“Smart” baby sock notified a mom when her baby stopped breathing

A new smart baby monitor is available to the public today, prompting success stories from the company’s testing phase.

The Owlet Baby Monitor  is a smart device that leverages pulse oximetry, the same technology that hospitals use, in the form of a baby sock. The baby sock can send signals to alert parents if their baby’s oxygen levels and heart rate are out of range and they are having difficulty breathing.

According to the company, unintentional suffocation is the leading cause of injury death among U.S. children under the age of one, so it developed the Owlet Monitor so that moms and dads can rest easy knowing they will be alerted if their baby is in distress.

So how does it work?

Vitals readings from the Smart Sock are sent to the base station and then to parents via a smartphone app, enabling them to check in on their baby from across the hall, or even remotely if they’re away from home. The monitor collects all kinds of data regarding the child’s health, but the main purpose of the device is for breathing and heart rate notifications.

Michelle Blanchard’s Owlet Baby Monitor alerted her late one night that her 2-month-old infant had low oxygen levels. Michelle picked up her baby, who was silent and bluish in color, and began pounding on her baby’s back, clearing her airway of built-up mucus. Her daughter let out a scream and started breathing again.

“Look at the invention and use of car seats — their use has been mandated to prevent infant fatalities and has been successful at that. Comparatively, suffocation kills 10 times more infants each year than car crashes. It’s time we take advantage of the technology available and give parents the tools they need to help keep their babies safe,” said Dr. Milena Adamian, M.D., an investor in Owlet.

The technology and science behind the Owlet Baby Monitor  was set by a team of pulse oximetry specialists, pediatricians, neonatologists and pulmonologists.

Owlet Baby Care is currently seeking FDA clearance and working with researchers and clinicians to develop a device with medical applications.

The Owlet Baby Monitor is available for purchase today and retails for $249.99. For more information and to order the monitor, visit OwletCare.com