by opening up the Owlet app:

(I just LOVE opening up the app and seeing Mercy’s sweet sleeping face!  You can use any photo, or keep the little owl as your default photo, but I thought a sleeping photo was perfect!)

The app will also tell me if Mercy is wiggling, thus not giving a good reading.  That’s also usually a good indicator that she’s about to wake up.

During Mercy’s night feedings, I turn the base station off so it doesn’t beep at me if she moves around while I’m feeding and burping her.  Once she’s back in bed, I turn the base on again and go back to sleep, knowing the Owlet will alert me.  (Oh, how I wish I had had this with my last baby when my anxiety level was through the roof and I sat up all night staring at my baby to make sure she was breathing.  You can read more about my Postpartum Anxiety in THIS POST.)

The Owlet Monitor is $249.  I know that might feel like a big investment, but honestly, the restful sleep and peace of mind you will get because of it is well worth it!  I am so thankful for the reader who mentioned it to me, and for the NICU nurse who mentioned it to her!

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Owlet Baby Monitor, and please, share this post with any mama who might need something like this to give her a little peace of mind.

{Mercy at 7 weeks}