Is it safe to monitor a baby's sleep through a monitor?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Dang Thi Ngoc Chuong - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

Taking care of a newborn baby is a huge task for any parent. With the requirement to always carefully monitor the baby throughout the day, many types of camera devices to monitor baby sleep were born. So what do pediatricians say about the benefits and risks of baby sleep monitors?

There are different types of baby sleep monitors. Some devices have the function of listening to the sounds in the baby's room, others track movement and ring an alarm if the baby's breathing is interrupted, and others are just simple video cameras.
For home breathing and heart rate monitors for sleeping babies, if there is apnea, or the baby's heart rate drops below a certain level, the monitor will sound an alarm. . To perform this function, the machine uses a sensor pad under the mattress or mounted on the body (such as a belt or foot). If you choose to use this type, you must read the instructions carefully to ensure that the sensors and leads are in the correct position.

Depending on the needs of the family, using a camera monitor to monitor your baby's sleep can give you some peace of mind. For example, when a child is faced with an eminently life-threatening event, such as apnea that lasts more than 15 - 20 seconds, a baby sleep monitor can be a practical aid.
Sometimes doctors also recommend the use of a breathing monitor for children who have chronic breathing problems due to conditions such as severe asthma, cystic fibrosis, or sleep apnea. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends installing an apnea monitor if your baby needs oxygen at home or has severe breathing problems.
On the other hand, if you feel that always hearing all the sounds of your newborn sleeping in the next room gives you peace of mind, a sleep monitor will be helpful.

Not Preventable SIDS Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) refers to the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age. According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year 3,500 infants die from SIDS, the most likely cause of which is accidental suffocation. However, not many parents are aware of the dangers of this condition.
Despite the hype, sleep monitors are not proven to prevent SIDS. There have been reports of infants dying despite having a monitor installed.
Increased anxiety, depression Some monitors that monitor your baby's sleep are too sensitive, sounding alarms and waking you up unnecessarily. Machines can also increase parental anxiety because of frequent false alarms. There are even some studies that show increased rates of depression in parents who use them.
Sleep disruption For less sensitive devices, you can still hear your baby's every sigh or slight movement throughout the night. If your baby is inherently healthy, sound from a sleep monitor will not only disturb your sleep, but can also disrupt your baby's normal sleep cycle. This causes parents to increase stress and fatigue.
Although this breathing monitor may be essential for some premature babies with apnea, it is not really useful for normally healthy infants. Overall, the negatives of baby sleep monitors may outweigh the benefits.

You can easily find a lot of sleep camera reviews on the internet, but it is not possible to verify the source of the information. In fact, there have been studies done to test the accuracy of this device.
Specifically, a 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association tested and compared the effectiveness of two popular sleep monitoring devices in their market, the Owlet. Smart Socket 2 and Baby Vida.
Results showed that Owlet Smart Sock 2 detected hypoxemia, but did not always work correctly. Meanwhile, Baby Vida cannot detect hypoxemia, and also falsely displays low heart rate warning.
Thus, there is no evidence that these monitors are helpful in reducing SIDS in healthy neonates. For babies born prematurely, with hypoxia or other serious breathing problems, the individual doctor's recommendations should be followed. Furthermore, to date, no other type of sleep monitor has been approved or regulated by the FDA. The American Academy of Pediatrics also does not recommend routine use of this device.

Practicing safe sleeping techniques at home is important, as it has been shown to reduce the incidence of SIDS, so should be the first choice of parents. Guidelines for ensuring safe infant sleep include:
Put your baby to sleep on their back. Avoid placing an infant to sleep on a soft surface, such as an adult mattress or regular sofa. Avoid using blankets, pillows and stuffed animals when your baby sleeps. Do not let infants sleep in the same bed as parents. Use light clothes when putting your baby to bed. Avoid wearing thick and tight clothing. Avoid smoking, drug use, and alcohol when caring for a newborn. Although baby sleep cameras are touted as an effective tool to prevent SIDS, it is important for parents to know the truth when using them. Many products on the market are still essential and useful for new parents. So please research carefully and consult your doctor about the product before purchasing.
In addition to taking care of their children's sleep, parents should pay attention to the nutrition that improves the child's resistance. At the same time, add supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins,... snacks and less digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
The role of zinc - Guidelines for reasonable zinc supplementation
Please visit the website Vinmec.com regularly and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.

Articles refer to sources: babycenter.com, parents.com